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Gabon

Gabon

Capital:Libreville
Population:1.5M
Currency:CFA Franc BEAC (XAF)
Language:French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
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Quick Look Factsheet

A multi-page overview of Gabon.

Gabon Factsheet

Customs and Culture

Cultural Attributes

Gabon's cultural identity is shaped by the convergence of more than 40 distinct ethnic groups, each contributing unique traditions, languages, and artistic expressions to the national fabric. The Fang people of the north constitute the largest single ethnic group, while the Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou, and Eschira peoples, among others, contribute to a rich mosaic of traditions across the country's provinces. Traditional music and dance occupy a central place in Gabonese cultural life. The mbira, a thumb piano-like instrument, and the ngombi, a harp used in spiritual ceremonies, are among the instruments that accompany rituals and communal gatherings. The Bwiti spiritual practice, observed primarily by the Fang and Mitsogo peoples, is one of the most distinctive cultural expressions in Gabon. Incorporating the use of iboga, a psychoactive plant derived from the Tabernanthe iboga shrub, Bwiti ceremonies involve elaborate multi-day rituals of music, dance, and visionary experience aimed at spiritual initiation and healing. UNESCO recognized Bwiti as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022. French remains the official language and the primary medium of education, government, and formal commerce, a legacy of French colonial rule that lasted from the mid-19th century until independence in 1960. However, Fang, Punu, and other Bantu languages are widely spoken in homes and communities throughout the country. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by roughly 80 percent of the population, with Roman Catholicism being especially widespread due to the influence of French missionaries. Traditional animist beliefs are frequently observed alongside Christian practice, reflecting a syncretic approach to spirituality common across Central Africa. Oral tradition remains a vital cultural institution. Griots and community elders serve as living repositories of history, genealogy, and moral teaching, passing knowledge from generation to generation through storytelling and song. Carved wooden masks and sculptures, particularly those associated with the Fang and Kota peoples, are internationally recognized and have influenced modernist art movements in Europe since the early 20th century.

City view

Land of the Equatorial Forest

Greetings, Gestures & Visiting

There are many local languages in Gabon but French is the official language which means many you people are not learning the language of their parents or grandparents. Greetings between strangers are reserved with a quick handshake for most formal occasions. Friends greet each other with kisses on the cheek. Among older people men and women stay in separate groups when socializing.

Western style clothing is worn in the urban areas with women wearing modern dresses and skirts in traditional African colors. The traditional clothing is the boubou, a top that is knee or floor length. Men wear them loose-fitting with matching pants, women wear them with a double wrapped pagnes (a colorful strip of African cloth).

Diet

Manioc root and plantains are the staple foods. Meats include monkey,, pangolin and gazelle. Rural household also have chickens. They eat the largest meal in the middle of the day and leftovers are usually served in the evening.

Libreville Parliament

Family

Families are large with women having five or more children.

Recreation

Soccer is the national sport and the most common form of entertainment is visiting with family and friends. Checkers is a common game played with board pieces made from many different items such as bottle caps.

Holidays

  • Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG)

    3/12

    Independence

Dates of Interest

  • March 12th

How do people greet each other in Gabon?

Greetings between strangers are reserved, typically a quick handshake on formal occasions, while friends greet each other with kisses on the cheek.

Do

  • Use a quick handshake with strangers in formal situations
  • Exchange cheek kisses with friends

Good to know

  • French is the official language, though many local Bantu languages like Fang and Punu are spoken at home
  • Among older people, men and women tend to socialize in separate groups

What are the dining customs in Gabon?

Manioc root and plantains are the staple foods, and the largest meal is eaten in the middle of the day, with leftovers often served in the evening.

Good to know

  • Meats can include monkey, pangolin, and gazelle
  • Rural households often keep chickens
  • Expect the main meal at midday

What should I wear in Gabon?

Western-style clothing is common in urban areas, while the traditional garment is the boubou, a knee- or floor-length top.

Good to know

  • Men wear the boubou loose-fitting with matching pants
  • Women pair the boubou with a double-wrapped pagne, a colorful strip of African cloth
  • Women in cities wear modern dresses and skirts in traditional African colors

What is family life like in Gabon?

