2016 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

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

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

377 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point

Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

mean elevation

377 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

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 (2012)

Land boundaries

3,261 km Cameroon 349 km, Republic of the Congo 2,567 km, Equatorial Guinea 345 km

border countries (3)

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

total

3,261 km

Land use

19% arable land 1.2%; permanent crops 0.6%; permanent pasture 17.2% 81% 0% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

19%

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

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

Age structure

41.98% (male 366,875/female 363,031) 20.37% (male 177,501/female 176,653) 29.59% (male 257,841/female 256,604) 4.28% (male 35,895/female 38,533) 3.77% (male 28,137/female 37,471) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

41.98% (male 366,875/female 363,031)

15-24 years

20.37% (male 177,501/female 176,653)

25-54 years

29.59% (male 257,841/female 256,604)

55-64 years

4.28% (male 35,895/female 38,533)

65 years and over

3.77% (male 28,137/female 37,471) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

34.3 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.5% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

31.1% (2012)

Death rate

13.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Demographic profile

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. With a fertility rate still averaging more than 4 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.

Dependency ratios

73.1% 64.3% 8.8% 11.3% (2015 est.)

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.)

rural

33.3% of population

total

6.8% of population (2015 est.)

urban

2.8% 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

3.4% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.76% (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,300 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

46,700 (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

45.1 deaths/1,000 live births 52 deaths/1,000 live births 38 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

38 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

52 deaths/1,000 live births

total

45.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

52.1 years 51.6 years 52.5 years (2016 est.)

female

52.5 years (2016 est.)

male

51.6 years

total population

52.1 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 83.2% 85.3% 81% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

81% (2015 est.)

male

85.3%

total population

83.2%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and dengue fever schistosomiasis rabies (2016)

animal contact disease

rabies (2016)

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

18.6 years 18.4 years 18.8 years (2016 est.)

female

18.8 years (2016 est.)

male

18.4 years

total

18.6 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.3 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)

Nationality

Gabonese (singular and plural) Gabonese

adjective

Gabonese

noun

Gabonese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

15.8% (2014)

Population

1,738,541 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 2016 est.)

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 2016 est.)

Population growth rate

1.92% (2016 est.)

Religions

Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 13.7%, other Christian 32.4%, Muslim 6.4%, animist 0.3%, other 0.3%, none/no answer 5% (2012 est.)

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.)

rural

68.5% of population

total

58.1% of population (2015 est.)

urban

56.6% of population

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.75 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.43 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

35.7% 30.6% 41.9% (2010 est.)

female

41.9% (2010 est.)

male

30.6%

total

35.7%

Urbanization

87.2% of total population (2015) 2.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

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)

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon no 10 years

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

Constitution

previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991; amended several times, last in 2011 (2016)

Country name

Gabonese Republic Gabon Republique Gabonaise Gabon 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

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

Republique Gabonaise

local short form

Gabon

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Cythia AKUETTEH (since 13 August 2014); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch: 2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270 [241] 01-45-71-00 [241] 01-74-55-07

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] 01-74-55-07

mailing address

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

telephone

[241] 01-45-71-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Michael MOUSSA-NDONG (since September 19, 2011) 2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 797-1000 [1] (301) 332-0668

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael MOUSSA-NDONG (since September 19, 2011)

FAX

[1] (301) 332-0668

telephone

[1] (202) 797-1000

Executive branch

President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009) Prime Minister Emmanuel ISSOZE-NGONDET (since 29 September 2016) Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 August 2016 (next to be held in August 2023); prime minister appointed by the president Ali BONGO Ondimba re-elected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0%

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 re-elected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 August 2016 (next to be held in August 2023); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Emmanuel ISSOZE-NGONDET (since 29 September 2016)

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

presidential republic

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

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 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 7-year, single renewable terms Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts

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 7-year, single renewable terms

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (number of seats not fixed; 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) Senate - last held on 13 December 2014 (next to be held in January 2021); National Assembly - last held on 17 December 2011 (next to be held in December 2016) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 81, CLR 7, PSD 2, ADERE-UPG 1, UPG 1, PGCI 1, independent 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 114, RPG 3, other 3

description

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (number of seats not fixed; 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 81, CLR 7, PSD 2, ADERE-UPG 1, UPG 1, PGCI 1, independent 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 114, RPG 3, other 3

elections

Senate - last held on 13 December 2014 (next to be held in January 2021); National Assembly - last held on 17 December 2011 (next to be held in December 2016)

National anthem

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

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

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] United Forced for Change or UFC [Jean PING]

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

$3.053 billion $3.431 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$3.431 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$3.053 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.6% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.3% (31 December 2015 est.) 15% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$409 million (2015 est.) $1.467 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$4.883 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $4.326 billion (31 December 2014 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 relied on timber and manganese exports until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. From 2010 to 2014, oil accounted for approximately 80% of Gabon’s exports, 45% of its GDP, and 60% of its state budget revenues. Gabon faces fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. A rebound of oil prices from 2001 to 2013 helped growth, but declining production, as some fields passed their peak production, has hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. GDP grew nearly 6% per year over the 2010-14 period, but slowed significantly in 2015 as oil prices declined. Low oil prices also weakened government revenue and negatively affected the trade and current account balances. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management and over-reliance on oil has stifled the economy. There are frequent power cuts and water shortages. 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.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 591.45 (2015 est.) 494.42 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.)

