Country profile · Sub-Saharan Africa

🇬🇦 Gabon

Upper middle income. Capital Libreville. Full World Bank, WHO, ILO & OECD indicator profile across 41 measures, with regional peers and rankings.

2.5 million
Population
$20.9 billion
GDP
$8,230
GDP / capita
68.3 years
Life expectancy
Sub-Saharan Africa Upper middle income Capital: Libreville

Gabon on the global income map

Gabon (GAB) plotted alongside its largest economic peers on GDP per capita and the Human Development Index. Bubble area scales with population; color encodes income tier; gold rings mark OECD members.

Gabon on the global income map Gabon positioned on the GDP-per-capita / HDI plane against its largest economic peers. 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 $200 $1K $10K $100K GDP per capita (USD, log scale) Human Development Index (0–1) India — GDP/cap $2,695 · lower-middle income IND China — GDP/cap $13,303 · upper-middle income CHN United States — GDP/cap $84,534 · high income · OECD USA Indonesia — GDP/cap $4,925 · upper-middle income IDN Pakistan — GDP/cap $1,479 · lower-middle income Nigeria — GDP/cap $1,084 · low income Brazil — GDP/cap $10,311 · upper-middle income Bangladesh — GDP/cap $2,593 · lower-middle income Russian Federation — GDP/cap $14,889 · high income Ethiopia — GDP/cap $1,134 · low income Mexico — GDP/cap $14,186 · high income · OECD Japan — GDP/cap $32,487 · high income · OECD Egypt, Arab Rep. — GDP/cap $3,338 · lower-middle income Philippines — GDP/cap $3,985 · lower-middle income Congo, Dem. Rep. — GDP/cap $649 · low income Viet Nam — GDP/cap $4,717 · upper-middle income Iran, Islamic Rep. — GDP/cap $5,190 · upper-middle income Turkiye — GDP/cap $15,893 · high income · OECD Germany — GDP/cap $56,104 · high income · OECD Thailand — GDP/cap $7,347 · upper-middle income United Kingdom — GDP/cap $53,246 · high income · OECD Tanzania — GDP/cap $1,187 · lower-middle income France — GDP/cap $46,103 · high income · OECD South Africa — GDP/cap $6,267 · upper-middle income Italy — GDP/cap $40,385 · high income · OECD Kenya — GDP/cap $2,132 · lower-middle income Myanmar — GDP/cap $1,359 · lower-middle income Colombia — GDP/cap $7,919 · upper-middle income · OECD Korea, Rep. — GDP/cap $36,239 · high income · OECD Sudan — GDP/cap $985 · low income Gabon — GDP/cap $8,230 · upper-middle income Income tier Low Lower-middle Upper-middle High OECD member

Indicators tracked

41

Across 8 topic areas

GDP per capita

$8,230

Latest WB report

Population

2.5 million

UN estimate

OECD member

No

Outside OECD harmonized stats

Population
2.5 million
GDP
$20.9 billion
GDP per Capita
$8,230
Life Expectancy
68.3 years

Overview

Gabon has a population of 2.5 million, making it the 142nd-most populous country out of 217 tracked in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Its economy totals $20.9 billion — ranked 129th globally by total GDP. GDP per capita stands at $8,230, placing it in the Upper middle income category.

Life expectancy at birth is 68.3 years (ranked 164th globally), reflecting overall health outcomes as measured by the World Bank.

The capital is Libreville.

👥 Demographics

Fertility Rate
3.6
2023
Population
2.5 million
2024
Population Ages 0-14
36.5%
2024
Population Ages 65+
4.1%
2024
Population Density
9.6/km²
2023
Population Growth Rate
2.2%
2024
Urban Population
91.9%
2024

💰 Economy

Foreign Direct Investment
$1.1 billion
2024
GDP (Current USD)
$20.9 billion
2024
GDP Growth Rate
3.4%
2024
GDP Per Capita (Current USD)
$8,230.043
2024
GNI Per Capita
$7,790
2024
Inflation (Consumer Prices)
1.2%
2024
Trade (% of GDP)
92.0%
2024
Unemployment Rate
20.1%
2024

🏥 Health

Health Expenditure (% of GDP)
3.1%
2023
Infant Mortality Rate
26.5 per 1,000
2023
Life Expectancy at Birth
68.3 years
2023
Maternal Mortality Ratio
233
2023
Physicians (per 1,000 people)
0.5 per 1,000
2022
Stunting Prevalence (under 5)
14.4
2020
Under-5 Mortality Rate
33.2 per 1,000
2023

📚 Education

Education Expenditure (% of GDP)
2.3%
2023
Literacy Rate (Adult)
88.9
2021
School Enrollment (Primary)
100.2
2019
School Enrollment (Secondary)
70.3
2019
School Enrollment (Tertiary)
7.7
2003
Youth Literacy Rate
94.0
2021

