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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state owns and operates 2 TV stations and 2 radio broadcast stations; a few private radio and TV stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.ga

Internet users [time series]

total: 164,800 | percent of population: 9.9% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

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 system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations | domestic: a growing mobile cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons | 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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 17,200 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 190

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 3.6 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 215 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

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: $5.263 billion | expenditures: $5.487 billion (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-1.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Central bank discount rate [time series]

3% (31 December 2010) | 4.25% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 106

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

15% (31 December 2014 est.) | 15% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Current account balance [time series]

$1.51 billion (2014 est.) | $2.156 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Debt - external [time series]

$4.736 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $4.316 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most 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 economy was reliant on oil for about 50% of its GDP, about 70% of revenues, and 87% of goods exports for 2010, although some fields have passed their peak production. A rebound of oil prices from 1999 to 2013 helped growth, but declining production has hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2007, and later that year issued a $1 billion sovereign bond to buy back a sizable portion of its Paris Club debt. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management has stifled the economy. However, President BONGO has made efforts to increase transparency and is taking steps to make Gabon a more attractive investment destination to diversify the economy. BONGO has attempted to boost growth by increasing government investment in human resources and infrastructure. GDP grew nearly 6% per year over the 2010-14 period.

Exchange rates [time series]

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - | 494.42 (2014 est.) | 494.42 (2013 est.) | 510.53 (2012 est.) | 471.87 (2011 est.) | 495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$8.872 billion (2014 est.) | $8.946 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Exports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, timber, manganese, uranium

Exports - partners [time series]

China 15.8%, Japan 14.6%, Australia 11%, US 7.9%, India 7.8%, South Korea 6.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.6%, Spain 4.4% (2014)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$18.21 billion (2014 est.)

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

$32.91 billion (2014 est.) | $31.55 billion (2013 est.) | $29.87 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 123

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 3.6% | industry: 42.9% | services: 53.5% (2014 est.)

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

$20,800 (2014 est.) | $19,900 (2013 est.) | $18,800 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 84

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

4.3% (2014 est.) | 5.6% (2013 est.) | 5.3% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Gross national saving [time series]

35% of GDP (2014 est.) | 38.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | 39.2% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.5% | highest 10%: 32.7% (2005)

Imports [time series]

$3.089 billion (2014 est.) | $2.938 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners [time series]

France 20%, Cote d'Ivoire 15.3%, China 9.6%, US 9.3%, Algeria 5.1%, Belgium 4.5% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-0.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

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]

4.5% (2014 est.) | 0.5% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Labor force [time series]

640,300 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 60% | industry: 15% | services: 25% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

28.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | 26.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.495 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.018 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Stock of broad money [time series]

$4.545 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $4.421 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$2.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $2.35 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$2.448 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $3.011 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

28.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Unemployment rate [time series]

21% (2006 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

5.437 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Crude oil - exports [time series]

226,800 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194

Crude oil - production [time series]

240,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

2 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.68 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

59% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

41% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

415,000 kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity - production [time series]

2.111 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

384 million cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas - production [time series]

384 million cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

18,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

5,678 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

5,042 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

18,750 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 267,667 sq km | land: 257,667 sq km | water: 10,000 sq km | country comparison to the world: 77

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, Hazardous Wastes, 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: 0.14 cu km/yr (61%/10%/29%) | per capita: 97.68 cu m/yr (2005)

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]

44.5 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,261 km | border countries (3): Cameroon 349 km, Republic of the Congo 2,567 km, Equatorial Guinea 345 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 18.1% | arable land 1.2%; permanent crops 0.6%; permanent pasture 17.2% | forest: 81% | other: 0% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

Central 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 (2011)

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)

Citizenship [time series]

birthright citizenship: no, unless at least one parent is a citizen of Gabon | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Constitution [time series]

previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991; amended several times, last in 2011

