Factual information on Gabon

General information on Gabon:

Gabon has achieved a multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s after decades of an autocratic regime following the independence from France in 1960. In addition the country is one of the more wealthy black African countries thanks to numerous assets such as: a small population, ample natural resources, and massive foreign help.

Geographical information on Gabon:

Geographical Position: Western Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Equatorial Guinea and Republic of the Congo.

Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 1 degree 00’ South, 11 degrees 50’ East

Total Land & Sea Area Total: 270,000 square kilometres Sea Area15,000 square kilometres land area: 255,000 square kilometres

Land boundaries: Total: 2,500 kilometres Border countries: Cameroon 300 kilometres , Republic of the Congo 1,900 kilometres , Equatorial Guinea 300 kilometres Coastal Length: 880 kilometres

Climatological information on Gabon:

Tropical; Country terrain: Plains along the coast; mountaineous in the center; savanna in theeastern and southern regions.

Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Atlantic Ocean at mean sea level highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,580 meters

Natural resources: Petroleum, manganese and uranium mining, gold deposits, timber and lumber, iron mining, hydro electrical power. Land use: arable land area: 1.25 percent permanent crops: 0.7 percent other: 98 percent (1998 estimate.) Irrigated land area: 100 square kilometres (1998 estimate.)

Geopolitical information on Gabon:

Gabon has always been so rich in terms of natural resources that it has not still exploited its woods and rich biodiversity

Population: 1,321,500 Age structure: Under 15: 42 percent From 15 to 65: 53 percent Over 65: 4 percent Median age: Total: 18 years male: 18 years female: 18 years (2002) Population growth rate: 2.5 percent (2003 estimate.) Birth rate: 36.5 births per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Death rate: 11 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Infant mortality rate: Total: 55 deaths per thousand live births female: 44 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate.) male: 65 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57 years male: 55.5 years female: 59 years (2003 estimate.) Total fertility rate: 5 children born/woman (2003 estimate.)

Nationality: Gabonese

Ethnicities: Bantu tribes, other Africans and Europeans 155,000, including 10,000 French and 10,000 persons of dual nationality

Religious information on Gabon: Christian 65 percent, animist, Islam/Muslim faith less than 1 percent

Languages: French (official), other local dialects. Literacy: definition: age 15 and more can read and write total population: 63 percent male: 73 percent female: 53 percent (1995 estimate.)

Government Gabon:

Gabonese Republic Gabon

Government type: Republic; Capital city: Libreville

Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France) National holiday: Creation of the Gabonese Democratic Party, 12 March Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991 Legal system: based on French civil law system Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: Head of State: President Head of government: Prime Minister cabinet: Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: Bicameral legislature consists of the Senate and the National Assembly

Economy information on Gabon:

Economy - overview: Gabon has a per capita income four times the one of most states of sub-Saharan Africa which does not prevent social inequality since a large proportion of the population remains poor.

First based on timber and lumber and manganese the GDP - Gross Domestic Product is now half built around the oil sector.

So the health of the economy is subject to the fluctuating prices of the market.

With the help of world organisations such as the IMF the government achieved privatization and fiscal discipline. GDP - Gross Domestic Product: - $USD8.350 billion (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - growth rate: 0.5 percent (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - per capita: - $USD6,000 (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector: agriculture: 20 percent industry: 55 percent services: 25 percent (2001 estimate.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2 percent (2002 estimate.) Labor force: 500,000 Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 55 percent, services 22 percent, industry 23 percent rate of unemployment: 20 percent (1997 estimate.)

Budget information on Gabon: incomes: $USD2 billion spending: $USD2 billion, Industries: Petroleum extraction and refining; manganese and gold mining; chemicals; shipbuilding; food and beverage; clothing; lumbering and plywood; cement. Industrial production growth rate: 1.5 percent (2002 estimate.)

Agriculture - products:

Cocoa, coffee, sugar cane, palm oil, rubber; beef; wood; angle Exports: $USD2.5 billion (2002 estimate.)

Exports - commodities: Crude oil 77 percent, timber and lumber, manganese and uranium deposits Exports - partners: US 46 percent, France 11 percent, China 6 percent, Netherlands Antilles 5 percent (2002) Imports: $USD1 billion (2002 estimate.)

Imports - commodities: Plant, foodstuffs, chemicals, building materials. Imports - partners: France 50 percent, US 6 percent, Netherlands 3 percent (2002) Debt - external: $USD4 billion (2002 estimate.)

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); Currency code: XAF

Communications information on Gabon:

Telephones: 40,000 (1998) Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 7, Frequency Modulation 8, SW 3 (2001) Television stations: 5 Internet country code: .ga

Travel information on Gabon:

Railroad networks: Total: 800 kilometres Roading System: Total: 8,500 kilometres

Pipelines: gas 200 kilometres ; oil 1,400 kilometres ; water 5 kilometres (2003)

Airports: 60 (2002)

Military information on Gabon:

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, National Police Military spending: $USD82 million Military spending: - percent of GDP - Gross Domestic Product: 3 percent

International Issues Disputes - international: Maritime disputes with Equatorial Guinea over small islets on Mbane/Mbagne bank,

At present you know more all the information on Gabon, test your historical acknowledge on the French speaking countries

More information on Gabon, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of Gabon | Map of Gabon | Learn French in Gabon |

Facts on
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