Families tend to be large, with women often having five or more children.

What do people do for fun in Gabon?

Soccer is the national sport, and the most common form of entertainment is visiting with family and friends.

Good to know

  • Checkers is a popular game, often played with pieces made from items like bottle caps

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Gabon

Travel and Tourism

Travel Alert Status
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Time Difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
The climate is hot and humid during most of the year and is typically equatorial. High temperatures range from 75°F to 82°F in the dry seasons and from 86°F to 93°F in the rainy seasons. Four distinguishable seasons are evident, although they vary somewhat each year: the long dry season from late May until mid-September; the short rainy season from mid-September until mid-December; the short dry season from mid-December through January; and the long rainy season from February until late May. Rainfall in Libreville is about 115 inches a year (the U.S. average is about 40 inches); the largest amounts fall in October, November, March, and April. The humidity is always high. The summer months, as in the southern hemisphere, are the coolest time of the year.
Airports
56
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Recipes

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History

Historical Eras

  1. Pre-European Bantu Era

    1300 – 1470

    Over the course of several centuries, Bantu-speaking peoples migrated into the dense equatorial forests of present-day Gabon from multiple directions, establishing distinct ethnic communities including the Fang, Mpongwe, and Myene peoples. Though written records are scarce, tribal art and oral traditions attest to rich cultural and spiritual heritages. These societies developed complex trade networks and governance structures long before European contact.

  2. European Contact & Slave Trade

    1470 – 1839

    Portuguese traders arriving around 1470 gave the region its name, derived from 'gabão,' referencing the shape of the Komo River estuary. Dutch, British, and French traders followed in the 16th century, and the Gabonese coast became a significant node in the Atlantic slave trade. European commercial and missionary interests gradually intensified, laying the groundwork for formal colonial claims.

  3. French Protectorate & Colonization

    1839 – 1960

    France formalized its presence through treaties with Mpongwe coastal chiefs in 1839 and 1841, and founded Libreville in 1849 after freeing captives from a seized slave ship. Explorers such as Savorgnan de Brazza pushed into the interior between 1862 and 1887, and France fully occupied Gabon by 1885. In 1910 Gabon was incorporated into French Equatorial Africa, remaining under French administration until independence.

  4. First Republic & M'Ba Years

    1960 – 1967

    Gabon achieved independence on August 17, 1960, with Léon M'Ba emerging as the country's first president under a new presidential system established in 1961. Political consolidation proved turbulent: in February 1964 the military briefly overthrew M'Ba, though French troops restored him to power within a day. Elections continued under a dominant single-party trajectory, and a constitutional revision in 1966 set the stage for Vice President Omar Bongo's automatic succession.

  5. Bongo One-Party State

    1967 – 1991

    Omar Bongo assumed the presidency upon M'Ba's death in 1967 and in 1968 dissolved all parties to create the single-party Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG), which he used to suppress regional and ethnic rivalries while consolidating personal power. Oil revenues from the 1970s boom transformed Gabon into one of sub-Saharan Africa's more prosperous economies, funding infrastructure and social programs. Bongo was re-elected in 1975, 1979, and 1986, governing with few meaningful political checks.

  6. Multiparty & Modern Gabon

    1991 – present

    Popular pressure and strikes compelled Bongo to introduce a new multiparty constitution in 1991, though elections were repeatedly marred by low turnout and allegations of fraud, leaving the PDG dominant. Gabon leveraged its oil wealth and a small population to maintain relative stability, signing major export deals such as the 2004 Total-China oil agreement. The death of Omar Bongo in 2009 and a subsequent coup in 2023 led by his son Ali Bongo's ouster marked the country's continuing struggle to define its post-authoritarian political identity.

