Gabon

Gabon, a sparsely populated country known for its dense rainforests and vast petroleum reserves, is one of the most prosperous and stable countries in central Africa. Approximately 40 ethnic groups are represented, the largest of which is the Fang, a group that covers the northern third of Gabon and expands north into Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. From about the early 1300s, various kingdoms emerged in present-day Gabon and the surrounding area, including the Kingdoms of Loango and Orungu. Because most early Bantu languages spoken in these kingdoms did not have a written form, much of Gabon's early history was lost over time. Portuguese traders who arrived in the mid-1400s gave the area its name of Gabon. At that time, indigenous trade networks began to engage with European traders, exchanging goods such as ivory and wood. For a century beginning in the 1760s, trade came to focus mostly on enslaved people. While many groups in Gabon participated in the slave trade, the Fang were a notable exception. As the slave trade declined in the late 1800s, France colonized the country and directed a widespread extraction of Gabonese resources. Anti-colonial rhetoric by Gabon’s educated elites increased significantly in the early 1900s, but no widespread rebellion materialized. French decolonization after World War II led to the country’s independence in 1960. Within a year of independence, the government changed from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and Leon M’BA won the first presidential election in 1961. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba was M’BA’s vice president and assumed the presidency after M’BA’s death in 1967. BONGO went on to dominate the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). In 1968, he declared Gabon a single-party state and created the still-dominant Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG). In the early 1990s, he reintroduced a multiparty system under a new constitution in response to growing political opposition. He was reelected by wide margins in 1995, 1998, 2002, and 2005 against a divided opposition and amidst allegations of fraud. After BONGO's death in 2009, a new election brought his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, to power, and he was reelected in 2016. He won a third term in the August 2023 election but was overthrown in a military coup a few days later. Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema led a military group called the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions that arrested BONGO, canceled the election results, and dissolved state institutions. In September 2023, OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president of Gabon.  

land

257,667 sq km

total

267,667 sq km

water

10,000 sq km

slightly smaller than Colorado

tropical; always hot, humid

885 km

highest point

Mont Bengoue 1,050 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

377 m

1 00 S, 11 45 E

a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity

40 sq km (2012)

border countries

Cameroon 349 km; Republic of the Congo 2,567 km; Equatorial Guinea 345 km

total

3,261 km

agricultural land

19% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.)

forest

81% (2018 est.)

other

0% (2018 est.)

Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Congo Basin

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Africa

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

none

petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower

the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest as shown in this population distribution map

narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

0-14 years

34.6% (male 429,133/female 421,120)

15-64 years

61.1% (male 787,480/female 711,913)

65 years and over

4.3% (2024 est.) (male 53,410/female 52,049)

beer

5.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

6.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

25.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

6.4% (2019/20)

31.1% (2012)

3.4% of GDP (2020)

49.7% (2023 est.)

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Gabon’s oil revenues have given it one of the highest per capita income levels in Sub-Saharan Africa, but the wealth is not evenly distributed and poverty is widespread. Unemployment is especially prevalent among the large youth population; more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2020. With a fertility rate still averaging more than 3 children per woman, the youth population will continue to grow and further strain the mismatch between Gabon’s supply of jobs and the skills of its labor force. Gabon has been a magnet to migrants from neighboring countries since the 1960s because of the discovery of oil, as well as the country’s political stability and timber, mineral, and natural gas resources. Nonetheless, income inequality and high unemployment have created slums in Libreville full of migrant workers from Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, and elsewhere in West Africa. In 2011, Gabon declared an end to refugee status for 9,500 remaining Congolese nationals to whom it had granted asylum during the Republic of the Congo’s civil war between 1997 and 2003. About 5,400 of these refugees received permits to reside in Gabon.

elderly dependency ratio

6.5

potential support ratio

15.3 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

67.6

youth dependency ratio

61

improved: rural

rural: 55.3% of population

improved: total

total: 93.1% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.2% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 44.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 6.9% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.8% of population

3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Fang 23.5%, Shira-Punu'Vii 20.6%, Nzabi-Duma 11.2%, Mbede-Teke 5.6%, Myene 4.4%, Kota-Kele 4.3%, Okande-Tsogho 1.6%, other 12.6%, foreigner 16.2% (2021 est.)

1.58 (2024 est.)

6.3 beds/1,000 population

female

24 deaths/1,000 live births

male

29.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

26.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

female

72.1 years

male

68.6 years

total population

70.4 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

84.7% (2021)

male

86.2%

total population

85.5%

870,000 LIBREVILLE (capital) (2023)

227 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

21.5 years

male

22.5 years

total

22 years (2024 est.)

19.6 years (2012 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

adjective

Gabonese

noun

Gabonese (singular and plural)

3.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

15% (2016)

0.65 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

female

1,185,082 (2024 est.)

male

1,270,023

total

2,455,105

the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest as shown in this population distribution map

2.37% (2024 est.)

