{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

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.

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "1 00 S, 11 45 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Africa" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "267,667 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "257,667 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "10,000 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly smaller than Colorado" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "3,261 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Cameroon 349 km, Republic of the Congo 2567 km, Equatorial Guinea 345 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "885 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; always hot, humid" }, "Terrain": { "text": "narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Mont Iboundji 1,575 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "377 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "19% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "81% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "0% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "40 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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 as shown in this population distribution map" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "none" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "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 and Society": { "Population": { "text": "2,284,912 (July 2021 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", "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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Gabonese (singular and plural)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Gabonese" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "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)" }, "Languages": { "text": "French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi" }, "Religions": { "text": "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.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

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.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "36.45% (male 413,883/female 399,374)" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "21.9% (male 254,749/female 233,770)" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "32.48% (male 386,903/female 337,776)" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "5.19% (male 58,861/female 56,843)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "3.98% (male 44,368/female 44,381) (2020 est.)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "68.9" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "62.9" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "6" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "16.8 (2020 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "21 years" }, "male": { "text": "21.4 years" }, "female": { "text": "20.6 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "2.41% (2021 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "26.14 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "3.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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 as shown in this population distribution map" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "90.4% of total population (2021)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "845,000 LIBREVILLE (capital) (2021)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "1.09 male(s)/female" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "1.15 male(s)/female" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "1 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1.08 male(s)/female (2020 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "20.3 years (2012 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29", "note": "note: median age at first birth among women 25-29" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "252 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "29.45 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "32.58 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "26.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "69.37 years" }, "male": { "text": "67.66 years" }, "female": { "text": "71.14 years (2021 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "3.36 children born/woman (2021 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "31.1% (2012)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 97% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 68% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 93.8% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0.3% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 32% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 6.2% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "Current Health Expenditure": { "text": "2.8% (2018)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "0.68 physicians/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "6.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 77.7% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 51.9% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 74.8% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 22.3% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 48.1% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 25.2% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "3% (2020 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": { "text": "46,000 (2020 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - deaths": { "text": "1,100 <1000 (2020 est.)" }, "Major infectious diseases": { "degree of risk": { "text": "very high (2020)" }, "food or waterborne diseases": { "text": "bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { "text": "malaria and dengue fever" }, "water contact diseases": { "text": "schistosomiasis" }, "animal contact diseases": { "text": "rabies" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "15% (2016)" }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "6.4% (2012)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "2.7% of GDP (2014)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "84.7%" }, "male": { "text": "85.9%" }, "female": { "text": "83.4% (2018)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "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": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "38.51 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "5.32 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "1.13 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "84.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "14.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "40.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "166 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; always hot, humid" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "19% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "81% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "0% (2018 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "forest revenues": { "text": "2.6% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Revenue from coal": { "coal revenues": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "90.4% of total population (2021)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major infectious diseases": { "degree of risk": { "text": "very high (2020)" }, "food or waterborne diseases": { "text": "bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { "text": "malaria and dengue fever" }, "water contact diseases": { "text": "schistosomiasis" }, "animal contact diseases": { "text": "rabies" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "238,102 tons (1995 est.)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Gabonese Republic" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Gabon" }, "local long form": { "text": "Republique Gabonaise" }, "local short form": { "text": "Gabon" }, "etymology": { "text": "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" } }, "Government type": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Libreville" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "0 23 N, 9 27 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": "etymology: original site settled by freed slaves and the name means \"free town\" in French; named in imitation of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone" }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem" }, "Independence": { "text": "17 August 1960 (from France)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Independence Day, 17 August (1960)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991" }, "amendments": { "text": "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 2020" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "10 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka RAPONDA (since 16 July 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president " }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "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" }, "election results": { "text": "Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0%" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "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)" }, "elections": { "text": "
Senate - last held on 13 December 2014 (next to be held on 31 December 2020)
National Assembly - held in 2 rounds on 6 and 27 October 2018 (next to be held in 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "
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%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "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]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Charge D'Affaires AD Interim- Rod Ciangillan REMBENDAMBYA, Counselor (3 March 2021)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 797-1000" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (301) 332-0668" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert E. WHITEHEAD (since March 2019); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe" }, "telephone": { "text": "[241] 01-45-71-00" }, "embassy": { "text": "Sabliere, B.P. 4000, Libreville" }, "mailing address": { "text": "Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch: 2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270" }, "FAX": { "text": "[241] 01-74-55-07" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "black panther; national colors: green, yellow, blue" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"La Concorde\" (The Concorde)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Georges Aleka DAMAS" }, "note": "note: adopted 1960" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "

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.

" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2017": { "text": "0.5% (2017 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2016": { "text": "2.1% (2016 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2015": { "text": "3.9% (2015 est.)" } }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "2.4% (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { "text": "4.7% (2018 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "2.6% (2017 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "CCC (2020)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "Caa1 (2018)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "N/A (2016)" } }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$32.48 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { "text": "$31.247 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": { "text": "$30.986 billion (2017 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2010 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$16.064 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$14,950 (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2018": { "text": "$14,744 (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2017": { "text": "$15,007 (2017 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2010 dollars" }, "Gross national saving": { "Gross national saving 2017": { "text": "25.6% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2016": { "text": "24.3% of GDP (2016 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2015": { "text": "29.2% of GDP (2015 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "5% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "44.7% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "50.4% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "37.6% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "14.1% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "29% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "-0.6% (2016 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "46.7% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-26.8% (2017 est.)" } }, "Ease of Doing Business Index scores": { "Overall score": { "text": "45 (2020)" }, "Starting a Business score": { "text": "87 (2020)" }, "Trading score": { "text": "43.9 (2020)" }, "Enforcement score": { "text": "32.8 (2020)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "plantains, cassava, sugar cane, yams, taro, vegetables, maize, groundnuts, game meat, rubber" }, "Industries": { "text": "petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "1.8% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "557,800 (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "64%" }, "industry": { "text": "12%" }, "services": { "text": "24% (2005 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2015": { "text": "28% (2015 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2014": { "text": "20.4% (2014 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "33.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017": { "text": "38 (2017 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "2.5%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "32.7% (2005)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "2.634 billion (2017 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "2.914 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-1.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "62.7% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "64.2% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2017": { "text": "-$725 million (2017 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2016": { "text": "-$1.389 billion (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2019": { "text": "$10.8 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Exports 2018": { "text": "$9.533 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports 2017": { "text": "$9.145 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "China 63%, Singapore 5% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "crude petroleum, manganese, lumber, veneer sheeting, refined petroleum (2019)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2019": { "text": "$5.02 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Imports 2018": { "text": "$4.722 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Imports 2017": { "text": "$4.749 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "France 22%, China 17%, Belgium 6%, United States 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "poultry meats, excavation machinery, packaged medicines, cars, rice (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$981.6 million (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$804.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 31 December 2017": { "text": "$6.49 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Debt - external 31 December 2016": { "text": "$5.321 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "currency": { "text": "Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "605.3 (2017 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2016": { "text": "593.01 (2016 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2015": { "text": "593.01 (2015 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2014": { "text": "591.45 (2014 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2013": { "text": "494.42 (2013 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "92% (2019)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "99% (2019)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "39% (2019)" } }, "Electricity - production": { "text": "2.244 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - consumption": { "text": "2.071 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - imports": { "text": "344 million kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - installed generating capacity": { "text": "671,000 kW (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from fossil fuels": { "text": "51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": { "text": "49% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from other renewable sources": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - production": { "text": "196,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "Crude oil - exports": { "text": "214,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - proved reserves": { "text": "2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "16,580 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - consumption": { "text": "24,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "4,662 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "10,680 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas - production": { "text": "401 million cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - consumption": { "text": "401 million cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - exports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - imports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - proved reserves": { "text": "28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)" } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "22,291" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "1.02 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "2,992,811" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "137.57 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "

politically stable and oil laden, Gabon is one of wealthiest nations in Africa; liberalized and competitive market led development of mobile broadband, data service, and tests of 5G; fixed-line sector underdeveloped due to the lack of competition and high prices; South Korean investment in fiber segments as part of Central African backbone; sufficient international bandwidth through submarine cable systems; government committed to backbone infrastructure and e-health services; efforts towards new legal and regulatory improvements (2020)

(2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-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 138 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 241; landing points 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)" }, "note": "note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments" }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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": { "text": ".ga" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "1,313,802" }, "percent of population": { "text": "62% (July 2018 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "22,332" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "1.03 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "3 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "8" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "TR" }, "Airports": { "total": { "text": "44 (2013)" } }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "14 (2019)" }, "over 3,047 m": { "text": "1" }, "2,438 to 3,047 m": { "text": "2" }, "1,524 to 2,437 m": { "text": "9" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "1" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "1" } }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "total": { "text": "30 (2013)" }, "1,524 to 2,437 m": { "text": "7 (2013)" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "9 (2013)" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "14 (2013)" } }, "Pipelines": { "text": "807 km gas, 1639 km oil, 3 km water (2013)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "649 km (2014)" }, "standard gauge": { "text": "649 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "14,300 km (2001)" }, "paved": { "text": "900 km (2001)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "13,400 km (2001)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2010)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "40" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 16, oil tanker 6, other 18 (2020)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil" }, "oil terminal(s)": { "text": "Gamba, Lucina" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Forces, National Gendarmerie; Republican Guard (land forces under direct presidential control) (2021)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.6% of GDP (2019)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "1.5% of GDP (2018)" }, "Military Expenditures 2017": { "text": "1.8% of GDP (2017)" }, "Military Expenditures 2016": { "text": "1.5% of GDP (2016)" }, "Military Expenditures 2015": { "text": "1.3% of GDP (2015)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "the Gabonese Defense Forces (FDG) are comprised of approximately 6,500 active duty troops including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2021)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the FDG is lightly armed with an inventory comprised mostly of Brazilian, French, and South African equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment with France and South Africa as the leading suppliers (2020)" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "450 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (Jan 2021)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021)" }, "Maritime threats": { "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, \"Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea.”" }, "Military - note": { "text": "members of the Gabonese Defense Forces attempted a failed coup in January 2019" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

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

" } } }