Gabon is a developing nation in the western coast of central Africa. The country has one of the highest per capita income in the African region owing to its vast natural reserves of oil, gas, tropical timbers, manganese, iron, diamonds and gold.

Gross domestic product

e = estimated

(Source:Central Bank)

The nominal GDP in 2009 was estimated to decline from FCFA 6,598 billion in 2008 to FCFA 5,509 billion.

GDP growth rate

e = estimated

(Source:Central Bank)

The GDP growth rate has fluctuated since 2000. The growth rate declined from 5.1% in 2007 to 2% in 2008, and was estimated to further fall to -0.2% in 2009.

Gross national income (GNI)

(Source: UNDP)

The GNI per capita at PPP increased to USD 12,747 in 2010, compared to USD 12,547 in 2005.

Income tax

The income tax rate on individual income in Gabon is 35%, decreasing from 50% as of February 2010. 

(Source: heritage.org)

Corporate tax

The corporate tax in Gabon is 35%.

(Source: doingbusiness.org

Inflation

(Source: stat-gabon.com)

The inflation rate in December 2010 was recorded at 0.7%, decreasing from 0.8% in December 2009.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow

(Source:World Bank

The foreign direct investment steadily rose till 2007.  However, it declined to USD 209,019,551 in 2008, and finally, further declined to USD 32,826,047 in 2009.

Central bank assets

(Source: Central Bank)

Consumer Price Index

Base year 2004 = 100

(Source: stat-gabon.com)

The consumer price index has increased from 116.5 in December 2009 to 117.3 in December 2010.

Money Supply

(Source: Central Bank)

Government Expenditure

p = projected

e = estimated

(Source: Central Bank)

Official Exchange Rate

(Source: World Bank)

In 2009, the exchange rate was XAF 472 per USD. The foreign exchange rate has declined from XAF 527 per USD in 2005 to XAF 448 per USD in 2008.

Government Financial well-being

Fiscal balance

p = projected

e = estimated

(Source: Central Bank)

The fiscal balance has increased from FCFA 428.9 billion in 2005 to FCFA 751.2 billion in 2008. Further, the fiscal balance in 2009 is estimated to be FCFA 499.9 billion in 2009 and is projected to decline to FCFA 3 billion in 2010

Total Revenue

p = projected

e = estimated

(Source: Central Bank)

Tax Revenue

The tax revenue is estimated to be 11.1% of GDP in 2009. The tax revenue is projected to be 10.7% in 2010 and 10.3% in 2011.

(Source: africaneconomicoutlook.org)

Current Account Balance - Surplus/Deficit

e = estimated

(Source: IMF)

Balance of Payments

p = projected

(Source: Central Bank)

Labour force

The total labour force in Gabon was 687,011 in 2008, of which 46% were female.

(Source: World Bank)

Labour force participation rate

The labour force participation rate in 2008 was 56.5%.

(Source: stat-gabon.com, UN)

Population of working age

The working age population was estimated to be 793,358 individuals in 2008.

(Source: stat-gabon.com)

Unemployment rate

The General Statistics Directorate estimates an unemployment rate of about 25% in Gabon.

In 2008, the country had 78,985 unemployed individuals.

(Source: stat-gabon.com, africaneconomicoutlook.org)

Minimum wage

The minimum monthly wage in Gabon was XAF 80,000 in 2009. However, as per the new wage plan for 2010, the minimum monthly wage will be increased to XAF 150,000. The wage is applicable to the workers employed by private companies, and all other workers, except domestic staff and government employees.

(Source: businessweek)

Level of unionisation

Major trade unions in the country include:

• Confédération Gabonaise des Syndicats Libres (CGSL)
• Confédération Syndicale Gabonaise (COSYGA)

(Source: ICFTU)

Gabon operates under a republic system of government, with a multiparty presidential regime. The president is the head of the state, and the Prime Minister is the head of the government.

The legislative power is exercised by the government and the two chambers of parliament.  Whereas, the executive power is exercised by the government only.