Overview

During the last seven centuries, Bantu ethnic groups arrived in the area from several directions to escape enemies or find new land. Little is known of tribal life before European contact, but tribal art suggests rich cultural heritages. Gabon’s first European visitors were Portuguese traders who arrived in the 15th century and named the country after the Portuguese word "gabao," a coat with sleeve and hood resembling the shape of the Komo River estuary. The coast became a center of the slave trade. Dutch, British, and French traders came in the 16th century. France assumed the status of protector by signing treaties with Gabonese coastal chiefs in 1839 and 1841. American missionaries from New England established a mission at Baraka (now Libreville) in 1842. In 1849, the French captured a slave ship and released the passengers at the mouth of the Komo River. The slaves named their settlement Libreville--"free town." An American, Paul du Chaillu, was among the first foreigners to explore the interior of the country in the 1850s. French explorers penetrated Gabon’s dense jungles between 1862 and 1887. The most famous, Savorgnan de Brazza, used Gabonese bearers and guides in his search for the headwaters of the Congo River. France occupied Gabon in 1885 but did not administer it until 1903. In 1910, Gabon became one of the four territories of French Equatorial Africa, a federation that survived until 1959. The territories became independent in 1960 as the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), and Gabon.

At the time of Gabon’s independence in 1960, two principal political parties existed: the Bloc Democratique Gabonais (BDG), led by Leon M’Ba, and the Union Democratique et Sociale Gabonaise (UDSG), led by J.H. Aubame. In the first post-independence election, held under a parliamentary system, neither party was able to win a majority. The BDG obtained support from three of the four independent legislative deputies, and M’Ba was named Prime Minister. Soon after concluding that Gabon had an insufficient number of people for a two-party system, the two party leaders agreed on a single list of candidates. In the February 1961 election, held under the new presidential system, M’Ba became President and Aubame became Foreign Minister.

This one-party system appeared to work until February 1963, when the larger BDG element forced the UDSG members to choose between a merger of the parties or resignation. The UDSG cabinet ministers resigned, and M’Ba called an election for February 1964 and a reduced number of National Assembly deputies (from 67 to 47). The UDSG failed to muster a list of candidates able to meet the requirements of the electoral decrees. When the BDG appeared likely to win the election by default, the Gabonese military toppled M’Ba in a bloodless coup on February 18, 1964. French troops re-established his government the next day. Elections were held in April 1964 with many opposition participants. BDG-supported candidates won 31 seats and the opposition 16. Late in 1966, the constitution was revised to provide for automatic succession of the vice president should the president die in office. In March 1967, Leon M’Ba and Omar Bongo (then Albert Bongo) were elected President and Vice President. M’Ba died later that year, and Omar Bongo became President.

In March 1968, Bongo declared Gabon a one-party state by dissolving the BDG and establishing a new party--the Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG). He invited all Gabonese, regardless of previous political affiliation, to participate. Bongo was elected President in February 1975; in April 1975, the office of vice president was abolished and replaced by the office of prime minister, who had no right to automatic succession. Bongo was re-elected President in December 1979 and November 1986 to 7-year terms. Using the PDG as a tool to submerge the regional and tribal rivalries that divided Gabonese politics in the past, Bongo sought to forge a single national movement in support of the government’s development policies.

Economic discontent and a desire for political liberalization provoked violent demonstrations and strikes by students and workers in early 1990. In response to grievances by workers, Bongo negotiated with them on a sector-by-sector basis, making significant wage concessions. In addition, he promised to open up the PDG and to organize a national political conference in March-April 1990 to discuss Gabon’s future political system. The PDG and 74 political organizations attended the conference. Participants essentially divided into two loose coalitions, the ruling PDG and its allies, and the United Front of Opposition Associations and Parties, consisting of the breakaway Morena Fundamental and the Gabonese Progress Party.

The April 1990 conference approved sweeping political reforms, including creation of a national Senat

Timeline of Key Events

  1. 1470

    Portuguese arrive in what is now Gabon.

    Portuguese arrive in what is now Gabon.

  2. 1839

    Local Mpongwe ruler signs away sovereignty to the French.

    Local Mpongwe ruler signs away sovereignty to the French.

  3. 1910

    Gabon becomes part of French Equatorial Africa.

    Gabon becomes part of French Equatorial Africa.

  4. 1960

    Gabon becomes independent.

