2019 Edition

Background

Following, independence from France in 1960, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-ruling heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). 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 his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, 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.President Ali BONGO Ondimba’s controversial August 2016 reelection sparked unprecedented opposition protests that resulted in the burning of the parliament building. The election was contested by the opposition after fraudulent results were flagged by international election observers. Gabon’s Constitutional Court reviewed the election results but ruled in favor of President BONGO, upholding his win and extending his mandate to 2023.

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

Highest Point

Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Lowest Point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean Elevation

377 m

Environment Current Issues

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

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

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

Border Countries

Cameroon 349 km, Republic of the Congo 2567 km, Equatorial Guinea 345 km

Total

3,261 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

19% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

1.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

17.2% (2011 est.)

Forest

81% (2011 est.)

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

none

Natural Resources

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

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

37.45% (male 405,676 /female 387,900)

15 24 Years

22.08% (male 245,490 /female 222,343)

25 54 Years

31.6% (male 355,348 /female 314,344)

55 64 Years

4.96% (male 54,679 /female 50,356)

65 Years And Over

3.91% (male 40,721 /female 42,179) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

26.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

6.4% (2012)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

31.1% (2012)

Current Health Expenditure

3.1% (2016)

Death Rate

6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 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

Elderly Dependency Ratio

7.6 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

13.2 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

67.4 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

59.9 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

66.7% of population

Improved Total

93.2% of population

Improved Urban

97.2% of population

Unimproved Rural

33.3% of population

Unimproved Total

6.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2.8% of population

Education Expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic Groups

Gabonese-born 80.1% (includes Fang 23.2%, Shira-Punu/Vili 18.9%, Nzabi-Duma 11.3%, Mbede-Teke 6.9%, Myene 5%, Kota-Kele 4.9%, Okande-Tsogo 2.1%, Pygmy .3%, other 7.5%), Cameroonian 4.6%, Malian 2.4%, Beninese 2.1%, acquired Gabonese nationality 1.6%, Togolese 1.6%, Senegalese 1.1%, Congolese (Brazzaville) 1%, other 5.5% (includes Congolese (Kinshasa), Equatorial Guinean, Nigerian) (2012)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

3.8% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

1,200 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

53,000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

6.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

29.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

36.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

32.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

69.6 years

Male

66.3 years

Total Population

68 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

81% (2015)

Male

85.3%

Total Population

83.2%

Major Infectious Diseases

Animal Contact Diseases

rabies (2016)

Degree Of Risk

very high (2016)

Food Or Waterborne Diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

malaria and dengue fever (2016)

Water Contact Diseases

schistosomiasis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

824,000 LIBREVILLE (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

252 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

20.2 years

Male

20.8 years

Total

20.5 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

20.3 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Gabonese

Noun

Gabonese (singular and plural)

Net Migration Rate

7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

15% (2016)

Physicians Density

0.36 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

2,119,036 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.73% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 42.3%, Protestant 12.3%, other Christian 27.4%, Muslim 9.8%, animist 0.6%, other 0.5%, none/no answer 7.1% (2012 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

31.5% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

41.9% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

43.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

68.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

58.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

56.6% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.05 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.1 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.13 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.09 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.97 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.08 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3.52 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

41.9% (2010 est.)

Male

30.5%

Total

35.7%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

2.61% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

89.7% of total population (2019)

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

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

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 2011 (2017)

History

previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991

Country Name

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

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert E. WHITEHEAD (since March 2019); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

Embassy

Sabliere, B.P. 4000, 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

Chancery

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

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Michael MOUSSA-ADAMO (since September 9, 2011)

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 reelected 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 Julien NKOGHE BEKALE (since 15 January 2019)

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

Highest Courts

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

Legal System

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative Branch

Description

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Senat (102 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal councils and departmental assemblies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 6-year terms) National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (143 seats; members elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 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; composition - men 84, women 18, percent of women 17.6% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 98, The Democrats or LD 11, RV 8, Social Democrats of Gabon 5, RH&M 4, other 9, independent 8; composition - men 123, women 20, percent of women 14%; note - total Parliament percent of women 15.5%

Elections

Senate - last held on 13 December 2014 (next to be held in January 2020) National Assembly - held in 2 rounds on 6 and 27 October 2018 (next to be held in 2023)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Georges Aleka DAMAS

