Country Guide • Gabon
This West African country with the Atlantic as its western border is also bounded by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Congo. Most of the country is covered by a dense tropical forest.
| Official Name | Gabonese Republic |
|---|---|
| Area | 267,667km² (103,346mile²) |
| Population | 1,400,000 |
| Continent | Africa |
| Population per mile² | 13 |
| Capital City | Libreville |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant 20%, indigenous beliefs 4%, Muslim 1% |
| Language | French, although Fang is spoken widely in the north and Myene as well as Bateke are also spoken |
| Government | Unitary Multiparty Republic |
| Currency | Cfa Franc |
| GDP | $7 billion |
| GDP per Head | $5,700 |
| Natural Resources | Iron ore, petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold and timber |
| Land Use | Arable Land 1% |
| Agriculture | Cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, cattle, softwoods and fish |
| Industry | Food and beverages, textiles, lumber, petroleum, mining, ship repairing |
| Tourism | There can often be difficulties in getting a visa to Gabon. Therefore tourism is not rife in this country. If you do travel there most of the country is covered in dense forests |
| Natural Hazards | None |
| Health Risks | Cholera, yellow fever, malaria |
| Climate | Gabon has an equatorial climate that has hot, wet and humid conditions. During the wet season heavy rainfall occurs with the average annual rainfall being 98 inches but between June - September there is virtually no rain. Temperatures are fairly constant with little variation all year round. Average temperature ranges in Libreville are from 24°C to 27°C all year |
| Time | GMT/UTC+1 hour |
| National Days | March 12 |
| Visas | All visitors need visas, proof of onward travel is also required. You will be asked to produce a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate on arrival in the country. Failure to do so will result in a further vaccination being administered for which a charge is made |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
Information Only
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