République Gabonaise

Origin of Name Gabon's first European visitors were Portuguese traders who arrived in the 15th century and subsequent Portuguese references refered to it as Gabon after the Portuguese word "gabao," a coat with sleeves and hood resembling the shape of the Como River estuary, where they first explored.

Location west central Africa
Bordered By Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo

Area 103,347 sq mi (267,667 sq km)
Coastline 500 mil (800 km)
Highest Point Mont Iboundji; 5,167 ft (1,575 m)
Lowest Point sea level along the coast
Natural Resources oil, manganese, uranium, iron, gold

Nationality Gabonese
Population (July 2014 est) 1,672,597
Largest Cities Libreville, Port-Gentil, Franceville
Ethnic Groups Fang, Myene, Bapounou, Eshira, Bandjabi, Bakota, Nzebi, Bateke/Obamba
Religions Christian, Muslim
Languages French (official), Fang, Meyene, Bateke, Bapounous/Eschira, Bandjabi

Capital Libreville
Form of Government republic
Present Constitution Adopted March 15, 1991
Chief of State President Ali Bongo Ondimba (since October 16, 2009)
Head of Government Prime Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet (since September 29, 2016)
Cabinet Council of Ministers
Legislature bicameral
Judiciary Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
Local Administration 9 provinces

Currency Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale franc
Per Capita Income $18,100
Industries oil products, textiles, food and beverages
Agriculture cocoa, coffee, palm products
Export Commodities petroleum, wood, manganese
Import Commodities construction equipment, machinery, food, automobiles, manufactured goods

Independence From France Achieved August 17, 1960
National Holiday Independence Day; August 17
Flag green represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun, blue represents the sea

SEE ALSO
Equatorial Guinea
Cameroon
Republic of the Congo

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This page was last updated on May 26, 2017.