Gabon: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Equatorial Guinea prevails in dispute with neighboring Gabon over oil-rich islands • May 20, 2025, 5:32 AM ET (ABC News (U.S.))

ICJ backs Equatorial Guinea in Gabon islands dispute • May 19, 2025, 10:08 AM ET (Deutsche Welle)

Overthrown Gabon President Bongo and his family arrive in Angola, officials say • May 16, 2025, 2:51 AM ET (ABC News (U.S.))

Fitch says Gabon averted default, regional bond swap not distressed exchange • May 8, 2025, 3:14 AM ET (Reuters)

Gabon’s New President Sets Path Back to Constitutional Order • May 4, 2025, 6:09 AM ET (Bloomberg)

Facts

Also Known As	République Gabonaise • Gabonese Republic
Head Of State And Government	President: Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema²
Capital	Libreville
Population	(2025 est.) 2,489,000
Form Of Government	unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate; National Assembly)¹
Official Language	French
Official Religion	none
Official Name	République Gabonaise (Gabonese Republic)
Total Area (Sq Km)	267,667
Total Area (Sq Mi)	103,346
Monetary Unit	CFA franc (CFAF)
Population Rank	(2025) 143
Population Projection 2030	2,487,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2025) 24.1
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2025) 9.3
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 91.3% • Rural: (2024) 8.7%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2022) 63 years • Female: (2022) 68.1 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2022) 86% • Female: (2022) 85%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 19,697
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 7,930
¹A military coup in August 2023 led to the dissolution of all state institutions and a transitional military regime. A new constitution promulgated in 2024 provides for a bicameral Parliament comprising a lower chamber (National Assembly) and an upper chamber (Senate). Legislative elections are scheduled for August 2025.²On August 30, 2023, Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema was named president of the Committee for Transition and Restoration of Institutions overseeing the country after the military coup. On September 4, he was sworn in as the transitional president of the country. Raymond Ndong Sima was named interim prime minister on September 7. The first presidential election held under the 2024 constitution took place on April 12, 2025; Nguema was the winner and was sworn in as president on May 3. Sima resigned on May 4 and was not replaced, as the 2024 constitution abolished the post of prime minister.