Name

"La Concorde" (The Concorde)

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 [Gen. 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] Legacy and Modernity Party or RH&M Rally for Gabon or RPG Restoration of Republican Values or RV Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU] Social Democrats of Gabon The Democrats or LD Union for the New Republic or UPRN [Louis Gaston MAYILA] Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Richard MOULOMBA] Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Jean PING]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

2.914 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

2.634 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-1.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2009

4.25%

31 December 2010

3%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

14%

31 December 2017

15%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$1.389 billion

2017

-$725 million

Debt External

31 December 2016

$5.321 billion

31 December 2017

$6.49 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2005

42.2

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 2016, oil accounted for approximately 80% of Gabon’s exports, 45% of its GDP, and 60% of its state budget revenues.Gabon faces fluctuating international 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 from 2014 to just 1% in 2017 as oil prices declined. Low oil prices also weakened government revenue and negatively affected the trade and current account balances. In the wake of lower revenue, Gabon signed a 3-year agreement with the IMF in June 2017.Despite an abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management and over-reliance on oil has stifled the economy. Power cuts and water shortages are frequent. Gabon is reliant on imports and the government heavily subsidizes commodities, including food, but will be hard pressed to tamp down public frustration with unemployment and corruption.

Exchange Rates

2013

494.42

2014

591.45

2015

593.01

2016

593.01

2017

605.3

Currency

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

Exports

2016

$4.364 billion

2017

$5.564 billion

Exports Commodities

crude oil, timber, manganese, uranium

Exports Partners

China 36.4%, US 10%, Ireland 8.5%, Netherlands 6.3%, South Korea 5.1%, Australia 5%, Italy 4.6% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

46.7% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

14.1% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

37.6% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-26.8% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

29% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

-0.6% (2016 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

5% (2017 est.)

Industry

44.7% (2017 est.)

Services

50.4% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$14.93 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$18,500

2016

$18,400

2017

$18,100

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$35.75 billion

2016

$36.5 billion

2017

$36.66 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

3.9%

2016

2.1%

2017

0.5%

Gross National Saving

2015

29.2% of GDP

2016

24.3% of GDP

2017

25.6% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

32.7% (2005)

Lowest 10

2.5%

Imports

2016

$2.652 billion

2017

$2.829 billion

Imports Commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports Partners

France 23.6%, Belgium 19.6%, China 15.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

2.1%

2017

2.7%

Labor Force

557,800 (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

64%

Industry

12%

Services

24% (2005 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Population Below Poverty Line

34.3% (2015 est.)

Public Debt

2016

64.2% of GDP

2017

62.7% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$804.1 million

31 December 2017

$981.6 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$2.053 billion

31 December 2017

$2.357 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$3.097 billion

31 December 2017

$2.91 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$2.053 billion

31 December 2017

$2.357 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2014

20.4%

2015

28%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

4.293 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

214,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

196,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

55% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

91.4% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

96.7% (2016)

Population Without Electricity

200,000 (2017)

Electricity Consumption

2.071 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

344 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

671,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

2.244 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

401 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

401 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

4,662 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

10,680 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

16,580 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

1 (2017 est.)

Total

14,967

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

Internet Country Code

.ga

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

48.1% (July 2016 est.)

Total

835,408

Telephone System

Domestic

fiixed-line is 1 per 100 subscriptions; a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity at 150 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations; competition among telecoms, independent regulatory authority and reduction in cost connecting makes for strong telecommunications (2018)

International

country code - 241; landing point 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)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

1 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

21,235

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

150 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

2,663,243

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 (2019)

Under 914 M

1

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

7 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

9 (2013)

Total

30 (2013)

Under 914 M

14 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

TR (2016)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 11, oil tanker 1, other 17 (2018)

Total

29

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

137,331 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

7 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

5 (2015)

Pipelines

807 km gas, 1639 km oil, 3 km water (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 (2014)

Roadways

Paved

900 km (2001)

Total

14,300 km (2001)

Unpaved

13,400 km (2001)

Waterways

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

Military And Security Forces

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

2014

1.14% of GDP

2015

1.19% of GDP

2016

1.43% of GDP

2017

1.81% of GDP

2018

1.53% of GDP

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

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)