Gabon

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Gabon became independent from France in 1960. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba and then his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, ruled the country from 1967 to 2023, when a military coup ended the dynasty. Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema, a transitional president, now leads Gabon.

Geography

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

Climate
tropical; always hot, humid

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

People and Society

Population
total: 2,455,105 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Fang 23.5%, Shira-Punu'Vii 20.6%, Nzabi-Duma 11.2%, Mbede-Teke 5.6%, Myene 4.4%, Kota-Kele 4.3%, Okande-Tsogho 1.6%, other 12.6%, foreigner 16.2% (2021 est.)

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

Religions
Protestant 46.4% (Revival Church 37%, other Protestant 9.4%), Roman Catholic 29.8%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 10.8%, traditional/animist 1.1%, other 0.9%, none 7% (2019-21 est.)

Population growth rate
2.37% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Libreville

Executive branch
chief of state: President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 3 May 2025)
head of government: President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 3 May 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Noël Nelson MESSONE (12 December 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Vernelle Trim FITZPATRICK (since 26 January 2024); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

Economy

Economic overview
natural-resource-rich, upper-middle-income, Central African economy; significant reliance on oil and mineral exports; highly urbanized population; high levels of poverty and unemployment; uncertainty on institutional and development reform progress following 2023 military coup

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$48.045 billion (2024 est.)
$46.472 billion (2023 est.)
$45.363 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$18,900 (2024 est.)
$18,700 (2023 est.)
$18,700 (2022 est.)

Exports
$13.622 billion (2024 est.)
$12.869 billion (2023 est.)
$13.814 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
China 26%, Indonesia 8%, Spain 7%, Israel 6%, Congo, Republic of the 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, ships, manganese ore, refined petroleum, wood (2023)

Imports
$6.094 billion (2024 est.)
$5.38 billion (2023 est.)
$5.005 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
France 14%, China 13%, S. Korea 13%, USA 7%, India 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, iron pipes, cars, packaged medicine (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.733, ranking it 108th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 97th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.185. (more information)