Gabon

Gabonese RepublicRepublique gabonaise

republicIndependence 17 August 1960 (from France)

Gabon as the 2006 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 126 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLibreville, UTC+1
Position1 00 S, 11 45 E
Area267,667 sq km
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
2006

Every edition of Gabon

Populationas each edition published it
1.42 million July 2006 est. · 1.07m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.13% 2006 est. · 1.45% in 1993
Median ageyears
18.6 years 2006 est. · 18.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
54.49 years 2006 est. · 54.19 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.74 children per woman 2006 est. · 4 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
54.51 deaths per 1,000 live births 2006 est. · 106 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$7,000 2005 est. · $4,200 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.9% 2005 est. · 13% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated the contry's political scene for almost four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon.

Gabon's political opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 267,667 sq km

arable land 1.21%permanent crops 0.64%other 98.15% (2005)irrigated 70 sq km (2003)
Area
267,667sq km
land: 257,667 sq kmwater: 10,000 sq kmslightly smaller than Colorado
Coastline
885km
territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Highest point
1,575m
Mont Iboundjilowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
2,551km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 11 45 E

Climate

tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain

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

Natural resources

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation; poaching

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

  • a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries;
  • in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity

People

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2006 est.)

23,576
65 and over4%
33,262
383,137
15-6453.9%
384,876
300,914
0-1442.1%
299,141
MaleFemale
Population
1,424,906
growth rate: 2.13% (2006 est.)
Note
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2006 est.)

Birth
36.16Death
12.25Net migration
-2.65

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2006 est.)54.49
53.21 · 55.81Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)54.51
63.65 · 45.1
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)63.2%
73.7% · 53.3%Median age years (2006 est.)18.6
18.4 · 18.8
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.71 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:
malaria (2005)

Nationality

noun:
Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Gabonese

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

Religions

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

Languages

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

Government

Republic; President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2 December 1967); Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe NDONG (since 20 January 2006)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

79.2%
El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in 2012)

Senate, 120 seats, elected 26 January and 9 February 2003one dot, one seat

PDG 86RNB-RPG 8PGP 3ADERE 3CLR 2PUP 1PSD 1independents 13others 3

Country name

conventional long form:
Gabonese Republic
conventional short form:
Gabon
local long form:
Republique gabonaise
local short form:
Gabon

Government type

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Capital

name:
Libreville
geographic coordinates:
0 23 N, 9 27 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

17 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

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

Constitution

adopted 14 March 1991

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2 December 1967)
head of government:
Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe NDONG (since 20 January 2006)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections:
  • president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits);
  • election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in 2012);
  • prime minister appointed by the president
election results:
President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%

Legislative branch

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

elections:
  • Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009);
  • National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006)
election results:
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9;
  • National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
  • seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP 1, PSD 1, independents 13, others 3

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

Political parties and leaders

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

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJA
chancery:
Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 797-1000
FAX:
[1] (202) 332-0668
consulate(s):
New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY
embassy:
Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville
mailing address:
Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone:
[241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92
FAX:
[241] 74 55 07

Flag description

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

Economy

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations.

45 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$9.739billion
(2005 est.)official exchange rate: $6.697 billion (2005 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$7,000
(2005 est.)
Real growth rate
2.9%
(2005 est.)industrial production growth: 1.6% (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2005 est.)

agriculture 6.1%industry 59.2%services 34.8% (2005 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

53.5%
US
6.4%
6.4%
France
40.6%
6.3%
China
Cameroon
4.2%
4%
Trinidad and Tobago
Exports $5.813 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)Imports $1.533 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)(2005)

Budget

Revenues
$2.463 billionExpenditures
$1.618 billion (2005 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $325 million

Electricity

Electricity production
1.487 billion (2003)Electricity consumption
1.383 billion (2003)

Economy - overview

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet, because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s.

The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. Devaluation of its currency by 50% in January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%;

the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandated progress in privatization and fiscal discipline.

France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform.

The rebound of oil prices in 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December 2001.

Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.

Labor force

640,000 (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
60%
industry:
15%
services:
25%

Unemployment rate

21% (1997 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

24.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Public debt

33.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

268,900 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

12,250 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves

1.921 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production

90 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

90 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

33.98 billion cu m (2005)

Current account balance

$675 million (2005 est.)

Exports

$5.813 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$1.533 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$675.2 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$3.903 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$331 million (1995)

Currency (code)

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

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
649,800
(2005)
Fixed lines
39,100
(2005) · country code .ga

Telephone system

general assessment:
adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system
domestic:
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;
  • satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
  • fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations

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

Television broadcast stations

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

Internet users

67,000 (2005)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
1
2,438 to 3,047 m
8
1,524 to 2,437 m
7
1
914 to 1,523 m
15
under 914 m
23
Paved 11Unpaved 45

Networkskm

Roadways
32,333Railways
814Waterways
1,600 (2005)
Roadways: paved: 6,247 km · unpaved: 26,086 km (2003) · Railways: standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2005) · Waterways: (310 km on Ogooue River)

Airports

56 (2006)

Pipelines

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

Railways

total:
814 km
standard gauge:
814 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways

total:
32,333 km
paved:
6,247 km
unpaved:
26,086 km (2003)

Waterways

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

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals

Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil

Military

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

6 fields

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49:
278,826
females age 18-49:
279,865 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49:
159,198
females age 18-49:
156,122 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49:
15,325
females age 18-49:
15,367 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Gabon.” The World Factbook 2006. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gabon/2006.

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