Gabon (Gabonese Republic)

Gabon Gabonese Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	154th best
Capital	Libreville
Land Area	257 670km21
Location	Africa
Population	2.1m2
Life Expectancy	65.82yrs (2017)3
GNI	$13 367 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	GA, GAB, 2665
Internet Domain	.ga6
Currency	Franc (XAF)7
Telephone	+2418

1. Overview
2. Gabon National and Social Development
3. Gabon's Demographics and Migration
4. Gabon's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Gabon's Health
6. Gabon's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Gabon's Modernity and Learning
8. Gabon's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#france

“El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Gabon is Africa´s last Eden, a realm of largely untouched natural riches; with its wealth of national parks it may just be, for the traveller, ecotourism heaven. Unlike many of its neighbours, this slab of equatorial Africa enjoys both peace and stability, while its superb wildlife makes it an increasingly popular place to safari away from the crowds of East Africa. With its seemingly endless rainforest now safeguarded by the 2003 decision to turn an incredible 10% of the country into protected national parkland, Gabon is Central Africa´s most progressive and traveller-friendly destination, although the competition is admittedly not too fierce.Despite being far ahead of its unstable, war-torn neighbours, tourism in Gabon remains DIY - you either put yourself in the hands of a travel agency, or negotiate the poor roads, infrequent transport and almost total lack of reliable infrastructure yourself. Outside cosmopolitan Libreville, the country´s only real city, Gabon is an undiscovered wonderland of thick jungle, white-sand beaches, rushing rivers and ethereal landscapes. Bring either plenty of money or plenty of patience, but don´t miss out on this Eden-like travel experience.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Gabon National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
109	S. Africa	0.713
110	Jamaica	0.709
111	Samoa	0.707
112=	Gabon	0.706
112=	Lebanon	0.706
114	Indonesia	0.705
115	Vietnam	0.703
116	Philippines	0.699
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
85	Albania	$14 131
86	Palau	$13 819
87	Grenada	$13 484
88	Gabon	$13 367
89	Ukraine	$13 256
90	Armenia	$13 158
91	Turkmenistan	$13 021
92	Iran	$13 001
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	29.7
2	Norway	33.6
3	Switzerland	35.2
	...
151	Mali	107.6
152	Pakistan	108.3
153	Tajikistan	108.6
154	Gabon	109.3
155	Cameroon	109.7
156	N. Korea	110.4
157	Ivory Coast	110.7
158	Sierra Leone	111.3
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	88.9
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Gabon's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Gabon's population is predicted to rise to 2.146 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 3.46. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
141	Namibia	2.4m
142	Gambia	2.3m
143	Botswana	2.3m
144	Gabon	2.1m
145	Lesotho	2.1m
146	Macedonia	2.1m
147	Slovenia	2.1m
148	Latvia	1.9m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
142	Pakistan	66.1
143	Rwanda	66.1
144	Palau	66.0
145	Gabon	65.8
146	Guyana	65.7
147	Myanmar (Burma)	65.7
148	Papua New Guinea	65.4
149	Marshall Islands	65.3
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
168	Vanuatu	3.70
169	Yemen	3.72
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
54	Laos	08.1
55	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	08.2
56	Belize	08.3
57	Gabon	08.5
58	Pakistan	08.6
59	Bahrain	08.7
60	Syria	09.0
61=	Djibouti	09.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
35	Norway	15.1%
36	Germany	14.8%
37	Estonia	14.7%
38	Gabon	13.8%
39	St Kitts & Nevis	13.7%
40	Seychelles	13.6%
41	Croatia	13.4%
42	UK	13.4%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
158	S. Africa	1.7%
159	Iran	1.7%
160	Libya	1.7%
161	Gabon	1.7%
162	Vanuatu	1.6%
163	Djibouti	1.5%
164	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	1.4%
165	Zambia	1.4%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Gabon's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Africa (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Mauritius	63.7
2	S. Africa	64.3
3	Cape Verde	68.0
	...
17	Mozambique	107.6
18	Gambia	108.1
19	Sierra Leone	108.4
20	Gabon	108.8
21	Tanzania	108.9
22	Madagascar	110.4
23	Zambia	111.0
24	Uganda	112.1
25	Ivory Coast	112.2
	Africa Avg	110.04
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
134	Gambia	108.1
135	Sierra Leone	108.4
136	Kuwait	108.4
137	Gabon	108.8
138	Tanzania	108.9
139	Solomon Islands	108.9
140	Maldives	110.2
141	Madagascar	110.4
	World Avg	86.55
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway₁₉. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan₁₉.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₉, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia₁₉.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets:

