Gabon |
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Gabon borders the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea. Gabon is considered to be part of the Central African Region.
Land Boundaries:
Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, and Equatorial Guinea 350 km .
Geography:
Size 267,667 sq km, slightly less than the size of Colorado, US. Gabon's climate is hot and humid, it's very tropical. Gabon has a narrow coastal plain with a hilly interior. There is some savanna in east and south of the country. The lowest point of Gabon is the Atlantic Ocean at sea level; Gabon's highest elevation is Mont Iboundji which stands at 1,575 m. Gabon has plenty of oil and other natural resources such as iron, uranium and gold. The revenue from its natural resources have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity.
Population:
Just under 1.5 million people live in Gabon. Life expectancy is around 54 years. Birth rate is on average 4.7 children per woman. Literacy rate is just over 63%.
Languages:
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, and Bandjabi.
Ethnic Groups:
Most Gabonese have Bantu origin, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, and Obamba). Other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality.
Religion:
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Political History:
Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated the country's political scene for four decades. President Bongo introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.
Economic Overview:
Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations. but because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. The devaluation of the CFA franc - its currency - by 50% in January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandated progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, over-borrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices since 1999 have helped growth, but drops in production have hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains, and will continue to temper the gains for most of this decade. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December 2001. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.
Source: CIA World Factbook
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