2015 Edition

Background

El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential election in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, a new election brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.

Area

land

257,667 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

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, 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)

per capita

97.68 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.14 cu km/yr (61%/10%/29%)

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

44.5 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

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

total

3,261 km

Land use

arable land 1.2%; permanent crops 0.6%; permanent pasture 17.2%

agricultural land

18.1%

forest

81%

other

0% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

42.06% (male 360,412/female 356,787)

15-24 years

20.29% (male 173,395/female 172,678)

25-54 years

29.66% (male 253,304/female 252,493)

55-64 years

4.2% (male 34,561/female 37,108)

65 years and over

3.79% (male 27,621/female 36,977) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

34.49 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.5% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

31.1% (2012)

Death rate

13.12 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

8.8%

potential support ratio

11.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

73.1%

youth dependency ratio

64.3%

Drinking water source

urban: 97.2% of population

rural: 66.7% of population

total: 93.2% of population

urban: 2.8% of population

rural: 33.3% of population

total: 6.8% of population (2015 est.)

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

3.8% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.91% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,500 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

47,500 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

38.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

53.11 deaths/1,000 live births

total

46.07 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

52.53 years (2015 est.)

male

51.56 years

total population

52.04 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

81% (2015 est.)

male

85.3%

total population

83.2%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria and dengue fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

LIBREVILLE (capital) 707,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

291 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

18.8 years (2015 est.)

male

18.4 years

total

18.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Gabonese

noun

Gabonese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

15.8% (2014)

Population

1,705,336

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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.93% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 43.4% of population

rural: 31.5% of population

total: 41.9% of population

urban: 56.6% of population

rural: 68.5% of population

total: 58.1% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.46 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

41.9% (2010 est.)

male

30.6%

total

35.7%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

87.2% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

0 23 N, 9 27 E

name

Libreville

time difference

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

Citizenship

birthright citizenship

no, unless at least one parent is a citizen of Gabon

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991; amended several times, last in 2011

Country name

conventional long form

Gabonese Republic

conventional short form

Gabon

local long form

Republique Gabonaise

local short form

Gabon

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Cythia Akuetteh (since 13 August 2014); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

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] 01-45-71-00, after hours - 07380171

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Baudelaire Ndong ELLA (since 31 July 2015)

consulate(s)

New York

FAX

[1] (301) 332-0668

telephone

[1] (202) 797-1000

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009)

election results

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%; note

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-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 Daniel ONA ONDO (since 27 January 2014)

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, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (organized into Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts chambers and consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointment and tenure 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 7-year, single renewable terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; county courts; military courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (102 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal councils and departmental assemblies by absolute majority vote in two rounds; members serve 6-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms)

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, independent 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 114, RPG 3, other 3

elections

Senate - last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in January 2015); National Assembly - last held on 17 December 2011 (next to be held in December 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Georges Aleka DAMAS

name

"La Concorde" (The Concorde)

note

adopted 1960

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

National symbol(s)

black panther; national colors: green, yellow, blue

Political parties and leaders

Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean-Boniface ASSELE]

Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [DIDJOB Divungui di Ndinge]

Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG [Ali BONGO Ondimba]

Independent Center Party of Gabon or PGCI [Luccheri GAHILA]

National Rally of Woodcutters-Democratic or RNB-D [Pierre Andre KOMBILA]

Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]

Union for the New Republic or UPRN [Louis Gaston MAYILA]

Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Richard MOULOMBA]

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

expenditures

$5.487 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$5.263 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3% (31 December 2010)

4.25% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2014 est.)

15% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$1.51 billion (2014 est.)

$2.156 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$4.736 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.316 billion (31 December 2013 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 economy was reliant on oil for about 50% of its GDP, about 70% of revenues, and 87% of goods exports for 2010, although some fields have passed their peak production. A rebound of oil prices from 1999 to 2013 helped growth, but declining production has 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. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management has stifled the economy. However, President BONGO has made efforts to increase transparency and is taking steps to make Gabon a more attractive investment destination to diversify the economy. BONGO has attempted to boost growth by increasing government investment in human resources and infrastructure. GDP grew nearly 6% per year over the 2010-14 period.

Exchange rates

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

494.42 (2014 est.)

494.42 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports

$8.872 billion (2014 est.)

$8.946 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, timber, manganese, uranium

Exports - partners

China 15.8%, Japan 14.6%, Australia 11%, US 7.9%, India 7.8%, South Korea 6.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.6%, Spain 4.4% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

51%

government consumption

17.3%

household consumption

36.4%

imports of goods and services

-35.3%

investment in fixed capital

28%

investment in inventories

2.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.6%

industry

42.9%

services

53.5% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$20,800 (2014 est.)

$19,900 (2013 est.)

$18,800 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.3% (2014 est.)

5.6% (2013 est.)

5.3% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$18.21 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$32.91 billion (2014 est.)

$31.55 billion (2013 est.)

$29.87 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

35% of GDP (2014 est.)

38.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

39.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

32.7% (2005)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Imports

$3.089 billion (2014 est.)

$2.938 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners

France 20%, Cote d'Ivoire 15.3%, China 9.6%, US 9.3%, Algeria 5.1%, Belgium 4.5% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.3% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2014 est.)

0.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

640,300 (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

60%

industry

15%

services

25% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

28.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

26.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.495 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.018 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.545 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.421 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.35 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.448 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.011 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (2006 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.437 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

226,800 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

240,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

2 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

1.68 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

59% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

41% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

415,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

2.111 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

384 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

384 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

5,678 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

5,042 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

18,750 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

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 (2007)

Internet country code

.ga

Internet users

percent of population

9.9% (2014 est.)

total

164,800

Radio broadcast stations

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

Telephone system

domestic

a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons

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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

17,200

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

215 (2014 est.)

total

3.6 million

Television broadcast stations

4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2001)

Airports

44 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

9

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

1

over 3,047 m

1

total

14

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

14 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

7

914 to 1,523 m

9

total

30

Merchant marine

registered in other countries

2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil

oil terminal(s)

Gamba, Lucina

Railways

standard gauge

649 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

649 km

Roadways

paved

1,097 km

total

9,170 km

unpaved

8,073 km (2007)

Waterways

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

351,718 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

350,640

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

195,389 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

202,404

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

17,614 (2010 est.)

male

17,638

Military branches

Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Force (Force Terrestre), Gabonese Navy (Marine Gabonaise), Gabonese Air Forces (Forces Aerienne Gabonaises, FAG) (2012)

Military expenditures

1.34% of GDP (2012)

NA% (2011)

1.34% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

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