Press Freedom Higher is better20
Pos.		202520
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
38	Slovakia	71.93
39	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	71.79
40	Fiji	71.20
41	Gabon	70.65
42	Macedonia	70.44
43	Dominican Rep.	69.87
44	Samoa	69.28
45	Seychelles	68.56
	Africa Avg	52.30
	World Avg	54.65
q=179.

Gabon is one of only 19 countries who in 2025 had better press freedom than in the 2010s.

Slavery Lower is better21
Pos.		2018 % Victims21
1	Japan	0.03
2=	Canada	0.05
2=	Taiwan	0.05
	...
94	Indonesia	0.47
95=	Ghana	0.48
95=	Iraq	0.48
95=	Gabon	0.48
98	Sierra Leone	0.50
99	Uzbekistan	0.52
100	Armenia	0.53
101	Mozambique	0.54
	Africa Avg	0.96
	World Avg	0.65
q=167.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better22
Pos.		2014 Rank22
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
132	Niger	132
133	Sierra Leone	133
134	Swaziland	134
135	Gabon	135
136	Togo	136
137	Bangladesh	137
138	Belize	138
139	Congo, (Brazzaville)	139
	Africa Avg	114.2
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
163	Niger	6.0
164=	Kyrgyzstan	6.0
164=	Ethiopia	6.0
164=	Gabon	6.0
164=	Egypt	6.0
164=	Cambodia	6.0
164=	Rwanda	6.0
164=	Djibouti	6.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better23
Pos.		2009 Treaties23
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
95	Burundi	16
96=	Nigeria	16
96=	Benin	16
96=	Gabon	16
96=	San Marino	16
96=	Cambodia	16
101	Sierra Leone	15
102=	Chad	15
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better24
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty24
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
80	Sierra Leone	9.33
81	China	9.36
82	Lesotho	9.44
83	Gabon	9.47
84	Turkey	9.48
85	Malta	9.60
86	Luxembourg	9.67
87	Nigeria	9.71
	Africa Avg	9.88
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality Datasets:

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Gabon and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting. Gabon is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)
• "Christianity and Women: Biblical Misogyny and Male Dominance" by Vexen Crabtree (2019)

Gender Inequality Lower is better25
Pos.		202225
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
133	Pakistan	0.52
134	Zambia	0.52
135	Angola	0.53
136	Gabon	0.53
137	Uganda	0.53
138	Kenya	0.54
139	Tonga	0.55
140	Sudan	0.55
	Africa Avg	0.53
	World Avg	0.34
q=166.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
109=	Benin	1956
109=	Mauritius	1956
109=	Somalia	1956
109=	Gabon	1956
109=	Egypt	1956
109=	Comoros	1956
115	Malaysia	1957
116=	Laos	1958
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Prejudice Datasets:

LGBT Equality Higher is better26
Pos.		2017 Score26
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
107=	Djibouti	11
107=	Mali	11
107=	Tajikistan	11
110	Gabon	10
111=	Bahamas	10
112	Kazakhstan	8
113=	N. Korea	8
114	Rwanda	7
	Africa Avg	-10.4
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better27
Pos.		202127
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
25	Kosovo	1.8
26=	S. Korea	1.8
27	Barbados	2.0
28=	Gabon	2.0
28=	New Zealand	2.0
28=	Sierra Leone	2.0
28=	Luxembourg	2.0
28=	S. Sudan	2.0
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Gabon's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Mauritius	73.2
2	Tunisia	73.7
3	Morocco	82.7
	...
40=	Sierra Leone	129.1
41	Zambia	130.5
42	Madagascar	130.6
43	Gabon	132.0
44	Mali	132.0
45	Sudan	133.0
46	Guinea	133.2
47	Nigeria	133.6
48	Ivory Coast	134.9
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	14.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Isle of Man	32.1
	...
190	Zambia	130.5
191	Madagascar	130.6
192	Papua New Guinea	130.7
193	Gabon	132.0
194	Mali	132.0
195	Sudan	133.0
196	Guinea	133.2
197	Nigeria	133.6
	World Avg	96.49
q=213.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, The Cook Islands and S. Sudan₂₉.