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 Cythia Akuetteh (since 13 August 2014); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe | 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] 01-45-71-00, after hours - 07380171 | FAX: [241] 74 55 07

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Baudelaire Ndong ELLA (since 31 July 2015) | chancery: 2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009 | telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000 | FAX: [1] (301) 332-0668 | consulate(s): New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009) | head of government: Prime Minister Daniel ONA ONDO (since 27 January 2014) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president | election results: Ali BONGO Ondimba elected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME (independent) 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU (UPG) 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO (UGDD) 3.9%, other 3.3%; note

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue; green represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun, blue represents the sea

Government type [time series]

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Independence [time series]

17 August 1960 (from France)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court (organized into Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts chambers and consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointment and tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 3 by the national president, 3 by the president of the Senate, and 3 by the president of the National Assembly; judges serve 7-year, single renewable terms | subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; county courts; military courts

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (102 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal councils and departmental assemblies by absolute majority vote in two rounds; members serve 6-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in January 2015); National Assembly - last held on 17 December 2011 (next to be held in December 2016) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 75, RPG 6, UGDD 3, CLR 2, PGCI 2, PSD 2, UPG 2, ADERE 1, independent 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 114, RPG 3, other 3

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "La Concorde" (The Concorde) | lyrics/music: Georges Aleka DAMAS | note: adopted 1960

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

National symbol(s) [time series]

black panther; national colors: green, yellow, blue

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

Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean-Boniface ASSELE] | Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [DIDJOB Divungui di Ndinge] | Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG [Ali BONGO Ondimba] | Independent Center Party of Gabon or PGCI [Luccheri GAHILA] | National Rally of Woodcutters-Democratic or RNB-D [Pierre Andre KOMBILA] | Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU] | Union for the New Republic or UPRN [Louis Gaston MAYILA] | Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Richard MOULOMBA]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential election in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, a new election brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 350,640 | females age 16-49: 351,718 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 202,404 | females age 16-49: 195,389 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 17,638 | female: 17,614 (2010 est.)

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

Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Force (Force Terrestre), Gabonese Navy (Marine Gabonaise), Gabonese Air Forces (Forces Aerienne Gabonaises, FAG) (2012)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.34% of GDP (2012) | NA% (2011) | 1.34% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 76

Military service age and obligation [time series]

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.06% (male 360,412/female 356,787) | 15-24 years: 20.29% (male 173,395/female 172,678) | 25-54 years: 29.66% (male 253,304/female 252,493) | 55-64 years: 4.2% (male 34,561/female 37,108) | 65 years and over: 3.79% (male 27,621/female 36,977) (2015 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

34.49 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 25

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

6.5% (2012) | country comparison to the world: 79

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

31.1% (2012)

Death rate [time series]

13.12 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 73.1% | youth dependency ratio: 64.3% | elderly dependency ratio: 8.8% | potential support ratio: 11.3% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

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]

3.91% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

1,500 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

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

47,500 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

3.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 173

Hospital bed density [time series]

6.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 46.07 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 53.11 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 38.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 52.04 years | male: 51.56 years | female: 52.53 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 217

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 83.2% | male: 85.3% | female: 81% (2015 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 and dengue fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

LIBREVILLE (capital) 707,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

291 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Median age [time series]

total: 18.6 years | male: 18.4 years | female: 18.8 years (2015 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

15.8% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 124

Population [time series]

1,705,336 | 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 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Population growth rate [time series]

1.93% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.46 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 35.7% | male: 30.6% | female: 41.9% (2010 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 87.2% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

44 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 99

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 14 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 30 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 | 914 to 1,523 m: 9 | 14 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 140

Pipelines [time series]

gas 807 km; oil 1,639 km; water 3 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil | oil terminal(s): Gamba, Lucina

Railways [time series]

total: 649 km | standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 106

Roadways [time series]

total: 9,170 km | paved: 1,097 km | unpaved: 8,073 km (2007) | country comparison to the world: 139

Waterways [time series]

1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 49