Facts & Figures Gabon

Area: 267,667 sq. km (103,347 sq. miles)
Population: 1,206,000 (official estimate for year 2000)
Population Density: 4.5 per sq. km

Capital: Libreville.
Population: 500,000

Time: GMT + 1

Electricity: 220 Volts AC, 50 Hz

Geography

Gabon is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the north by Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, and to the east and south by the Congo. Its sandy 800 km-long (500 miles) coastline comprises a series of palm-fringed bays, lagoons and estuaries. About 82 per cent of Gabon’s interior is covered by lush tropical vegetation, which gives way in parts to the savannah. The country’s many rivers provide the main communication routes along which many settlements have grown up. Of the 40 or so Bantu tribes, the largest are the Fang, Eshira, Mbele and Okande. Only a small percentage of native Gabonese live in the towns, as the population is concentrated in the coastal areas and the villages along the banks of the many rivers, following a more traditional rural style of life.

Climate

Gabon has the moist, hot climate typical of tropical regions. From June to September, there is virtually no rain but high humidity; there is occasional rain in December and January. During the remaining months rainfall is heavy. This excessive rainfall is caused by the moist air condensation that occurs when the cold South Polar Current and the warm Guinea Current meet directly off the coast. At Libreville, the capital, the average annual rainfall is more than 100 inches. Further north on the coast, it is 150 inches. The temperature varies only slightly throughout the year, maintaining a daily average of 26.6 °C (80 °).

Politics

Government: Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960.
Head of State: President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba since 1967.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean François Ntoutoume Emane since 1999.
Obo president Gabon    Prime Minister Jean Francois Ntoutoume Emane
President
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba		   Prime Minister
Jean Francois Ntoutoume Emane
There are many different variants of Fang in Gabon.
Key words for the Oyem area of northern Gabon include:
  • M'bolo = hello (for one person)
  • M'bolani = hello (for many people)
  • Am'bolo / Am'bolani = response to M'bolo / M'bolani
  • Y'o num vah? = how are you?
  • M'a num vah = response to Y'o num vah?
 
St. Anne's Catholic Mission, designed by Gustav Eiffel
St. Anne's Catholic Mission
Designed by Gustav Eiffel

St. Anne's Catholic Mission, designed by Gustav Eiffel
Interior St. Anne's

 

Language

The official language is French. The principal African language is Fang. Eshira is spoken by a tenth of the population. Bantu dialects spoken include Bapounou, Miene and Bateke.

Religion

About 60 per cent Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), the remainder follow Muslim and Animist religions.

Communications

Telephone: IDD is available
Country code: 241. No area codes required.
Outgoing international code: 00
Mobile telephone: GSM 900
Network operators include Telecel Gabon, Celtel and Libertis

Internet

ISPs include Internetgabon. There is a growing number of Internet cafes in Libreville.

Post

Airmail from Gabon takes at least a week to reach Western Europe. Urgent letters should be sent by special delivery to ensure their safe arrival.

Press

The two daily newspapers are L’Union and Gabon Matin, published in French. There are several periodicals, publishing mainly on the topics of the Government and the economy. Official bulletins are published in French, and have a limited circulation.