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₉, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Melanesia and Australasia₂₉.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Gabon is a pretty unhealthy country. Gabon does better than average for the prevalence of overweight adults₃₀ (but high for Africa). When it comes to most other metrics, Gabon does not do well. It does worse than average for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₁, its average life expectancy₁₁ (still high for Africa), its immunizations take-up₃₂, its fertility rate₁₄ (still low for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate₃₃ (one of the worst in Africa) and in its adolescent birth rate₃₄. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Gabon improved by +6.3yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Gabon's peak fertility rate was 5.76 in 1983.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
142	Pakistan	66.1
143	Rwanda	66.1
144	Palau	66.0
145	Gabon	65.8
146	Guyana	65.7
147	Myanmar (Burma)	65.7
148	Papua New Guinea	65.4
149	Marshall Islands	65.3
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better33
Pos.		2016 Per Capita33
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
165=	Equatorial Guinea	11.3
166	Hungary	11.4
167=	UK	11.5
167=	Gabon	11.5
167=	Slovakia	11.5
167=	Switzerland	11.5
171	Austria	11.6
172=	Estonia	11.6
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
162	Pakistan	3.41
163	Zimbabwe	3.44
164	Iraq	3.45
165	Gabon	3.46
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
168	Vanuatu	3.70
169	Yemen	3.72
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
125	Burkina Faso	125
126	Mauritius	126
127	Congo, DR	127
128	Gabon	128
129	Ivory Coast	129
130	Mongolia	130
131	Afghanistan	131
132	Suriname	132
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better30
Pos.		1976 %30
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
55	Malaysia	11.9
56=	S. Korea	12.3
56=	Zambia	12.3
58	Gabon	12.9
59	Botswana	13.6
60	Japan	15.2
61	Lesotho	15.4
62	Namibia	15.7
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better35
Pos.		2022 %35
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
74	Mauritius	19.5%
75	Norway	19.8%
76	Vanuatu	19.9%
77	Gabon	20.0%
78	Papua New Guinea	20.1%
79	Turkmenistan	20.2%
80	Luxembourg	20.2%
81	Andorra	20.5%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better34
Pos.		2022 Per 100034
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
167	Nicaragua	84.0
168	Guinea-Bissau	85.8
169	Lesotho	89.1
170	Gabon	89.8
171	Benin	90.8
172	Zimbabwe	92.6
173	S. Sudan	97.4
174	Sierra Leone	97.9
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better32
Pos.		2015 Avg %32
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
159	Mauritania	79.9
160	Lebanon	79.4
161	San Marino	79.3
162	Gabon	78.7
163	Micronesia	78.2
164	Philippines	77.9
165	Sweden	77.8
166	Ivory Coast	76.9
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Gabon was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19); in the 2010s it was still amongst only 27 countries that still fell into the same grouping.

6. Gabon's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)36
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank36
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
36	Central African Rep.	84.2
37	Djibouti	84.5
38	Zambia	85.4
39	Gabon	87.9
40	Equatorial Guinea	91.2
41	S. Africa	92.2
42	Sao Tome & Principe	92.7
43	Mozambique	93.9
44	Liberia	94.2
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)36
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank36
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
112	Macedonia	86.9
113	Canada	87.2
114	Guyana	87.4
115	Gabon	87.9
116	Croatia	88.5
117	Jamaica	88.6
118	Fiji	89.1
119	Czechia	89.3
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₃₇. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Gabon comes 115th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is formulated from 21 data sets. Gabon comes in the best 20 in energy to GDP efficiency₃₈. However Gabon performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average in reducing annual meat consumption per person₃₉ (one of the highest in Africa), its environmental performance₄₀, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₁.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better41
Pos.		Total41
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
142	Western Sahara	-0.6%
143	Mongolia	-0.6%
144	Sweden	-0.7%
145	Gabon	-0.7%
146	Guyana	-0.8%
147	Suriname	-0.9%
148	French Guiana	-1.0%
149	Congo, (Brazzaville)	-1.1%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better40
Pos.		201840
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
137	Chad	45.3
138	Myanmar (Burma)	45.3
139	Ivory Coast	45.3
140	Gabon	45.1
141	Ethiopia	44.8
142	S. Africa	44.7
143	Guinea-Bissau	44.7
144	Vanuatu	44.6
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 Avg38
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
15	Congo, DR	0.49
16	Nigeria	0.49
17	Myanmar (Burma)	0.53
18	Gabon	0.55
19	Switzerland	0.55
20	Nepal	0.55
21	Burkina Faso	0.55
22	Gambia	0.55
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
142	Lesotho	51%
143	Croatia	51%
144	Djibouti	51%
145	Gabon	51%
146	Fiji	51%
147	Qatar	51%
148	Vanuatu	50%
149	Equatorial Guinea	50%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Meat Consumption Lower is better39
Pos.		2021 kg39
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
116	Netherlands	63.8
117	Malaysia	65.3
118	Belgium	66.2
119	Gabon	66.3
120	Sweden	66.9
121	Romania	67.1
122	Malta	67.8
123	Switzerland	68.0
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

