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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ga

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

88 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

145,000 (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 7 (plus 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with multiple providers; mobile-cellular subscribership reached 80 per 100 persons in 2007 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) (2007)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

26,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.169 million (2007)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.536 billion expenditures: $2.347 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

15% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

$1.552 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$4.895 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.365 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.671 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$6.956 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)

Exports - partners [time series]

US 32.5%, China 15.8%, France 9.4%, Malaysia 6%, Trinidad and Tobago 5% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$11.3 billion (2007 est.)

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

$20.44 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 6.1% industry: 58% services: 35.9% (2007 est.)

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

$14,000 (2007 est.)

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

6.2% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.107 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners [time series]

France 27.7%, US 19.1%, Belgium 5.4%, Netherlands 4.7%, China 4.1% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.2% (2007 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

24.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

582,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 60% industry: 15% services: 25%

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

100 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

13,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

255,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

2,485 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

243,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

2 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Public debt [time series]

52.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$1.238 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$359.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$1.547 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$799.3 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

21% (2006 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%) per capita: 87 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

1 00 S, 11 45 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

70 sq km (2003)

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: 1.21% permanent crops: 0.64% other: 98.15% (2005)

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]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

164 cu km (1987)

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]

name: Libreville geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Eunice S. REDDICK embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch:2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270 telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 07380171 FAX: [241] 74 55 07

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos BOUNGOU chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668 consulate(s): New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2 December 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe NDONG (since 20 January 2006) 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 (no term limits); election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Independence [time series]

17 August 1960 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, 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 (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009); National Assembly - last held 17 and 24 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011) election results: 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 Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2, independents 4, others 5

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

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

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]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Benoit Mouity NZAMBA]; Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rally of Woodcutters or RNB; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; Party of Development and Social Solidarity or PDS [Seraphin Ndoat REMBOGO]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and Social Integration or UDIS; Union of Gabonese Patriots or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]

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

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated the country's political scene for four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 192,717 females age 16-49: 188,539 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 16,558 female: 16,577 (2008 est.)

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

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military expenditures [time series]

3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

20 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2007)

People

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.8% of GDP (2000)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

8.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

3,000 (2003 est.)

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

48,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 52.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 43.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.52 years male: 52.5 years female: 54.57 years (2008 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.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.6 years male: 18.4 years female: 18.9 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

1,485,832 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 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.954% (2008 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Gabon is predominantly a destination country for children trafficked from other African countries for the purpose of forced labor; girls are primarily trafficked for domestic servitude, forced market vending, forced restaurant labor, and sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced street hawking and forced labor in small workshops tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Gabon is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to convict and punish trafficking offenders; the government has not reported the convictions or sentences of any trafficking offenders; the government did not take steps to reduce demand for commercial sex acts (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

53 (2007)

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 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 384 km; oil 1,427 km (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Port-Gentil

Railways [time series]

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

Roadways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

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