Languages spoken in Gabon
Libreville
2469296
The main language spoken in Gabon is:
French - the official working language, spoken by the vast majority of the population as a lingua franca.
Numerous Bantu languages are spoken by Gabon''s ethnic groups, including Fang, Shira-Punu, Nzabi-Duma, Mbede-Teke, Myene, and Kota-Kele.
French is the sole official working language of Gabon.
| Geography |
Location: Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 267,667-267,668 sq km
Land boundaries:
border countries: Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea
Climate: equatorial; high temperatures and humidity year-round
Terrain: narrow coastal plain (often no more than 20 miles/32 km wide in the south, broadening to 100 miles/160 km in the north); densely forested interior, dominated by rainforest
| People |
Population: 2,513,738 (2025 est.); sparsely populated
Life expectancy at birth: total population 68.3 years (2025 est.)
Nationality:
noun/adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups: Fang 23.5%, Shira-Punu/Vii 20.6%, Nzabi-Duma 11.2%, Mbede-Teke 5.6%, Myene 4.4%, Kota-Kele 4.3%, Okande-Tsogho 1.6%, other 12.6%, foreigner 16.2% (2021 est.)
Religions: Protestant 46.4%, Roman Catholic 29.8%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 10.8%, traditional/animist 1.1%, none 7% (2019-2021 est.)
Languages: French (official working language)
| Government |
Country name:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
Data code: GB
Government type: unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate and National Assembly)
National capital: Libreville
Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (elected 2025, 90.35% of vote)
Background: a former French colony, Gabon retains strong ties to France and the French language and culture; in August 2023, officers from the Republican Guard, led by Brice OLIGUI Nguema, seized control of the government following a disputed election, arrested President Ali BONGO Ondimba, and dissolved state institutions; OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president in September 2023 and was elected president in his own right in 2025
| Economy |
Economy - overview: natural-resource-rich, upper-middle-income Central African economy; significant reliance on oil and mineral exports; one of the more prosperous and stable countries in Central Africa despite high poverty and unemployment; highly urbanized population; uncertainty on institutional and development reform progress following the 2023 coup
GDP (purchasing power parity): $57.45 billion (2025 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.8% (2025 est.)
GDP - per capita: $24,910 PPP (2025 est.)
Inflation rate: 2.1% (2024)
Unemployment rate: 20.2% (2025 est.)
Labor force: 771,230 (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line: 33.4% (2017)
Industries: petroleum extraction and refining, manganese, gold, chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Exports: $12.935 billion (2022 est.); crude oil (70%), timber, manganese
Exports - partners: China 43%, South Korea 8%, Italy 7%, India 7% (2022 est.)
Currency: Central African CFA franc (XAF)
| Military |
Military branches: Gabonese Armed Forces (FAG): Army, Navy, Air Force, Light Aviation, Fire Brigade; Gabon National Gendarmerie; Republican Guard; Military Health Service; Military Engineering (2025)