    Gabon becomes independent.

  5. 1991

    Parliament adopts a new constitution that formalizes the multi-party system.

    Parliament adopts a new constitution that formalizes the multi-party system.

  6. 2004

    French oil firm Total signs deal to export Gabonese oil to China.

    French oil firm Total signs deal to export Gabonese oil to China. Agreement signed with Chinese company to exploit around one billion tonnes of iron ore.

  7. 2006

    Gabon and Equatorial Guinea agree to start talks over disputed islands.

    Gabon and Equatorial Guinea agree to start talks over disputed islands in potentially oil-rich waters in the Gulf of Guinea.

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Interesting Facts

  • Gabon gained independence from France 17 August 1960.

  • Gabon gained independence from France 17 August 1960.

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Geography and Environment

Gabon straddles the Equator on the west coast of Central Africa, bordered by Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Cameroon on the north, and by the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) on the east and south. Gabon covers about 102,300 square miles, roughly the size of Colorado, or half the size of France. Heavy equatorial rain forests cover nearly 85% of Gabon, with savanna areas in the southeastern and southwestern sections of the country covering an additional 10%. The remaining area is composed of bodies of water and developed areas. The Ogooue River, the largest river in West Africa between the Niger and the Congo, drains most of Gabon. Winding in a broad arc from southeastern Gabon to the country’s Atlantic coast, the Ogooue cuts through three major geographical regions: the coastal lowlands, the plateau region, and the mountains. The coastal lowlands lie along the Atlantic Ocean and extend up into the river valleys that slice through the broad interior plateau. The lowlands are lined with beaches and lagoons that are fringed with mangrove swamps; forests extend from the banks of the broad, slow-moving rivers and cover most of the lowland areas. Inland the terrain rises to a plateau, and in some areas to mountains as high as 5,000 feet. Although dominated by large tracts of thick forest, the interior of the country offers scenery of great beauty, including mountains, rolling hills, forests, and scattered savannas.
Terrain
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Climate
The climate is hot and humid during most of the year and is typically equatorial. High temperatures range from 75°F to 82°F in the dry seasons and from 86°F to 93°F in the rainy seasons. Four distinguishable seasons are evident, although they vary somewhat each year: the long dry season from late May until mid-September; the short rainy season from mid-September until mid-December; the short dry season from mid-December through January; and the long rainy season from February until late May. Rainfall in Libreville is about 115 inches a year (the U.S. average is about 40 inches); the largest amounts fall in October, November, March, and April. The humidity is always high. The summer months, as in the southern hemisphere, are the coolest time of the year.
Natural Hazards
NA
Current Environmental Issues
deforestation; poaching
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People & Demographics

Religion

Languages Spoken

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

  • French

Population

Population
1,545,255
Population in Major Urban Areas
LIBREVILLE (capital) 686,000
Nationality Noun
Gabonese (singular and plural)
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

Education

Literacy Definition
Age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Major Infectious Diseases — degree of risk
Very high
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Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name
Gabon
Full Country Name
Gabonese Republic
Local - Long
Republique Gabonaise
Local - Short
Gabon

Government Structure

Government Type
republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)
Legal System
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA (since 30 August 2023, following a military coup that ousted President Ali BONGO Ondimba) head of government: Prime Minister Raymond NDONG SIMA (since 7 September 2023) cabinet: Transitional Council of Ministers appointed by the president following the dissolution of previous governmental structures after the August 2023 coup elections: Prior to the coup, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the most recent presidential election was held on 26 August 2023, the results of which were disputed and led directly to the military intervention; future electoral arrangements are to be determined during the ongoing transitional period election results: The August 2023 election was annulled following the coup; the military-led Transition Committee for the Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) subsequently appointed Oligui Nguema as transitional president, suspending the constitution and dissolving existing governmental institutions
Legislative Branch
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009); National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP 1, PSD 1, independents 13, others 3
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Constitution
adopted 14 March 1991
Independence
17 August 1960 (from France)
National Holiday
Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)

