2011 Edition

Background

Until recently, only two autocratic presidents had ruled Gabon since its independence from France in 1960. The recent president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - had dominated the country's political scene for 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 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. President BONGO died in June 2009. New elections in August 2009 brought Ali Ben BONGO, son of the former president, to power. 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. In January 2010, Gabon assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.

Area

267,667 sq km 257,667 sq km 10,000 sq km

total

267,667 sq km

water

10,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Colorado

Climate

tropical; always hot, humid

Coastline

885 km

Elevation extremes

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

highest point

Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; poaching

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%) 87 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

87 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%)

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

2,551 km Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

border countries

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

total

2,551 km

Land use

1.21% 0.64% 98.15% (2005)

arable land

1.21%

other

98.15% (2005)

permanent crops

0.64%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

164 cu km (1987)

Age structure

42.2% (male 333,746/female 330,959) 54% (male 424,392/female 426,478) 3.9% (male 25,687/female 35,403) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

42.2% (male 333,746/female 330,959)

15-64 years

54% (male 424,392/female 426,478)

65 years and over

3.9% (male 25,687/female 35,403) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

35.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.8% (2001)

Death rate

13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 95% of population rural: 41% of population total: 87% of population urban: 5% of population rural: 59% of population total: 13% of population (2008)

rural

59% of population

total

13% of population (2008)

urban

5% of population

Education expenditures

NA

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

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.2% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,400 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

46,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.25 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

49.95 deaths/1,000 live births 57.87 deaths/1,000 live births 41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

49.95 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

52.49 years 51.78 years 53.22 years (2011 est.)

female

53.22 years (2011 est.)

total population

52.49 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 63.2% 73.7% 53.3% (1995 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

53.3% (1995 est.)

male

73.7%

total population

63.2%

Major cities - population

LIBREVILLE (capital) 619,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and chikungunya schistosomiasis rabies (2009)

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria and chikungunya

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Maternal mortality rate

260 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

18.6 years 18.4 years 18.9 years (2011 est.)

female

18.9 years (2011 est.)

male

18.4 years

total

18.6 years

Nationality

Gabonese (singular and plural) Gabonese

adjective

Gabonese

noun

Gabonese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

Population

1,576,665 (July 2011 est.) 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population growth rate

1.999% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 33% of population rural: 30% of population total: 33% of population urban: 27% of population rural: 30% of population total: 27% of population (2008)

rural

30% of population

total

27% of population (2008)

urban

27% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 12 years 12 years (2002)

female

12 years (2002)

male

12 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.72 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.72 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.59 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

86% of total population (2010) 2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

86% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Libreville 0 23 N, 9 27 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

0 23 N, 9 27 E

name

Libreville

time difference

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

Constitution

adopted 14 March 1991

Country name

Gabonese Republic Gabon Republique Gabonaise Gabon

conventional long form

Gabonese Republic

conventional short form

Gabon

local long form

Republique Gabonaise

local short form

Gabon

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Erik D. BENJAMINSON Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch:2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270 [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 07380171 [241] 74 55 07

chief of mission

Ambassador Erik D. BENJAMINSON

embassy

Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville

FAX

[241] 74 55 07

mailing address

Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch:2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270

telephone

[241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 07380171

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Michael MOUSSA-ADAMO Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 temporary address: 1630 Connecticut Avenue NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 797-1000 [1] (202) 332-0668 New York

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael MOUSSA-ADAMO

consulate(s)

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 332-0668

telephone

[1] (202) 797-1000

temporary address

1630 Connecticut Avenue NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20009

Executive branch

President Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009) Prime Minister Paul BIYOGHE MBA (since 15 July 2009) Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president President Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba elected; percent of vote - Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO 3.9%, other 3.3% President BONGO died on 8 June 2009 after serving as president for 32 years; in accordance with the constitution he was replaced on an interim basis by the president of the Senate, Rose Francine ROGOMBE on 10 June 2009; new elections were held on 30 August 2009 and the son of the former president, Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba, was elected president

