Gabon
in Middle Africa
Africa

National active POI Bordering countries
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Franc - XAF
Spoken languages:
French
Local electricity:
220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
GA
Internet top level domain:
.ga
Country phone prefix:
+241
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Gabon in Middle Africa

Safety Score: 3,5 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning please reconsider your need to travel to Gabon.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Gabon. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03

Explore Gabon

Gabon with its capital Libreville is located in Africa (Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator). It covers some 267,668 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Colorado) with a population of 1,772,260. French is the official language spoken by people in Gabon. Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Republic of the Congo are bordering countries.

Gabon is a country in Western Central Africa. It lies on the Equator, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, between the Republic of the Congo to the south and east, Equatorial Guinea to the northwest and Cameroon to the north. In the 15th century, the first Europeans arrived. The nation's present name originates from Gabão, Portuguese for cloak, which is roughly the shape of the estuary of the Komo River close to the capital of Libreville.

Popular Destinations in Gabon

 

Port-Gentil
 

Oyem
 

Libreville
 

Lambaréné
 

Koulamoutou
 

Franceville

Administrative regions of Gabon

About the country

The topography is narrow coastal plain with hilly interior as well as savanna in east and south. The average density of population is about 7 per km². The climate in Gabon can be described as tropical with always hot, humid.

To reach someone Gabon dial +241 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".ga". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C). The sign for the locally used currency Franc is XAF.

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.

Flag of Gabon

Following, independence from France in 1960, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-ruling heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). 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 his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, 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. President Ali BONGO Ondimba’s controversial August 2016 reelection sparked unprecedented opposition protests that resulted in the burning of the parliament building. The election was contested by the opposition after fraudulent results were flagged by international election observers. Gabon’s Constitutional Court reviewed the election results but ruled in favor of President BONGO, upholding his win and extending his mandate to 2023.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 78) 267,667sq km
Land (World Rank: 77) 257,667sq km
Water (World Rank: 48) 10,000sq km
Forest (World Rank: 106) 17.20%
Comparative slightly smaller than Colorado
Coastline
885
Landborder
3261
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 142) 1,575m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 167) 19.00%
Arable (World Rank: 193) 1.20%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 144) 0.60%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 106) 17.20%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 154) 40sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues
  • - burgeoning population exacerbating disposal of solid waste
  • - deforestation
  • - oil industry contributing to water pollution
  • - wildlife poaching
Agreement party
  • - 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
Location
Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 152) 1,772,260
Deathrate (World Rank: 15) 1.30%
Birthrate (World Rank: 24) 3.42%
Growthrate (World Rank: 51) 1.92%
Migration rate (World Rank: 127) -0.20%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 24) 4.39%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 203) 18.40
Female (World Rank: 206) 18.80
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 136) 373,307
0 14 female (World Rank: 134) 369,237
15 24 male (World Rank: 145) 181,823
15 24 female (World Rank: 146) 180,837
25 54 male (World Rank: 157) 262,511
25 54 female (World Rank: 156) 260,673
55 64 male (World Rank: 159) 37,178
55 64 female (World Rank: 157) 40,014
65 x male (World Rank: 158) 28,664
65 x female (World Rank: 157) 38,011
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 42) 4.41%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 218) 52years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 219) 53years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 215) 52years
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 20) 6.30
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 168) 41.90%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 127) 15.00%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 122) 93.20%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 139) 2,045,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 145) 1,907,000,000kWh
Import (World Rank: 85) 337,000,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 150) 50.70%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 38) 49.30%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 36) 210,800bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 30) 202,000bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 37) 2,000,000,000bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 92) 16,810bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 134) 22,000bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 92) 5,118bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 143) 8,851bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 73) 378,000,000m³
Consumption (World Rank: 99) 957,000,000m³
Carbon footprint
6000000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 149) 3% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 80) 1% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 174) 3% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 173) -7% of GDP
National symbol
black panther
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Gabonese
Noun
Gabonese (singular and plural)
Background
Following, independence from France in 1960, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-ruling heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). 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 his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, 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. President Ali BONGO Ondimba’s controversial August 2016 reelection sparked unprecedented opposition protests that resulted in the burning of the parliament building. The election was contested by the opposition after fraudulent results were flagged by international election observers. Gabon’s Constitutional Court reviewed the election results but ruled in favor of President BONGO, upholding his win and extending his mandate to 2023.
Flag description
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

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 122) 35,780,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 130) 2.10%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 89) 19,000USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 134) 4.30%
Source industry (World Rank: 14) 44.20%
Source service (World Rank: 169) 51.40%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 154) 546,300
In poverty (World Rank: 50) 34.30%
Products
Industries
  • - beverages
  • - cement
  • - chemicals
  • - food
  • - gold
  • - lumbering
  • - manganese
  • - petroleum extraction
  • - plywood
  • - refining
  • - ship repair
  • - textiles
Agriculture
  • - cattle
  • - cocoa
  • - coffee
  • - fish
  • - okoume
  • - palm oil
  • - rubber
  • - sugar
Exports
  • - crude oil
  • - manganese
  • - timber
  • - uranium
Imports
  • - chemicals
  • - construction materials
  • - equipment
  • - foodstuffs
  • - machinery

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 177) 18,946
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 206) 1.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 27) 149.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 136) 835,408
Population (World Rank: 125) 48.10%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 101) 14.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 83) 30.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 107) 649
Road
Total length (World Rank: 140) 9,170
Paved length (World Rank: 141) 1,097
Unpaved length (World Rank: 93) 8,073
Water
Total length (World Rank: 52) 1,600
Popular places in this country

This is a list of famous places in this country in alphabetical order.