Introduction
Background
Gabon became independent from France in 1960. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba and then his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, ruled the country from 1967 to 2023, when a military coup ended the dynasty. A transitional president now leads Gabon.
Geography
Area
total: 267,667 sq km
land: 257,667 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
People and Society
Population
2,397,368 (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups
Fang 23.5%, Shira-Punu'Vii 20.6%, Nzabi-Duma 11.2%, Mbede-Teke 5.6%, Myene 4.4%, Kota-Kele 4.3%, Okande-Tsogho 1.6%, other 12.6%, foreigner 16.2% (2021 est.)
Languages
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Religions
Protestant 46.4% (Revival Church 37%, other Protestant 9.4%), Roman Catholic 29.8%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 10.8%, traditional/animist 1.1%, other 0.9%, none 7% (2019-21 est.)
Population growth rate
2.39% (2023 est.)
Government
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Libreville
Executive branch
chief of state: Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 4 September 2023); note - on 30 August 2023, Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema led a military group called the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions in a coup in which President Ali BONGO Ondimba was arrested and detained, election results were canceled, and state institutions were dissolved; on 4 September 2023, Gen. OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president; note- the military government announced on 13 November 2023 that presidential and legislative elections will be held in August 2025
head of government: Interim Prime Minister Raymond Ndong SIMA (since 8 September 2023)
Legislative branch
description: Transitional Parliament (formerly the bicameral Parliament) consists of:
Senate (70 seats; members appointed by Transitional president; member term NA)
National Assembly (98 seats; members appointed by the Transitional president; member term NA)
note - all members represent legally recognized political parties or leading political figures, civil society, and defense and security forces
Economy
Economic overview
natural resource-rich, upper-middle-income, Central African economy; sparsely populated but high urbanization; young labor force; oil, manganese, and rubber exporter; foreign investment dependent; data integrity issue on poverty and income
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$33.302 billion (2022 est.)
$32.361 billion (2021 est.)
$31.874 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$13,900 (2022 est.)
$13,800 (2021 est.)
$13,900 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
plantains, cassava, sugar cane, yams, taro, vegetables, maize, groundnuts, game meat, rubber
Industries
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Exports
$10.8 billion (2019 est.)
$9.533 billion (2018 est.)
$9.145 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - partners
China 63%, Singapore 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, manganese, lumber, veneer sheeting, refined petroleum (2021)
Imports
$5.02 billion (2019 est.)
$4.722 billion (2018 est.)
$4.749 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners
France 22%, China 17%, Belgium 6%, United States 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
poultry meats, excavation machinery, packaged medicines, cars, rice (2019)
Exchange rates
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
623.76 (2022 est.)
554.531 (2021 est.)
575.586 (2020 est.)
585.911 (2019 est.)
555.446 (2018 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
