Gabon

source : World Fact Book 2008 (October 2008)

SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE

   Introduction    Gabon
Background:
Definition Field Listing 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.
   Geography    Gabon
Location:
Definition Field Listing Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing 1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 267,667 sq km
land: 257,667 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing 885 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use:
Definition Field Listing arable land: 1.21%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 98.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing 70 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing 164 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing total: 0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%)
per capita: 87 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing 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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing 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    Gabon
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 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.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing 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.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.9 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing 1.954% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 35.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order -3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing 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.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total population: 53.52 years
male: 52.5 years
female: 54.57 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 8.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 48,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing 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
Religions:
Definition Field Listing Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3.8% of GDP (2000)
   Government    Gabon
Country name:
Definition Field Listing conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique gabonaise
local short form: Gabon
Government type:
Definition Field Listing republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:
Definition Field Listing 17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing Independence Day, 17 August (1960)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing 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
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing 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%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing 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
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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 pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing 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, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing 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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing chief of mission: Ambassador Eunice S. REDDICK
embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92
FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
   Economy    Gabon
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $20.44 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing $11.3 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 6.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $14,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 6.1%
industry: 58%
services: 35.9% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 582,000 (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: 60%
industry: 15%
services: 25%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 21% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 24.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing revenues: $3.536 billion
expenditures: $2.347 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 52.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5.2% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1.52 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1.241 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 240,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 13,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 228,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2,436 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1.748 billion bbl (1 January 2007 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 95.91 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 95.91 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 32.59 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $1.552 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $6.956 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing US 32.6%, China 15.9%, France 9.4%, Malaysia 6%, Trinidad and Tobago 5% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $2.107 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing France 28.1%, US 19.3%, Belgium 5.5%, Netherlands 4.8%, China 4.2% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing $53.87 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $1.238 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $4.895 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing calendar year
   Communications    Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 26,500 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1.169 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing AM 6, FM 7 (plus 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing 4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2001)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing .ga
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 288 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 145,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Gabon
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 53 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 23 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing gas 384 km; oil 1,427 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 814 km
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 9,170 km
paved: 937 km
unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Port-Gentil
   Military    Gabon
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing 20 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 331,181
females age 16-49: 332,498 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing males age 16-49: 192,717
females age 16-49: 188,539 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing male: 16,558
female: 16,577 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Gabon
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing refugees (country of origin): 7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
Definition Field Listing 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)



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Source : CIA's World Fact Book 2008

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