Research Africa > West of Africa > Gabon > Gabon at a glance
Geography
Area: 267,667 sq. km. (103,347 sq. mi.); about the size of Colorado.
Cities: Capital--Libreville (pop. 673,995). Other cities--Port-Gentil (150,000), Franceville (31,183).
Terrain: Narrow coastal plain; hilly, heavily forested interior (about 80% forested); some savanna regions in east and south.
Climate: Hot and humid all year with two rainy and two dry seasons.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Gabonese (sing. and pl.).
Population (2010 est.): 1,545,255.
Annual population growth rate (2010 est.): 2.025%.
Ethnic groups: Fang (largest), Myene, Bapounou, Eshira, Bandjabi, Bakota, Nzebi, Bateke/Obamba.
Religions: Christian (55%-75%), Muslim (5%-10%), animist less than 1%.
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi.
Education: Years compulsory--to age 16. Attendance--94%. Literacy--86%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--55/1,000. Life expectancy--60 yrs.
Work force (600,000 est.): Agriculture--52%; industry and commerce--16%; services and government--33%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: August 17, 1960.
Constitution: February 21, 1961 (revised April 15, 1975; rewritten March 26, 1991; revised July 29, 2003).
Branches: Executive--president (head of state); prime minister (head of government) and appointed Council of Ministers. Legislative--bicameral legislature (National Assembly and Senate). Judicial--Supreme Court and Constitutional Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 9 provinces, 36 prefectures, and 8 subprefectures.
Political parties: Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG) holds the largest number of seats in the National Assembly; l’Union Nationale (UN); Union du Peuple Gabonais (UPG); Rassemblement du Peuple Gabonais (RPG).
Suffrage: Universal, direct.
Central government budget (2010 est.): Receipts--$2.7 billion; expenses--$2.4 billion; defense (2007)--3.5% of government budget.
Economy
Real GDP (2010 est.): $14 billion.
Annual real growth rate (2010 est.): 5.4%.
Per capita income (2010 est.): $8,600.
Avg. inflation rate (2010 est.): 5%.
Natural resources: Petroleum, timber, manganese, uranium, gold.
Agriculture and forestry (4% of GDP): Products--manioc, rubber, sugar, and pineapples. Cultivated land--approximately 1%.
Industry (64% of GDP): Types--petroleum related, wood processing, food and beverage processing.
Services (32% of GDP): Types--government services, tourism.
Trade (2007): $8.499 billion. Exports--61% of GDP (f.o.b.): petroleum, wood, manganese. Major markets--U.S. 16.6%, China 15.9%, EU 13.7%, France 4.3%. Imports--30% of GDP (f.o.b.): construction equipment, machinery, food, automobiles, manufactured goods. Major suppliers--EU 56.9%, France 32.2%, U.S. 7.9%, China 7.0%, Belgium 5.0%. Current account balance with U.S. (2009)--$1.060 billion.
