Gabon

Gabon

Introduction

Background

Until recently, only two autocratic presidents had ruled Gabon since its independence from France in 1960. The recent president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba – one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world – had 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 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. President BONGO died in June 2009. New elections in August 2009 brought Ali Ben BONGO, son of the former president, to power. 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. In January 2010, Gabon assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.

Geography

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 11 45 E

Map references

Africa

Area

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

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries

total: 2,551 km
border countries:Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Coastline

885 km

Maritime claims

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

Climate

tropical

always hot, humid

Terrain

narrow coastal plain

hilly interior

savanna in east and south

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

164 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

deforestation

poaching

Environment – international agreements

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

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective:Gabonese

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Religions

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

Population

1,576,665 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.2% (male 333,746/female 330,959)
15-64 years:54% (male 424,392/female 426,478)
65 years and over:3.9% (male 25,687/female 35,403) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18.6 years
male:18.4 years
female:18.9 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.999% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Birth rate

35.19 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Death rate

13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Net migration rate

-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Urbanization

urban population: 86% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

LIBREVILLE (capital) 619,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

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:0.72 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

260 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 50

Infant mortality rate

total: 49.95 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 49 male:57.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female:41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 52.49 years
country comparison to the world: 206 male:51.78 years
female:53.22 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.59 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 106

Physicians density

0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 141

Hospital bed density

1.25 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 134

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 95% of population
rural: 41% of population
total: 87% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5% of population
rural: 59% of population
total: 13% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 33% of population
rural: 30% of population
total: 33% of population
unimproved:
urban: 27% of population
rural: 30% of population
total: 27% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

5.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

46,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

HIV/AIDS – deaths

2,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:malaria and chikungunya
water contact disease:schistosomiasis
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.8% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 68

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:63.2%
male:73.7%
female:53.3% (1995 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years
male:12 years
female:12 years (2002)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form:Gabon
local long form:Republique Gabonaise
local short form:Gabon

Government type

republic

multiparty presidential regime

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

9 provinces

Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Independence

17 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

Constitution

adopted 14 March 1991

Legal system

mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009)
head of government:Prime Minister Paul BIYOGHE MBA (since 15 July 2009)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a seven-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:President Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba elected

percent of vote – Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO 3.9%, other 3.3%
note:President BONGO died on 8 June 2009 after serving as president for 32 years

in accordance with the constitution he was replaced on an interim basis by the president of the Senate, Rose Francine ROGOMBE on 10 June 2009

new elections were held on 30 August 2009 and the son of the former president, Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba, was elected president

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (102 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 on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in January 2015)

National Assembly – last held on 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 75, RPG 6, UGDD 3, CLR 2, PGCI 2, PSD 2, UPG 2, ADERE 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers – Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts

Constitutional Court

Courts of Appeal

Court of State Security

county courts

Political parties and leaders

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 [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA] (former sole party)

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 pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael MOUSSA-ADAMO
chancery:Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
note:temporary address: 1630 Connecticut Avenue NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 797-1000
FAX:[1] (202) 332-0668
consulate(s):New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Erik D. BENJAMINSON
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

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

National symbol(s)

black panther

National anthem

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

Economy

Economy – overview

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 oil sector now accounts for more than 50% of GDP although the industry is in decline as fields pass their peak production. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports and the global recession led to a GDP contraction of 1.4% in 2009. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. 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 from 1999 to 2008 helped growth, but drops in production have 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$22.48 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120 $21.27 billion (2009 est.)
$21.57 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.06 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57 -1.4% (2009 est.)
2.3% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$14,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79 $14,000 (2009 est.)
$14,500 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 5.2%
industry:53.7%
services:41.1% (2010 est.)

Labor force

714,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

21% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Investment (gross fixed)

23.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Budget

revenues: $4.223 billion
expenditures:$3.628 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

4.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Public debt

20.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108 26.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43 1.9% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52 15% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.87 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122 $1.683 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.83 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137 $2.559 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.351 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145 $857.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber

cattle

okoume (a tropical softwood)

fish

Industries

petroleum extraction and refining

manganese, gold

chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement

Industrial production growth rate

4.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity – production

1.963 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity – consumption

1.6 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

227,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Oil – consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Oil – exports

213,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Oil – imports

4,822 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Oil – proved reserves

2 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas – production

80 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas – consumption

80 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas – proved reserves

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Current account balance

$3.513 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42 $788.1 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$9.371 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 $5.941 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

crude oil 70%, timber, manganese, uranium

Exports – partners

US 30.4%, China 12.7%, Australia 5.5%, Malaysia 5.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4%, Spain 4.4% (2010)

Imports

$2.494 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149 $2.298 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports – partners

France 29.4%, US 9.9%, China 9.2%, Belgium 5.2%, Cameroon 5.1%, Netherlands 4.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.746 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123 $1.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$2.247 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138 $2.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar -
495.28 (2010)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)
481.83 (2007)
522.89 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

44 (2010)
country comparison to the world:97

Airports – with paved runways

total: 13
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:9
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m:6
914 to 1,523 m:11
under 914 m:14 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 294 km

oil 893 km (2010)

Railways

total: 649 km
country comparison to the world: 105 standard gauge:649 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)

Roadways

total: 9,170 km
country comparison to the world: 138 paved:937 km
unpaved:8,233 km (2004)

Waterways

1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 51

Merchant marine

registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 142

Ports and terminals

Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil

Military

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

20 years of age for voluntary military service

no conscription (2009)

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military expenditures

0.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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

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