Gabon

People

Nearly all Gabonese are of Bantu origin. There are at least 40 tribal groups with separate languages and cultures. The largest is the Fang. Others include the Myene, Bandjabi, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke/Obamba, and Okande. There is also a population of 3,500 pygmies living in isolated villages throughout Gabon. French, the official language, is a unifying force. Approximately 12,000 French nationals live in Gabon today--more than in colonial times.

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1990 2000 2010 2020
Population, total (millions) 0.95 1.23 1.62 2.23
Population growth (annual %) 2.8 2.4 3.5 2.4
Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) 267.7 267.7 267.7 267.7
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) 3.7 4.8 6.3 8.6
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) .. .. .. 33.4
Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) .. .. .. 3.4
Income share held by lowest 20% .. .. .. 6
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 61 58 61 66
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 5.4 4.5 4.1 3.9
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 184 139 110 91
Contraceptive prevalence, any method (% of married women ages 15-49) .. 33 31 ..
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) .. 86 89 ..
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 93 83 62 42
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) .. 9 6.4 ..
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 76 55 62 62
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) 66 73 .. 78
School enrollment, primary (% gross) 148.2 135.3 139.9 ..
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) 37 52 .. ..
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) 1 1 .. ..
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) 1.1 5.6 4.4 3
Environment
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) 237.6 237 236.5 235.3
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) .. .. .. 25.1
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Urban population growth (annual %) 4.7 3.4 4.1 2.8
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) 1,244 1,197 3,129 ..
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 4.35 3.8 2.94 2.18
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) 919 880 957 ..