Gabon: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 3, 2026

News •

Gabon says access to social media restored after eight-month ban • Oct. 25, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (BBC)

The next ayahuasca? Gabon fights to protect sacred plant from US drug companies • Oct. 18, 2026, 9:00 AM ET (The Guardian)

Facts

Also Known As	République Gabonaise • Gabonese Republic
Head Of State And Government	President: Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema
Capital	Libreville
Population	(2026 est.) 2,548,000
Form Of Government	unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate [70]; National Assembly [145])
Official Language	French
Official Religion	none
Official Name	République Gabonaise (Gabonese Republic)
Total Area (Sq Km)	267,667
Total Area (Sq Mi)	103,347
Monetary Unit	CFA franc (CFAF)
Population Rank	(2026) 143
Population Projection 2030	2,487,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 24.7
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 9.5
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 91.3% • Rural: (2024) 8.7%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 66 years • Female: (2021) 69.7 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 19,778
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 7,790

Photos

Political map of Gabon in Central Africa, showing its borders with Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo, as well as major cities such as Libreville, Port-Gentil, Franceville, and Oyem. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west, and an inset locator map highlights Gabon's position on the continent.

Gabon: Lambaréné

Map highlighting Gabon in West Central Africa, shaded in orange, with its capital Libreville labeled. Surrounding countries including Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, and the Atlantic Ocean are also shown.

Map of Gabon highlighting its physical features, including major rivers such as the Ogooue, mountains like Mount Bengoue and Mount Mimongo, and Lope National Park. Neighboring countries Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo, and the Atlantic Ocean are shown. An inset locator map marks Gabon's position on the west coast of Central Africa.

Map of Central Africa showing national borders, major cities, rivers, and lakes, with shaded relief indicating elevation. The map covers the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola (including the enclave of Cabinda), South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Chad, and Nigeria. Major rivers and Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria are also labeled.

Punu mask from Gabon

Gabon: Port-Gentil

Large stacks of timber logs are stored in an open yard at Owendo, a suburb of Libreville, Gabon, with industrial vehicles and buildings visible in the background near a forested area.

Gabon: manganese mine

National anthem of Gabon

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Topics

Omar Bongo Albert Schweitzer Léon M’ba Africa Central Africa nation-state OPEC Commonwealth Libreville Port-Gentil United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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