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009)

election results

President Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba elected; percent of vote - Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO 3.9%, other 3.3%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Paul BIYOGHE MBA (since 15 July 2009)

Flag description

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

Government type

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Independence

17 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (102 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) Senate - last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in January 2015); National Assembly - last held on 17 and 24 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 75, RPG 6, UGDD 3, CLR 2, PGCI 2, PSD 2, UPG 2, ADERE 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

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 75, RPG 6, UGDD 3, CLR 2, PGCI 2, PSD 2, UPG 2, ADERE 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 on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in January 2015); National Assembly - last held on 17 and 24 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011)

National anthem

"La Concorde" (The Concorde) Georges Aleka DAMAS adopted 1960

lyrics/music

Georges Aleka DAMAS

name

"La Concorde" (The Concorde)

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

National symbol(s)

black panther

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 [Benoit Mouity NZAMBA]; 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]; Party of Development and Social Solidarity or PDS [Seraphin Ndoat REMBOGO]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; 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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$4.223 billion $3.628 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$3.628 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$4.223 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

4.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3% (31 December 2010 est.) 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2010 est.) 15% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

$3.513 billion (2010 est.) $788.1 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.247 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Economy - overview

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most sub-Saharan African nations, but 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 more than 50% of GDP although the industry is in decline as fields pass their peak production. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports and the global recession led to a GDP contraction of 1.4% in 2009. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. 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 from 1999 to 2008 helped growth, but drops in production have hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2007, and later that year issued a $1 billion sovereign bond to buy back a sizable portion of its Paris Club debt.

Electricity - consumption

1.6 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

1.963 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) 481.83 (2007) 522.89 (2006)

Exports

$9.371 billion (2010 est.) $5.941 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil 70%, timber, manganese, uranium

Exports - partners

US 30.4%, China 12.7%, Australia 5.5%, Malaysia 5.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4%, Spain 4.4% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

5.2% 53.7% 41.1% (2010 est.)

agriculture

5.2%

industry

53.7%

services

41.1% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,500 (2010 est.) $14,000 (2009 est.) $14,500 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.7% (2010 est.) -1.4% (2009 est.) 2.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.06 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$22.48 billion (2010 est.) $21.27 billion (2009 est.) $21.57 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.5% 32.7% (2005)

highest 10%

32.7% (2005)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Imports

$2.494 billion (2010 est.) $2.298 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners

France 29.4%, US 9.9%, China 9.2%, Belgium 5.2%, Cameroon 5.1%, Netherlands 4.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

4.8% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.) 1.9% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

714,500 (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

60% 15% 25% (2000 est.)

agriculture

60%

industry

15%

services

25% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

80 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

80 million cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

213,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

4,822 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

227,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

2 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

20.9% of GDP (2010 est.) 26.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.746 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.83 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.559 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.351 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $857.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.87 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.683 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (2006 est.)

Broadcast media

state owns and operates 2 TV stations and 2 radio broadcast stations; a few private radio and TV stations are operational; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available (2007)

Internet country code

.ga

Internet hosts

90 (2010)

Internet users

98,800 (2009)

Telephone system

adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available; subscribership reached 90 per 100 persons in 2009 country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

domestic

a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available; subscribership reached 90 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

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

international

country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

30,400 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.61 million (2010)

Airports

44 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

9

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1

over 3,047 m

1

total

13

under 914 m

1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

14 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

6

914 to 1,523 m

11

total

31

under 914 m

14 (2010)

Merchant marine

2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)

registered in other countries

2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 294 km; oil 893 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil

Railways

649 km 649 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)

total

649 km

Roadways

9,170 km 937 km 8,233 km (2004)

total

9,170 km

unpaved

8,233 km (2004)

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

350,640 351,718 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

351,718 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

350,640

Manpower fit for military service

202,404 195,389 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

195,389 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

202,404

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

17,638 17,614 (2010 est.)

female

17,614 (2010 est.)

male

17,638

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2009)

Disputes - international

UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

Refugees and internally displaced persons

7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)