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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.ga

Internet users [time series]

5,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 7, shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios [time series]

208,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

37,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

9,500 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

63,000 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XAF

Debt - external [time series]

$3.9 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$331 million (1995)

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; 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, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, 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, 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 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 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. An expected decline in oil output may lead to contraction in GDP in 2001-02.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

948.6 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.02 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 29.9% hydro: 70.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro

Exports [time series]

$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

crude oil 75%, timber, manganese, uranium (1998)

Exports - partners [time series]

US 47%, France 19%, China 8%, Japan 1.3% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 10% industry: 60% services: 30% (1999 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2000 est.)

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

1.2% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, petroleum products, construction materials

Imports - partners [time series]

France 64%, US 4%, UK 2%, Netherlands 2%, (1999)

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) [time series]

1.5% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

600,000

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 60%, services and government 25%, industry and commerce 15%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

21% (1997 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km

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 [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, hydropower

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

Capital [time series]

Libreville

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James V. LEDESMA 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 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%

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 in 1990)

Independence [time series]

17 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, 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, UN, 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms elections: National Assembly - last held 15 and 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2001); Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 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

National holiday [time series]

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

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

African Forum for Reconstruction or FAR [Leon MBOU-YEMBI]; Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; 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]; Gabonese Socialist Union or USG [Serge MBA BEKALE]; National Rally of Woodcutters (Bucherons) or RNB [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]

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

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

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 [time series]

$91 million (FY96)

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

1.6% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 281,218 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 145,062 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 11,304 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33.29% (male 203,677; female 202,833) 15-64 years: 60.77% (male 373,828; female 368,282) 65 years and over: 5.94% (male 35,867; female 36,688) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.42 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

17.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

4.16% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

2,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

23,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

94.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 49.59 years male: 48.47 years female: 50.75 years (2001 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 (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

1,221,175 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 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.02% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

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: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.69 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Transportation

Airports [time series]

59 (2000 est.)

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 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 24 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

1,600 km (perennially navigable)