Protestant 46.4% (Revival Church 37%, other Protestant 9.4%), Roman Catholic 29.8%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 10.8%, traditional/animist 1.1%, other 0.9%, none 7% (2019-21 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 55.1% of population

improved: total

total: 78.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 81.3% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 44.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 21.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 18.7% of population

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.11 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.03 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

3.21 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

91% of total population (2023)

9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

etymology

original site settled by freed slaves and the name means "free town" in French; named in imitation of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone

geographic coordinates

0 23 N, 9 27 E

name

Libreville

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

amendments

proposed by the president of the republic, by the Council of Ministers, or by one third of either house of Parliament; passage requires Constitutional Court evaluation, at least two-thirds majority vote of two thirds of the Parliament membership convened in joint session, and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on Gabon’s democratic form of government cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2023 (presidential term reduced to 5 years and election reduced to a single vote)

history

previous 1961, 1991; latest approved in November 2024 referendum

conventional long form

Gabonese Republic

conventional short form

Gabon

etymology

name originates from the Portuguese word "gabao" meaning "cloak," which is roughly the shape that the early explorers gave to the estuary of the Komo River by the capital of Libreville

local long form

République Gabonaise

local short form

Gabon

chief of mission

Ambassador Vernelle Trim FITZPATRICK (since 26 January 2024); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

email address and website

ACSLibreville@state.govhttps://ga.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Sabliere, B.P. 4000, Libreville

FAX

[241] 011-45-71-05

mailing address

2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270

telephone

[241] 011-45-71-00

chancery

2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Noël Nelson MESSONE (12 December 2022)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

info@gaboneembassyusa.orghttps://gabonembassyusa.org/en/

FAX

[1] (301) 332-0668

telephone

[1] (202) 797-1000

cabinet

formerly the Council of Ministers, appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president

chief of state

Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 4 September 2023)

election results

2016: Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0%2009: Ali BONGO Ondimba elected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME (independent) 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU (UPG) 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO (UGDD) 3.9%, other 3.3%

elections/appointments

formerly, the president directly elected by plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 26 August 2023; prime minister appointed by the president; note - in August 2023, Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema led a military group called Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions in a coup in which President Ali BONGO Ondimba was arrested and detained, election results were canceled, and state institutions were dissolved; in September 2023, OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president; a general election is planned for August 2025; note - November 2024 voters in Gabon voted on a referendum to extend the presidential term to seven years and replace the prime minister with a vice president, elections slated for August 2025 

head of government

Prime Minister Raymond NDONG SIMA (since 7 September 2023)

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue; green represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun, blue represents the sea

presidential republic

17 August 1960 (from France)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 4 permanent specialized supreme courts - Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation, Administrative Supreme Court or Conseil d'Etat, Accounting Supreme Court or Cour des Comptes, Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, and the non-permanent Court of State Security, initiated only for cases of high treason by the president and criminal activity by executive branch officials)

judge selection and term of office

appointment and tenure of Supreme, Administrative, Accounting, and State Security courts NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 3 by the national president, 3 by the president of the Senate, and 3 by the president of the National Assembly; judges serve single renewable 7-year terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

description

Transitional Parliament (formerly the bicameral Parliament) consists of:Senate (70 seats; members appointed by Transitional president; member term NA)National Assembly (98 seats; members appointed by the Transitional president; member term NA)

election results

all members of the Transitional Parliament appointed by the Transitional president

elections

on 11 September 2023, Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema appointed 168 members to the Transitional Parliament; elections for a permanent legislature reportedly to follow 2-year transition; note - the military government announced on 13 November 2023 that presidential and legislative elections will be held in August 2025

lyrics/music

Georges Aleka DAMAS

name

"La Concorde" (The Concorde)

note

note: adopted 1960

selected World Heritage Site locales

Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda (m); Ivindo National Park (n)

total World Heritage Sites

2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

black panther; national colors: green, yellow, blue

Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG Restoration of Republican Values or RVThe Democrats or LD

note

Paul Mba Abessole

18 years of age; universal

plantains, cassava, sugarcane, yams, taro, vegetables, maize, groundnuts, game meat, rubber (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

expenditures

$2.732 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$2.939 billion (2021 est.)

Fitch rating

CCC (2020)

Moody's rating

Caa1 (2018)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

N/A (2016)

Current account balance 2013

$1.463 billion (2013 est.)

Current account balance 2014

$1.112 billion (2014 est.)

Current account balance 2015

$140.996 million (2015 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external 2022

$6.06 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

natural-resource-rich, upper-middle-income, Central African economy; significant reliance on oil and mineral exports; highly urbanized population; high levels of poverty and unemployment; uncertainty on institutional and development reform progress following 2023 military coup

Currency

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

585.911 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

575.586 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exports 2020

$7.275 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$11.229 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$12.935 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, manganese ore, wood, veneer sheets, refined petroleum (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 43%, South Korea 8%, Italy 7%, India 7%, Indonesia 5% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

56.7% (2023 est.)

government consumption

11.6% (2023 est.)

household consumption

32.3% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-17.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.1% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

5.8% (2023 est.)

industry

52.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

36.4% (2023 est.)

