2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.1% (male 300,914/female 299,141) 15-64 years: 53.9% (male 383,137/female 384,876) 65 years and over: 4% (male 23,576/female 33,262) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish

Airports

56 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

total

11

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 15

under 914 m

23 (2006)

Area

land

257,667 sq km

total

267,667 sq km

water

10,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Colorado

Background

Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated the country's political scene for almost four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries. Geography Gabon

Birth rate

36.16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.181 billion; including capital expenditures of $325 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$3.1 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

0 23 N, 9 27 E

name

Libreville

time difference

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

Climate

tropical; always hot, humid

Coastline

885 km

Constitution

adopted 14 March 1991

Country name

conventional long form

Gabonese Republic

conventional short form

Gabon

local long form

Republique gabonaise

local short form

Gabon

Currency (code)

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code

XAF

Current account balance

$1.807 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$3.971 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY

embassy

Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville

mailing address

Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville

telephone

[241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJA

telephone

[1] (202) 797-1000

Disputes - international

UN presses Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay; only a few hundred out of the 20,000 Republic of the Congo refugees who fled militia fighting in 2000 remain in Gabon

Economic aid - recipient

$331 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet, because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. Devaluation of its currency by 50% in January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandated progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December 2001. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.

Electricity - consumption

1.435 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

1.543 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

34.5%

hydro

65.5%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; poaching

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 522.592 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2 December 1967)

election results

President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe NDONG (since 20 January 2006)

Exports

$6.677 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)

Exports - partners

US 52.6%, France 6.3%, China 6.2% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-0668

[241] 74 55 07

consulate(s)

New York

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Gabon

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue Economy Gabon

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5.9%

industry

59.7%

services

34.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.052 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.21 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 11 45 E

Geography - note

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 People Gabon

Government type

republic; multiparty presidential regime

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

8.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

48,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.607 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners

France 40.5%, US 6.4%, Cameroon 4.2% (2005)

Independence

17 August 1960 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

1.6% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

45.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

63.65 deaths/1,000 live births

total

54.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.2% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.ga

Internet hosts

322 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2001)

Internet users

67,000 (2005) Transportation Gabon

Investment (gross fixed)

22.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

70 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts

Labor force

581,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

60%

industry

15%

services

25%

Land boundaries

border countries

Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

total

2,551 km

Land use

arable land

1.21%

other

98.15% (2005)

permanent crops

0.64%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2, independents 4, others 5

elections

Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009); National Assembly - last held 17 and 24 December 2006 (next to be held December 2011)

Life expectancy at birth

female

55.81 years (2006 est.)

male

53.21 years

total population

54.49 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

53.3% (1995 est.) Government Gabon

male

73.7%

total population

63.2%

Location

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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria (2007)

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

279,865 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

278,826

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

156,122 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

159,198

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

15,367 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

15,325

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

18.8 years (2006 est.)

male

18.4 years

total

18.6 years

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2006)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$253.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.4% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Gabon

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

National holiday

Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)

Nationality

adjective

Gabonese

noun

Gabonese (singular and plural)

Natural gas - consumption

100 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

100 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

33.98 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

268,900 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.827 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Pipelines

gas 272 km; oil 1,354 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA] (former sole party); Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE]; Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rally of Woodcutters or RNB; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and Social Integration or UDIS; Union of Gabonese Patriots or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

1,424,906

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

2.13% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil Military Gabon

Public debt

28.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios

208,000 (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

814 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

total

814 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

7,298 (Republic of Congo) (2006) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Religions

Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$835 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

937 km

total

9,170 km

unpaved

8,233 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations

general assessment

adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system

international

country code - 241; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Telephones - main lines in use

39,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

649,800 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

63,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

4.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (1997 est.)

Waterways

1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2005)