Exports

$5.181 billion (2015 est.) $8.474 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, timber, manganese, uranium

Exports - partners

China 15.5%, Italy 7.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.2%, Australia 7%, Spain 6.3%, South Korea 5.4%, Netherlands 5%, US 4.7% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

37.9% 15% 29.3% 0% 45.9% -28.1% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

45.9%

government consumption

15%

household consumption

37.9%

imports of goods and services

-28.1% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

29.3%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

4.7% 52.8% 42.5% (2015 est.)

agriculture

4.7%

industry

52.8%

services

42.5% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,600 (2015 est.) $18,200 (2014 est.) $17,700 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2015 est.) 4.3% (2014 est.) 5.6% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.35 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$34.58 billion (2015 est.) $33.24 billion (2014 est.) $31.87 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

26.5% of GDP (2015 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2014 est.) 34.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.5% 32.7% (2005)

highest 10%

32.7% (2005)

lowest 10%

2.5%

Imports

$3.061 billion (2015 est.) $4.046 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners

China 21.4%, France 19.6%, US 6.6%, Benin 4.7%, Netherlands 4% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2015 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.6% (2015 est.) 4.7% (2014 est.)

Labor force

660,900 (2015 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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

39.3% of GDP (2015 est.) 31.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.878 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $2.495 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$4.545 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $4.421 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.382 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $2.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.251 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $2.448 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

21% (2006 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

200,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

213,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

2 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

2.1 billion kWh (2014 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

400 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

600,000 kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

2.3 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

200,000 89% 97% 38% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

38% (2013)

electrification - total population

89%

electrification - urban areas

97%

population without electricity

200,000

Natural gas - consumption

420 million cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

420 million cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

7,212 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

5,364 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

21,750 bbl/day (2013 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

401,000 23.5% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

23.5% (July 2015 est.)

total

401,000

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 with mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 170 per 100 persons 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) (2015)

domestic

a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 170 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) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

18,758 1 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

18,758

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.958 million 173 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

173 (July 2015 est.)

total

2.958 million

Airports

44 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

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

under 914 m

14 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TR (2016)

Merchant marine

2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)

registered in other countries

2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)

National air transport system

137,331 0 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

137,331

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

7

number of registered air carriers

5

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil Gamba, Lucina

major seaport(s)

Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil

oil terminal(s)

Gamba, Lucina

Railways

649 km 649 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

649 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

649 km

Roadways

9,170 km 1,097 km 8,073 km (2007)

paved

1,097 km

total

9,170 km

unpaved

8,073 km (2007)

Waterways

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

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)

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

Trafficking in persons

Gabon is primarily a destination and transit country for adults and children from West and Central African countries subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; boys are forced to work as street vendors, mechanics, or in the fishing sector, while girls are subjected to domestic servitude or forced to work in markets or roadside restaurants; West African women are forced into domestic servitude or prostitution; men are reportedly forced to work on cattle farms; some foreign adults end up in forced labor in Gabon after initially seeking the help of human smugglers to help them migrate clandestinely; traffickers operate in loose, ethnic-based criminal networks, with female traffickers recruiting and facilitating the transport of victims from source countries; in some cases, families turn child victims over to traffickers, who promise paid jobs in Gabon Tier 2 Watch List – Gabon does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; Gabon’s existing laws do not prohibit all forms of trafficking, and the government failed to pass a legal amendment drafted in 2013 to criminalize the trafficking of adults; anti-trafficking law enforcement decreased in 2014, dropping from 50 investigations to 16, and the only defendant to face prosecution fled the country; government efforts to identify and refer victims to protective services declined from 50 child victims in 2013 to just 3 in 2014, none of whom was referred to a care facility; the government provided support to four centers offering services to orphans and vulnerable children – 14 child victims identified by an NGO received government assistance; no adult victims have been identified since 2009 (2015)

current situation

Gabon is primarily a destination and transit country for adults and children from West and Central African countries subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; boys are forced to work as street vendors, mechanics, or in the fishing sector, while girls are subjected to domestic servitude or forced to work in markets or roadside restaurants; West African women are forced into domestic servitude or prostitution; men are reportedly forced to work on cattle farms; some foreign adults end up in forced labor in Gabon after initially seeking the help of human smugglers to help them migrate clandestinely; traffickers operate in loose, ethnic-based criminal networks, with female traffickers recruiting and facilitating the transport of victims from source countries; in some cases, families turn child victims over to traffickers, who promise paid jobs in Gabon

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Gabon does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; Gabon’s existing laws do not prohibit all forms of trafficking, and the government failed to pass a legal amendment drafted in 2013 to criminalize the trafficking of adults; anti-trafficking law enforcement decreased in 2014, dropping from 50 investigations to 16, and the only defendant to face prosecution fled the country; government efforts to identify and refer victims to protective services declined from 50 child victims in 2013 to just 3 in 2014, none of whom was referred to a care facility; the government provided support to four centers offering services to orphans and vulnerable children – 14 child victims identified by an NGO received government assistance; no adult victims have been identified since 2009 (2015)