Gabon

Gabon 

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Land Boundaries

Total 2,551 km, Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Coastline

885 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

Maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Climate

Tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain

Narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

NA

Environment

PEOPLE

Population

1,172,798 (July 1996 est.)
1,155,749 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

34% (male 197,188; female 196,562) (July 1996 est.)
34% (male 194,761; female 193,859) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

61% (male 364,033; female 353,451) (July 1996 est.)
61% (male 359,997; female 347,839) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

5% (male 30,270; female 31,294) (July 1996 est.)
5% (male 29,075; female 30,218) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.47% (1996 est.)
1.46% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

28.22 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
28.34 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
13.72 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

90.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
92.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

3.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)
3.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

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

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)

Labor Force

120,000 salaried

By occupation:

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

GB

Type

Republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

Capital

Libreville

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

Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese Democratic Party established)

Constitution

Adopted 14 March 1991

Legal System

Based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Unicameral; note - the provision of the constitution for the establishment of a senate has not been implemented

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Elections last held on 5 December 1993 (next to be held by July 1996, according to the October 1994 Paris Accords; however, President BONGO has indicated that date might slip); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PDG 64, National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB) 17, PGP 12, National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original) 2, PUP 4, CLR 1, FAR 4, UPG 1, independents 15

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political Parties and Leaders

Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former sole party), Simplice Guedet MANZELA, secretary general; Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR), General Jean Boniface ASSELE; People's Unity Party (PUP), Louis Gaston MAYILA; Gabonese Socialist Union (USG), Dr. Serge Mba BEKALE; National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE, president; National Recovery Movement (Morena-Origina), note - this party won 2 seats in the 5 December 1993 elections for the National Assembly but is no longer very active; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre Louis AGONDJO OKAWE; African Forum for Reconstruction (FAR), Leon MBOU-YEMBI, secretary general; Gabonese People's Union (UPG), Pierre MAMBOUNDOU

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

ECONOMY

Overview

Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, Gabon enjoys a per capita income more than three times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth has been feeble since 1992 and Gabon continues to face the problem of fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, and a manageable rate of population growth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12 January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 15% in 1995. Nevertheless, the government must continue to keep a tight rein on spending and wage increases. The IMF and France are considering offering financial assistance in 1996 if Gabon shows progress in privatization and fiscal discipline.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $6 billion (1995 est.); $5.6 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

2% (1995 est.)
1.9% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$5,200 (1995 est.)
$4,900 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

15% (1995 est.)
35% (1994 est.)

Unemployment Rate

10%-14% (1993 est.)

Budget

Exports

$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$800 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
$832 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$3.8 billion (1993)

Industrial Production

Growth rate -3% (1991)

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Cash crops - cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock raising not developed; importer of food; small fishing operations provide a catch of about 20,000 metric tons; okoume (a tropical softwood) is the most important timber product

Economic Aid

Currency

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange Rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)

Note: Beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Inland Waterways

1,600 km perennially navigable

Pipelines

Crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km

Ports

Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil

Merchant Marine

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

22,000 telephones

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

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

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 273,662; males fit for military service 139,439; males reach military age (20) annually 10,966 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $154 million, 2.4% of GDP (1993)

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 20 december 1997