Background
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[ Geography ] [ People ] [ Government ] [ Economy ] [ Communications ] [ Transportation ] [ Military ]

Geography

Background: Ruled by autocratic presidents since independence from France in 1960, Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and for reforms of governmental institutions. A small population, abundant natural resources, and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous black African countries.

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

Area:
total: 267,670 sq km
land: 257,670 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km

Land boundaries:
total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Coastline: 885 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone : 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; always hot, humid

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

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

Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore

Land use:
arable land: 1.21%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 98.15% (2005)

Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.) 150 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: deforestation; poaching

Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

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People

Population: 1,190,159 (July 1997 est.); up to 1,208,436 (2000 ); 1,233,353 (2002); 1,485,832 (July 2008 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

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 314,078/female 311,900)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 399,586/female 401,602)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 24,388/female 34,278) (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.47% (1997 est.); 1.08% (2000 est.); 0.97% (2002 est.); 1.954% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 27.6 births/1,000 population (2000 est.);27.24 births/1,000 population (2002 est.); 35.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 16.83 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.);17.59 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.); 12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.); 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.); -3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 87.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.); 96.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.); 93.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.); 52.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.52 years
male: 52.5 years
female: 54.57 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.73 children born/woman (2000 est. ;3.65 children born/woman (2002 est.); 4.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese

Ethnic groups: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including 6,000 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality

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

Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)

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Government

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 (opposition parties legalized 1990)

National capital: Libreville

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: Independence Day, 17 August (1960) (Gabon granted full independence from France)

Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991

Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
head of government :Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE (since 23 January 1999)
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; election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%

Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of a Senate (91 seats) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms
elections : National Assembly - last held in December 1996 (next to be held in December 2001); Senate - last held 12 January 1997 (next to be held in January 2002)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 89, PGP 9, RNB 6, CLR 3, UPG 2, USG 2, independents 4, others 5; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9
note: the provision of the constitution for the establishment of a senate was implemented in the 12 January 1997 elections

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (2); Court of State Security; County Courts

Political parties and leaders: African Forum for Reconstruction or FAR [Leon MBOU-YEMBI]; 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, former sole party [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA, secretary general]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE, president]; Gabonese People's Union or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]; 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]

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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

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Economy

Economy - overview: Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations. but because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The 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. The devaluation of the CFA franc - 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 since 1999 have helped growth, but drops in production have hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains, and will continue to temper the gains for most of this decade. 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.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.3 billion (1996 est.); $7.9 billion (1999 est.); $6.7 billion (2001 est.); $20.09 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - 2.6% (1996 est.), 1.7% (1999 est.); 2.5% (2001 est.); 4.5% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,400 (1996 est.); $6,500 (1999 est.); $5,500 (2001 est.); $13,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 58.8%
services: 35.5% (2007 est.)

Inflation rate - consumer prices: 6.2% (1996 est.); 2.9% (1999 est.); 1.5% (2001 est.); 5% (2007 est.)

Labor force: 582,000 (2007 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10%-14% (1993 est.); 21% (1997 est.); 21% (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.353 billion
expenditures: $2.283 billion (2007 est.)

Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair

Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production: 1.52 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - consumption: 953 million kWh (1998); 790.5 million kWh (2000); 1.241 billion kWh (2005)

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

Exports:
total value: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995); $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.); $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.); $6.856 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
commodities:crude oil 75%, timber, manganese, uranium (1998) crude oil 81%, timber, manganese, uranium (2000)
partners: US 27.6%, China 15.9%, France 7.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.4%, Thailand 4.3% (2006)

Imports:
total value: $700 million (f.o.b., 1995); $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.); $921 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.); $1.951 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, petroleum products, construction materials
partners: France 35.4%, US 7.6%, Netherlands 5.5%, Cameroon 4.5%, Belgium 4.3% (2006)

Debt - external: $3.9 billion (1996 ); $4.6 billion (1999 est.); $3.6 billion (2001 est.); $3.579 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: $53.87 million (2005)

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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Communications

Telephones: 32,000 (1995); 39,000 (2000); 36,500 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1995); 120,000 (2000); 764,700 (2006)

Telephone system: adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with three providers; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeded 50 per 100 persons in 2006
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; 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)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 7, shortwave 6 (1998); AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2001); AM 6, FM 7 (plus 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios: 208,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 4 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997) ,3 (plus six repeaters) (2001)

Televisions: 63,000 (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999), 4 (2001

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Transportation

Railways:
total: 814 km
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Highways:
total: 9,170 km
paved: 937 km
unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)

Waterways: 1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2007)

Ports and harbors: Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil

Merchant Marine:
registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2007)

Airports: 53 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 23 (2007)

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Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military manpower - availability:
males age 16-49: 331,181
females age 16-49: 332,498 (2008 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 192,717
females age 16-49: 188,539 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.4% (2005 est.)

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