Capital City

Capital Name
Libreville
Capital - geographic coordinate
0 23 N, 9 27 E
Capital Time Difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Original site settled by freed slaves and the name means "free town" in French; named in imitation of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone

Military

Branches: Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Force (Force Terrestre), Gabonese Navy (Marine Gabonaise), Gabonese Air Forces (Forces Aerienne Gabonaises, FAG)

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

U.S. Embassy Libreville

BP 4000

Sabliere Neighborhood

Libreville, Gabon

Telephone: 241-01-45-71-00

Emergency after-hours telephone: 241-07-38-01-71

Facsimile: 241-01-45-71-05

Email: LibrevilleACS@state.gov

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Economy

Gabon enjoys a per capita income several times that of most sub-Saharan African nations, placing it among the region's upper-middle-income countries. Despite this relative wealth, high income inequality means a significant portion of the population—roughly one-third—lives in poverty. Historically dependent on timber and manganese, Gabon's economy was transformed by the discovery of offshore oil in the early 1970s. The oil sector remains the backbone of the economy, accounting for approximately 38-40% of GDP and around 70% of export earnings, though its share has gradually declined as the government pursues diversification.

Gabon continues to face vulnerability to fluctuating global prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. The country is the world's second-largest producer of manganese and a major exporter of tropical hardwoods, particularly following a 2010 ban on raw log exports designed to develop a domestic wood-processing industry. Despite abundant natural wealth, persistent challenges include weak fiscal management, an over-reliance on commodities, high unemployment—especially among youth—and significant infrastructure gaps.

Successive governments have pursued diversification under initiatives such as the Plan Stratégique Gabon Émergent, aimed at developing agriculture, ecotourism, mining, and value-added wood processing. The economy was hit hard by the 2014-2016 oil price collapse, prompting Gabon to enter a three-year Extended Fund Facility arrangement with the IMF in 2017 to support fiscal consolidation and structural reforms. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global commodity shocks further strained public finances, though a rebound in oil and manganese prices in 2022 supported a return to growth.

In August 2023, a military coup ended over five decades of rule by the Bongo family, introducing political uncertainty but also prompting transitional authorities to pledge economic reforms, anti-corruption measures, and renewed efforts at diversification. Short- and medium-term prospects depend on global commodity demand, the success of diversification policies, improved governance, and continued engagement with international financial institutions.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code
CFA Franc BEAC (XAF)
GDP — official exchange rate
$6,697,000,000 (USD)
GDP Real Growth Rate
2.1%

Banknotes

Gabon Money - Front
Gabon Money - Front
Gabon Money - Back
Gabon Money - Back

Budget & Public Finance

Fiscal Year
calendar year
Annual Budget
$1,618,000,000 (USD)
Public Debt (% of GDP)
29.5%
External Debt
$3,857,000,000 (USD)
Investment (% of GDP)
24.5%
Economic Aid
$331,000,000 (USD)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange
$525,000,000 (USD)

Labor, Industry & Trade

Labor Force by Occupation
agriculture 60%; services 25%; industry 15%
Industries
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement
Agriculture Products
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Export Commodities
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium
Export Partners
US 50.9%, France 12.7%, China 7.1%
Import Commodities
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials
Import Partners
France 51%, US 6.3%, Netherlands 3.7%

Energy

Oil Production
268,900 bbl/day
Oil Consumption
12,250 bbl/day
Oil Reserves
1,921,000,000 bbl/day
Natural Gas Production
90,000,000 cu m
Natural Gas Consumption
90,000,000 cu m
Natural Gas Imports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Exports
0 cu m
Natural Gas Reserves
33,980,000,000 cu m

Communications

Telephone System
General assessment: Adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations Domestic: A growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons International: Country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Internet Country Code
.ga

News & Weather

Current Weather

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Latest News

News via Google News

Climate Overview

The climate is hot and humid during most of the year and is typically equatorial. High temperatures range from 75°F to 82°F in the dry seasons and from 86°F to 93°F in the rainy seasons. Four distinguishable seasons are evident, although they vary somewhat each year: the long dry season from late May until mid-September; the short rainy season from mid-September until mid-December; the short dry season from mid-December through January; and the long rainy season from February until late May. Rainfall in Libreville is about 115 inches a year (the U.S. average is about 40 inches); the largest amounts fall in October, November, March, and April. The humidity is always high. The summer months, as in the southern hemisphere, are the coolest time of the year.

