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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil; rubber; okoume (a tropical softwood); cattle; small fishing operations (provide a catch of about 30,000 metric tons)

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $302 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$3.9 billion (1996)

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty 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, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth and a manageable rate of population growth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12 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 and a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995. Those agreements mandate progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon chastened the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform (such as reduced public sector employment and salary growth).

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

310,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

800 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

925 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Exports [time series]

total value: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: crude oil 81%, timber 12%, manganese 5%, uranium (1996) partners: US 50%, France 16%, Japan 8%, China, Spain, Germany (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$6 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 7.1% industry: 54.6% services: 38.3% (1996)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$5,000 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

3% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $969 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, petroleum products, construction materials partners: France 39%, Cote d'Ivoire 13%, US 6%, Netherlands 5%, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.3% (1995)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

6.2% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry and commerce, services

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

250,000 (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations international: satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

22,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (repeaters 5)

Televisions [time series]

40,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10%-14% (1993 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Colorado

Climate [time series]

tropical; always hot, humid

Coastline [time series]

885 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

deforestation; poaching

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

1 00 S, 11 45 E

Irrigated land [time series]

40 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 77% other: 3% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

adopted 14 March 1991

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth RASPOLIC embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9 December 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Omar BONGO reelected; percent of vote-Omar BONGO 51%

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 332-0668 consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[241] 74 55 07

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

Independence [time series]

17 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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 100, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 8, PUP 3, CLR 3, FAR 1, UPG 1, USG 2, PGP 2; Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PDG 51, RNB 17, PGP 4, ADERA 3, RDP 1, others 15 note: the provision of the constitution for the establishment of a senate was implemented in the 12 January 1997 elections

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Libreville

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Action Forum for Renewal or FAR [Leon MBOU-YEMBI, secretary general]; Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party [Simplice Guedet MANZELA, secretary general]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE, president]; Gabonese People's Union or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]; Gabonese Socialist Union or USG [Dr. Serge Mba BEKALE]; National Recovery Movement-Lumberjacks or Morena-Bucherons/RNB [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; ADERA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Akexandre SAMBAT, president]

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$154 million (1993)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

2.4% (1993)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 277,850 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 142,334 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 11,352 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 202,364; female 202,249) 15-64 years: 61% (male 372,157; female 364,806) 65 years and over: 6% (male 32,718; female 33,550) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

28 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.23 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

85.43 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 56.51 years male: 53.55 years female: 59.56 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

1,207,844 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.48% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.81 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay GAMBIA, THE The Gambia The Gambia

Transportation

Airports [time series]

64 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

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 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 54 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 26 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 7,670 km paved: 629 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,041 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 bulk (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 37,003 GRT/60,663 DWT (1997 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil

Railways [time series]

total: 649 km Gabon State Railways (OCTRA) standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)

Waterways [time series]

1,600 km perennially navigable