🌍 Environment

Electric Power Consumption
1,065 kWh
2022
Forest Area
91.2
2023
Freshwater Withdrawal
0.1
2022
Renewable Energy Consumption
91.3%
2021

🏗️ Infrastructure

Access to Electricity
94.1%
2023
Internet Users
71.9%
2023
Mobile Subscriptions
122.6
2023

⚖️ Social

Female Labor Participation
41.8
2024
GINI Index
38
2017
Male Labor Participation
60.4
2024
Net Migration
1.1K
2024
Poverty (< $2.15/day)
3.8%
2017

💼 Labor & Wages

PPP Conversion Factor (GDP)
231.99
2024

🫀 Disease Burden

Key causes of death and disease risk in Gabon. Source: WHO Global Health Observatory.

NCD Death Rate
533
per 100K · 2021
Premature NCD Risk
18.1%
dying 30–70 from NCD
Road Traffic Deaths
12.5
per 100K
Suicide Rate
19.5
per 100K
TB Deaths
41.00
per 100K
Maternal Mortality
233
per 100K births

Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory. NCD mortality rate: 2021. Rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population. Premature NCD risk covers cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.

⛏️ Mineral Production

Gabon is among the world's top producers of 1 mineral. View all minerals →

Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024. Data year 2023.

Compare Gabon with Another Country

What the data says about Gabon

Every figure on this profile is a single measurement drawn from an official international dataset, and each one carries assumptions worth understanding before drawing conclusions. Income and output are reported at market exchange rates in current dollars, so they move with currency swings as well as real growth, and national averages can hide wide gaps between regions and households. Health and demographic measures are period estimates compiled from vital registration, surveys, and statistical models, and their reporting year often lags the present by one to three years. Reading several indicators together, rather than fixating on a single headline number, is what turns a row of statistics into a grounded picture of how people in this country actually live, work, and age.

Gabon sits in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of 2.5 million, placing it 142nd out of 217 countries by headcount. Its capital, Libreville, anchors a Upper middle income economy with total GDP of $20.9 billion — ranked 129th globally — and GDP per capita of $8,230. This combination of demographic scale and economic output shapes everything from household purchasing power and domestic market depth to the country's weight in regional trade flows and international development programmes.

Life expectancy at birth in Gabon is 68.3 years, ranking 164th worldwide and offering a summary read on healthcare access, nutrition, sanitation, and long-run living standards. The World Bank's World Development Indicators, combined with the WHO Global Health Observatory and ILO ILOSTAT wage statistics, expose 41 data points across 8 thematic areas — from fertility and urbanisation to CO₂ emissions, school enrolment, and labour-force participation. Reading these indicators together, rather than in isolation, is what turns headline numbers into a grounded portrait of how people actually live.

Use the indicator tables below to track trajectories over time, jump to Gabon's placement on specific rankings such as GDP, population density, or life expectancy, and open the side-by-side Compare view to benchmark against peers inside Sub-Saharan Africa or across income groups. Because all figures come from official, CC BY 4.0-licensed datasets with clear vintages, you can cite them directly in research or journalism. Where a field reads "N/A", the upstream agency has not yet released that value for Gabon — we never fabricate estimates or carry forward stale values, so missing points stay visible rather than quietly filled in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the data for Gabon come from?

Data for Gabon is sourced from the World Bank Open Data catalog, WHO Global Health Observatory, and ILO ILOSTAT (for average wages and working hours). These are official, publicly available datasets.

How current is the data for Gabon?

Data availability varies by indicator. Most recent data points range from 2020 to 2024, depending on the indicator and reporting frequency. World Bank indicators are updated annually, while WHO disease burden data follows the Global Burden of Disease study schedule.

Can I compare Gabon with other countries?

Yes. Use the Compare feature to see a side-by-side comparison of Gabon with any other country across all available indicators. You can also explore rankings to see where Gabon stands globally on specific measures like GDP, population, or life expectancy.

What does GDP per capita tell us about Gabon?

GDP per capita divides Gabon's total economic output by its population, giving an approximate measure of average economic productivity per person. It is reported in current US dollars. For fairer cross-country comparisons, purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustments account for differences in the cost of goods and services.

How does Gabon's life expectancy compare to the global average?

Life expectancy at birth for Gabon is 68.3 years, ranking 164th out of 217 countries tracked. The global average is approximately 73 years. Life expectancy reflects healthcare quality, nutrition, sanitation, and socioeconomic conditions.

Does PlainCountries cover visa or travel information for Gabon?

PlainCountries focuses on development indicators, health data, and economic statistics. For visa requirements and immigration policies, visit PlainVisa at plainvisa.com. For international flight route data, check PlainFlights at plainflights.com.

Source: World Bank Open Data, Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, Source: ILO ILOSTAT. World Bank and ILO data licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the World Bank, WHO, ILO, and OECD. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.