Gabon (GPS: 1 00 S, 11 45 E) is located in Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between the Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea. The country’s area measurements are total: 267,667 sq km; land: 257,667 sq km, water: 10,000 sq km. This sovereign state is slightly smaller than Colorado. The total irrigated land is 40 sq km (2012).
One of Gabon’s essential features is that a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa’s wealthier countries. In general, these circumstances have allowed the state to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Libreville’s GPS coordinates are 0 23 N 9 27 E. Libreville’s local time is 6 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC+1.
For more information on Gabon, please scroll down below the Google Maps.
Google Maps Gabon and Libreville, Africa
About Gabon in detail
Flag of Gabon
Map of Gabon
Following independence from France in 1960, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba – one of the longest-ruling heads of state globally – dominated the country’s political scene for four decades (1967-2009). President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential election in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of Gabon’s formal political structures. Following President BONGO’s death in 2009, a new election brought his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, to power.
Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon’s small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries. President Ali BONGO Ondimba’s controversial August 2016 reelection sparked unprecedented opposition protests that resulted in the parliament building’s burning. The opposition contested the election after international election observers flagged fraudulent results. Gabon’s Constitutional Court reviewed the election results but ruled in favor of President BONGO, upholding his win and extending his mandate to 2023.
Gabon’s names conventional long form: the Gabonese Republic, traditional short form: Gabon, local long way: Republique Gabonaise, local short form: Gabon, etymology: name originates from the Portuguese word “gabao” meaning “cloak,” which is roughly the shape that the early explorers gave to the estuary of the Komo River by the capital of Libreville. The name originates from the Portuguese word “gabao,” meaning “cloak,” which is roughly the shape that the early explorers gave to the estuary of the Komo River by Libreville’s capital.
Gabon’s terrain is typically a narrow coastal plain, hilly interior, savanna in east and south. The country’s mean elevation: 377 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m, highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m.
The general climate in the country; tropical: always hot, humid.
The total number of border countries is 3, Cameroon 349 km, Republic of the Congo 2,567 km, Equatorial Guinea 345 km are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Gabon’s coastline is 885 km, while its marital claims are: territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles. Waterways: 1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2010). Land use: agricultural land: 19%; arable land 1.2%; permanent crops 0.6%; permanent pasture 17.2%; forest: 81%; other: 0% (2011 estimate).
The population in Gabon 2,119,036 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 87.2% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: LIBREVILLE (capital) 707,000 (2015), while Gabon has N/A. Their spoken languages are French (official language), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi. Main religions in Gabon are Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 13.7%, other Christian 32.4%, Muslim 6.4%, animist 0.3%, other 0.3%, none/no answer 5% (2012 estimate). The nation uses a mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law. It is a(n) presidential republic, National holiday(s) Independence Day, 17 August (1960).
Economic overview for the country: Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most sub-Saharan African nations, but because of high-income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon relied on timber and manganese exports until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. From 2010 to 2016, oil accounted for approximately 80% of Gabon’s exports, 45% of its GDP, and 60% of its state budget revenues. Gabon faces fluctuating international prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports.
A rebound of oil prices from 2001 to 2013 helped growth, but declining production has hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains as some fields passed their peak production. GDP grew nearly 6% per year over the 2010-2014 period but slowed significantly from 2014 to just 1% in 2017 as oil prices declined. Low oil prices also weakened government revenue and negatively affected the trade and current account balances. In the wake of lower-income, Gabon signed a 3-year agreement with the IMF in June 2017. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management and over-reliance on oil have stifled the economy. Power cuts and water shortages are frequent. Gabon is reliant on imports, and the government heavily subsidizes commodities, including food, but will be hard-pressed to tamp down public frustration with unemployment and corruption.
Natural resources of Gabon: petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower.
Main export partners for Gabon, Africa are China 15.5%, Italy 7.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.2%, Australia 7%, Spain 6.3%, South Korea 5.4%, Netherlands 5%, US 4.7% (2015) for crude oil, timber, manganese, uranium, while the main import partners for the country are: China 21.4%, France 19.6%, US 6.6%, Benin 4.7%, Netherlands 4% (2015) for machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials.
When you visit this country in Africa, consider the natural hazards in Gabon: N/A. At the same time, infectious diseases are the degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria and dengue fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2016). Also, note that Gabon faces the following environmental issues: Deforestation (the forests that cover three-quarters of the country are threatened by excessive logging), Burgeoning population exacerbating disposal of solid waste, Oil industry contributing to water pollution, wildlife poaching.
You may also be interested in the countries next to Gabon around its total: 3,261 km border, like Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea.