Videos

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Gabon?
The population of Gabon is approximately 1.5M.
How do people greet each other in Gabon?
Greetings between strangers are reserved, typically a quick handshake on formal occasions, while friends greet each other with kisses on the cheek. Do: Use a quick handshake with strangers in formal situations Exchange cheek kisses with friends French is the official language, though many local Bantu languages like Fang and Punu are spoken at home Among older people, men and women tend to socialize in separate groups
What are the dining customs in Gabon?
Manioc root and plantains are the staple foods, and the largest meal is eaten in the middle of the day, with leftovers often served in the evening. Meats can include monkey, pangolin, and gazelle Rural households often keep chickens Expect the main meal at midday
What should I wear in Gabon?
Western-style clothing is common in urban areas, while the traditional garment is the boubou, a knee- or floor-length top. Men wear the boubou loose-fitting with matching pants Women pair the boubou with a double-wrapped pagne, a colorful strip of African cloth Women in cities wear modern dresses and skirts in traditional African colors
What is family life like in Gabon?
Families tend to be large, with women often having five or more children.
What do people do for fun in Gabon?
Soccer is the national sport, and the most common form of entertainment is visiting with family and friends. Checkers is a popular game, often played with pieces made from items like bottle caps
What is the capital of Gabon?
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Situated on the Komo River estuary along the Atlantic coast, it serves as the country's political, economic, and cultural hub. The city's name — French for "free town" — reflects its 19th-century origins as a settlement for freed enslaved people. Today it is home to the country's main port, government institutions, and the majority of Gabon's urban population.
Where is Gabon located?
Gabon is located on the west-central coast of Africa, straddling the equator along the Gulf of Guinea. It sits within the Congo Basin region, one of the most biodiverse zones on the planet. Gabon is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and is considered part of Central Africa geographically and economically. The country gained independence from France on 17 August 1960.
What countries border Gabon?
Gabon shares land borders with three countries: Cameroon to the north, Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, and the Republic of the Congo to the east and south. To the west, Gabon has an extensive Atlantic Ocean coastline along the Gulf of Guinea. These borders place Gabon at the heart of the Central African rainforest belt, a region of exceptional ecological significance.
What religion is practiced in Gabon?
Christianity is the dominant religion in Gabon, practiced by approximately 65% of the population. The remaining population follows indigenous traditional beliefs and a smaller number of other religious practices, while Islam accounts for roughly 1% of adherents. Christianity was introduced and expanded significantly during the French colonial period, and both Roman Catholicism and various Protestant denominations remain active throughout the country today.
What is the currency of Gabon?
The currency of Gabon is the CFA Franc BEAC, with the ISO code XAF. It is issued by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) and is shared among six Central African nations that form the CEMAC monetary union, including Cameroon, Chad, and the Republic of the Congo. The XAF is pegged to the euro, providing monetary stability that has historically benefited Gabon's oil-export-dependent economy.
What language is spoken in Gabon?
French is the official language of Gabon and is widely used in government, education, and business — a legacy of French colonial rule that ended in 1960. Alongside French, a number of Bantu languages serve as important community and ethnic languages, most notably Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, and Bandjabi. Fang is the most widely spoken indigenous language and is particularly prevalent in the northern and central regions of the country.
What is Gabon known for?
Gabon is best known for its extraordinary tropical rainforests, which cover roughly 85% of the country and support forest elephants, gorillas, and some of the most intact equatorial ecosystems in Africa. The country is also a significant producer of manganese and petroleum, which have long underpinned its economy. Gabon's network of 13 national parks — established in 2002 — represents one of Africa's most ambitious conservation programs. The country also maintains a distinct political history as one of Africa's most oil-wealthy yet long-autocratically governed states.

Last reviewed 2026

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