The country’s parliament is bicameral, and is comprised of the senate and the national assembly. The Senate chamber is comprised of 102 members, each with a term of six years. The National Assembly chamber requires 120 statutory members, each with a term of five years.

Currently, Ali Ben Bongo is the President and Paul Biyoghé Mba is the Prime Minister of Gabon

(Source: IPU, BBC)

Regulatory environment

Gabon’s economic freedom score is 56.7, making it 110^th freest economy in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. Gabon is ranked 17^th out of the 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

(Source: heritage.org)

Corruption perception

Gabon was ranked 110^th on the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with a score of 2.8, which indicates that the corruption level in public departments in the country is high.

The country’s CPI index has slipped from its 106^th rank in 2009 to 110^th by the end of 2010, reflecting a rise in the level of corruption.

(Source: transparency.org)

Freedom of information

Gabon was ranked 107^th in the World Press Freedom Index 2010, with a score of 28.75, which indicates that the media’s freedom is limited.

(Source: rsf.org)

The country’s main broadcast media are under the control of government.

The various newspapers circulating in the country include:

• L'Union
• Le Temps
• Le Temoin
• La Lowe
• Le Journal
• La Relance

(Source: BBC)

Judicial system

Gabon’s judicial system is based on the French model. The judicial power is exercised through various courts:

• Constitutional Court,
• Court of Cassation (the highest court in civil, commercial, social and criminal matters)
• the Council of State (the highest authority for administrative matters)
• the Court of Auditors
• the Courts of Appeal
• the ordinary courts
• the High Court of Justice
  

Judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of the judiciary and are supervised by the President of the Republic.

(Source: state.gov, WTO)

In 2010, the country had a population of 1,545,255 inhabitants.

There are 99.8 males per 100 females in the country, indicating a balanced gender ratio in the country.

Of the total population, 36.1% were aged 14 years and below.

(Source: World Bank, UN, gabon-investir)

The life expectancy in 2010, for males and females, was 51.96 years and 53.58 years respectively.

Literacy rate

Gabon had a literacy rate of 86% in 2008. The youth literacy rate (15-24 years) for males and females between 2004 and 2008 was 98% and 96% respectively.

In 2008, the government expenditure on education is estimated to be 0.3% of the GDP.

As per 2008-09 estimates, there were 232 pre-primary schools, 107 secondary education schools and five universities.

(Source: stat-gabon.com, UNICEF,UN)

Healthcare resources

The expenditure incurred on health in 2008 was XAF 18,796 million, or 0.3% of GDP. This public expenditure on health, of about USD 130 per person, is the third highest in Africa.

In 2007, over 70% of the population had no insurance coverage. However, in the same year, The National Health Insurance andSocial Insurance Office (CNAMGS) introduced a mandatory health insurance system.

The major causes of death in the country are malaria and HIV/ AIDS. The AIDS pandemic affects more than 7% of the country’s population.

(Source: stat-gabon.com, gabonmagazine.com, issa.int, gabon-investir)

Mass public transit

Roadways are the primary mode of public transport in the country.

Railways

The Trans-Gabon Railway, which is 410 km long, is the only railway line in the country.

(Source: worldtravelguide)

Airports

Gabon has about 44 airports, including three international airports. Major airports of the country include:

 (Source: aircraft-charter-world)

Telecommunications networks

As on June 2010, there were about 98,800 internet users, making a penetration rate of 6.4%.

(Source: internetworldstats)

The number of fixed telephone lines in Gabon declined from 38,700 in 2004 to 26,500 in 2009, registering a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of -7.3%. The fixed telephone line usage has declined from 2.88 per 100 inhabitants in 2004 to 1.8 per 100 inhabitants in 2009.

(Source: ITU)

The number of mobile cellular subscriptions rose from 489,400 in 2004 to 1,373,000 in 2009 registering a CAGR of 22.9%. The ratio of mobile cellular subscriptions to fixed telephone lines was 51.8:1, indicating that the amount of mobile cellular usage in the country is more as compared to the fixed telephone line usage.

(Source: ITU)