country comparison to the world: 198
male: 52.19 years
female: 54.05 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
49,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and chikungunya
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups:
Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou,
Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including
10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Religions:
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Languages:
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 118
Government ::Gabon
Country name:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
local short form: Gabon
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
name: Libreville
geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,
Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:
17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 August (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul BIYOGHE MBA (since 15 July
2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held 30 August 2009 (next to be held
in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Ali BONGO Ondimba elected; percent of
vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME 25.9%, Pierre
MAMBOUNDOU 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO 3.9%, other 3.3%
note: President BONGO died on 8 June 2009 after serving as president
for 32 years, in accordance with the constitution he was replaced on
an interim basis by the president of the Senate, Rose Francine
ROGOMBE on 10 June 2009, new elections where held on 30 August 2009
and the son of the former president, Ali BONGO Ondimba, was elected
president
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (102 seats; members
elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies
to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 18 January 2009 (next to be held in
January 2015); National Assembly - last held 17 and 24 December 2006
(next to be held in December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PDG 75, GPR 6, UGDD 3, CLR 2, PGCI 2, UPG 2, ADERE 1,
independents 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2,
PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2, independents 4, others 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers -
Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts
of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE];
Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes
OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE
[Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG
(former sole party) [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for
Progress or PGP [Benoit Mouity NZAMBA]; Gabonese Union for Democracy
and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rally of
Woodcutters or RNB; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or
RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; Party of Development
and Social Solidarity or PDS [Seraphin Ndoat REMBOGO]; People's
Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and
Social Integration or UDIS; Union of Gabonese Patriots or UPG
[Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURCAT, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos BOUNGOU
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eunice S. REDDICK
embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch:2270
Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 07380171
FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
Economy ::Gabon
Economy - overview:
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 depended on timber
and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s.
The oil sector now accounts for more than 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. In 1997, an IMF mission to
Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget
items, overborrowing 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 2007, and received Paris Club debt
rescheduling later that year.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$21.16 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$20.74 billion (2007 est.)
$19.64 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.54 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
5.6% (2007 est.)
1.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$14,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$14,200 (2007 est.)
$13,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.6%
industry: 57.8%
services: 36.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
581,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 60%
industry: 15%
services: 25% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
21% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
27.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Budget:
revenues: $4.511 billion
expenditures: $2.932 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
24.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
29.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.75% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
5.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 43
15% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.547 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$799.3 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$359.8 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical
softwood); fish
Industries:
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship
repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - production:
1.774 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - consumption:
1.446 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
247,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Oil - exports:
227,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Oil - imports:
4,185 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Oil - proved reserves:
2 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - production:
90 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - consumption:
90 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 175
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Current account balance:
$2.727 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$1.549 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$9.333 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$7.046 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 70%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Exports - partners:
US 25.4%, China 19.1%, Japan 10.2%, France 5.4%, Spain 4% (2008)
Imports:
$2.577 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$2.2 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction
materials
Imports - partners:
France 32.2%, US 11.1%, China 5.4%, Belgium 4.7%, Cameroon 4.4%,
Netherlands 4.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.925 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$1.238 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.986 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$4.895 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US
dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004)
note: since 1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has
been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro;
Central African CFA franc (XAF) coins and banknotes are not accepted
in countries using West African CFA francs (XOF), and vice versa,
even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:
26,500 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 182
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.3 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 137
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate service by African standards and
improving with the help of a growing mobile cell network system with
multiple providers; mobile-cellular subscribership reached nearly 90
per 100 persons in 2008
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC
fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and
Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 7 (plus 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2001)
Internet country code:
.ga
Internet hosts:
91 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 199
Internet users:
90,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 158
Transportation ::Gabon
Airports:
44 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 98
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 14 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 240 km; oil 723 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 814 km
country comparison to the world: 100
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 9,170 km
country comparison to the world: 138
paved: 937 km
unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)
Waterways:
1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 51
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 143
Ports and terminals:
Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Port-Gentil
Military ::Gabon
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 331,181
females age 16-49: 332,498 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 195,519
females age 16-49: 190,519 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 16,933
female: 16,942 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Transnational Issues ::Gabon
Disputes - international:
UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty
dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to
establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,178 (Republic of Congo) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Gabon is predominantly a destination country for
children trafficked from other African countries for the purpose of
forced labor; girls are primarily trafficked for domestic servitude,
forced market vending, forced restaurant labor, and sexual
exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced street hawking
and forced labor in small workshops
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Gabon is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat
human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts to
convict and punish trafficking offenders; the government has not
reported the convictions or sentences of any trafficking offenders;
the government did not take steps to reduce demand for commercial
sex acts (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Gambia, The (Africa)
Introduction ::Gambia, The
Background:
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965.
Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived
federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two
nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions
have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led
a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned
political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in
1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a
nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president
in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.
Geography ::Gambia, The
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 11,295 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,295 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season
(November to May)
Terrain:
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources:
fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand,
clay, petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 27.88%
permanent crops: 0.44%
other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
8 cu km (1982)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.03 cu km/yr (23%/12%/65%)
per capita: 20 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of
Africa
People ::Gambia, The
Population:
1,782,893 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 390,806/female 387,172)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 473,478/female 481,315)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 25,071/female 25,051) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.1 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.668% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Birth rate:
37.87 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Death rate:
11.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Net migration rate:
0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.33 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 29
male: 73.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.35 years
country comparison to the world: 193
male: 53.43 years
female: 57.34 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.9% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli
9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous
vernaculars
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 7 years
female: 7 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 166
Government ::Gambia, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North
Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January
1997
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and
customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October
1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta; Vice
President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa
SALLAH 6.0%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by
popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC (the
ruling party) [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambia People's Democratic
Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and
Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; National Convention Party or
NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N.
K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and
Socialism or PDOIS [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP
[Ousainou DARBOE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building
Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network
Gambia or YENGambia
other: special needs group advocates; teachers and principals