Gabon
Africa Β· Capital: Libreville
How it is run: Gabon is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Gabon is home to 2.6 million people in Middle Africa, where people speak French.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
2.6 million people
That is about 320 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
267,668 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
Only about 9.7 people per square kilometre β lots of wide open space between towns.
π Size in its region
43rd most people in Africa
30th largest by land in Africa.
π£οΈ Official languages
French
π° Money
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
68.5 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$8,263
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
92.1% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
36.2% of the population
A very young country β schools have to be built quickly.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+241
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.ga
π§ People here are called
Gabonese
π·οΈ Name at home
Gabon
Also written: Gabonese Republic, RΓ©publique Gabonaise.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
African Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Gabon touches 3 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
GabΓ³n
French
Gabon
Arabic
Ψ§ΩΨΊΨ§Ψ¨ΩΩ
Chinese
ε θ¬
Japanese
γ¬γγ³
Russian
ΠΠ°Π±ΠΎΠ½
Portuguese
GabΓ£o
German
Gabun
Put it in perspective π
- Nigeria β the most populated country in Africa β has about 91.6Γ as many people as Gabon.
- Gabon covers roughly 2,549 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Gabon lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 1,297 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Gabon lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
π·οΈ Official name
Gabonese Republic
ποΈ Capital
Libreville
π Region
Africa Β· Middle Africa
π€ Country code
GA
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Gabon π
π§ Where on the map
1.0Β° S, 11.8Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+1 β when it is noon in London it is about 13:00 in Libreville.
- Gabon is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Gabon sits in Middle Africa, in the southern and eastern half of the globe.
- Gabon lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- Gabon is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Gabon is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Gabon has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Gabon can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Gabon spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Gabon?
Libreville
Which money do people spend in Gabon?
Central African CFA franc (Fr)
How many countries share a land border with Gabon?
3 β Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea.
Roughly how many people live in Gabon?
2.6 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.