| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
1° 00' South Latitude
11° 45' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
267,667 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical; always hot, humid |
| Natural Resources |
Petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Gabonese Republic |
| Capital City |
Libreville |
| Government Type |
Republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990) |
| Administrative Divisions |
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem |
| Independence Day |
17 August 1960 (from France) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
1,389,201 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
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 |
| Religion |
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1% |
| Languages |
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.45% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF);
note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States |
| Industries |
Petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement |
| Labor Force |
650,000 (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% |
| Agriculture Products |
Cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish |
| Export Commodities |
Crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001) |
| Export Partners |
US 51.9%, China 9.1%, France 7.7% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials |
| Import Partners |
France 46.1%, US 6.8%, UK 6% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
814 km |
| Highways |
8,464 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 210 km; oil 1,385 km (2004) |
| Airports |
56 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+241 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.ga |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. Gabon's current President, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the
longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated Gabon's political scene for almost four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty
system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, the low turnout and allegations of electoral fraud during the most recent local elections in 2002-03
have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Presidential elections scheduled for 2005 are unlikely to bring change since the 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. |
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