$20.516 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

38 (2017 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

27.7% (2017 est.)

lowest 10%

2.2% (2017 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2020

$3.454 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$3.353 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$3.499 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

poultry, plastic products, iron pipes, fish, excavation machinery (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 22%, France 21%, UAE 5%, US 5%, Belgium 4% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.09% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

4.23% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.63% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

763,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

33.4% (2017 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2017

62.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$45.776 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$47.134 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$48.201 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

1.47% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.97% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.26% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$19,600 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$19,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$19,800 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.09% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.09% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.09% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017

$965.054 million (2017 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018

$1.321 billion (2018 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019

$1.372 billion (2019 est.)

9.13% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

21.23% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

20.5% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

20.36% (2023 est.)

female

42.9% (2023 est.)

male

31.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

36.5% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

251,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

908,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

2.311 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

3.47 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

imports

82,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

2.497 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

544.035 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

784,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

433.104 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - rural areas

29%

electrification - total population

93.5% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

98.5%

biomass and waste

0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

58.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

41.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

23.955 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

463 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

463 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

25.995 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

2 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

204,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2020 est.)

total

44,607 (2020 est.)

state owns and operates 2 TV stations and 2 radio broadcast stations; a few private radio and TV stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available

.ga

percent of population

72% (2021 est.)

total

1.656 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line 1 per 100 subscriptions; mobile cellular subscriptions are 134 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

the telecom market was liberalized in 1999 when the government awarded three mobile telephony licenses and two ISP licenses and established an independent regulatory authority; in contrast with the mobile market, Gabon’s fixed-line and internet sectors have remained underdeveloped due to a lack of competition and high prices; the country has sufficient international bandwidth on the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable; the arrival of the ACE submarine cable, combined with progressing work on the CAB cable, has increased back haul capacity supporting mobile data traffic (2022)

international

country code - 241; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE and Libreville-Port Gentil Cable fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

43,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

125 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.995 million (2022 est.)

40 (2024)

TR

by type

bulk carrier 1, general cargo 19, oil tanker 30, other 37

total

87 (2023)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

8

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

807 km gas, 1,639 km oil, 3 km water (2013)

key ports

Libreville, Oguendjo Terminal, Port Gentil, Port Owendo

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

7

small

2

total ports

9 (2024)

very small

5

standard gauge

649 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

total

649 km (2014)

paved

900 km

total

14,300 km

unpaved

13,400 km (2001)

1,600 km (2010) (310 km on Ogooue River)

the Gabonese military is a small and lightly armed force that is responsible for both external and internal security; the military may also participate in the economic and social development work of the nation; in August 2023, officers from the Republican Guard seized control of the government and placed the president under arrest; the coup leader and chief of the Republican Guard, Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema, was subsequently announced as the leader of a transitional government (2024)

Gabonese Armed Forces (Force Armées Gabonaise or FAG; aka National Defense and Security Forces of Gabon or des Forces Nationales de Défense et de Sécurité (FNDS) du Gabon): Army (Armée de Terre, AT), Navy (Marine Nationale, MN), Air Force (l'Armée de l'Air, AA), Light Aviation (L’Aviation Légère des Armées, ALA), Fire Brigade (du Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers); National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Gabonaise, GENA); Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine, GR); Military Health Service (Service de Santé Militaire, SSM); Military Engineering (Génie Militaire) (2024)

note

note 1: the National Police Forces, under the Ministry of Interior, and the National Gendarmerie (GENA), under the Ministry of Defense, are responsible for law enforcement and public security; elements of the armed forces and the Republican Guard, an elite unit that protects the president under his direct authority, sometimes perform internal security functionsnote 2: the GENA is organized into regionally-based “legions,” mobile forces, a national parks security unit, and a special intervention group

approximately 7,000 active-duty troops including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2023)

the Gabonese military has a mix of older and more modern weapons and equipment from a variety of suppliers including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, and South Africa (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024)

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Gabon does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Gabon was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/gabon/

Gabonese Studies and Space Observations Agency (Agence Gabonaise d’Etudes et d’Observations Spatiales or AGEOS; established 2015) (2024)

has a small space program focused on the acquisition, processing, analysis, and furnishing of data from foreign remote sensing (RS) satellites for environmental management, mapping, natural resources, land use planning, and maritime surveillance, as well as research and innovation; has relationships with Brazil, China, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its member states (particularly France), Kenya, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, and the US; shares RS data with neighboring countries (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

5.32 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

1.13 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

26.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

tropical; always hot, humid

deforestation (the forests that cover three-quarters of the country are threatened by excessive logging); burgeoning population exacerbating disposal of solid waste; oil industry contributing to water pollution; wildlife poaching

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

agricultural land

19% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.)

forest

81% (2018 est.)

other

0% (2018 est.)

Congo Basin

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

2.6% of GDP (2018 est.)

166 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

91% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

238,102 tons (1995 est.)