7. Gabon's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)42
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank42
1	S. Africa	56.9
2	Tunisia	70.8
3=	Mauritius	79.6
	...
8	Botswana	96.5
9	Morocco	97.9
10	Algeria	100.2
11	Gabon	108.2
12	Uganda	109.8
13	Ghana	110.3
14	Nigeria	111.1
15	Zimbabwe	111.6
16	Cape Verde	113.3
	Africa Avg	120.19
q=53.

Modernity & Learning (2020)42
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank42
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
119	Maldives	102.1
120	Paraguay	103.1
121	Suriname	106.6
122	Gabon	108.2
123	El Salvador	109.2
124	Uganda	109.8
125	Ghana	110.3
126	Nigeria	111.1
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₃. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₃. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₄.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₅

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₃, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₃.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2946
2	Israel	4.1146
3	Japan	3.5846
	...
52	Bulgaria	0.6547
53	Ethiopia	0.6147
54	Latvia	0.6047
55=	Gabon	0.5848
55=	Argentina	0.5849
57	Mexico	0.5446
58=	Senegal	0.5450
59	UAE	0.4951
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better52
Pos.		201852
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
95	Brazil	59.5%
96	Bolivia	58.8%
97	Zimbabwe	58.7%
98	Gabon	57.6%
99	Libya	57.4%
100	Dominican Rep.	56.6%
101	Uruguay	56.0%
102	Lebanon	54.9%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better53
Pos.		2021 Years53
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
109	Suriname	13.0
110	Belize	13.0
111	Paraguay	13.0
112	Gabon	13.0
113	Vietnam	13.0
114	Togo	13.0
115	Bahamas	12.9
116	Nepal	12.9
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
148	Lesotho	148
149	Venezuela	149
150	Libya	150
151	Gabon	151
152	Sierra Leone	152
153	Cambodia	153
154	Zambia	154
155	Paraguay	155
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better54
Pos.		201654
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
173=	Papua New Guinea	12%
173=	Djibouti	12%
175	Cambodia	11%
176	Gabon	10%
177	Burkina Faso	10%
178	Solomon Islands	10%
179	Liberia	9%
180	Congo, (Brazzaville)	8%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better55
Pos.		2017 Ratio55
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
162=	Belize	0.0
162=	Suriname	0.0
162=	Grenada	0.0
162=	Gabon	0.0
162=	Lebanon	0.0
162=	St Lucia	0.0
162=	Dominica	0.0
162=	Cuba	0.0
	Africa Avg	0.04
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Gabon's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Africa (2020)56
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank56
1	Mauritius	48.3
2	Sao Tome & Principe	67.7
3	Tunisia	74.9
	...
23	Togo	97.0
24	Kenya	97.8
25	Uganda	97.9
26	Gabon	100.3
27	Rwanda	100.8
28	Benin	100.8
29	Nigeria	101.0
30	Ivory Coast	101.3
31	Madagascar	101.7
	Africa Avg	101.84
q=53.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)56
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank56
1	Denmark	11.2
2	Norway	13.9
3	Netherlands	14.4
	...
137	Pakistan	99.2
138	Azerbaijan	99.5
139	Palestine	99.9
140	Gabon	100.3
141	Rwanda	100.8
142	Benin	100.8
143	Nigeria	101.0
144	Ivory Coast	101.3
	World Avg	78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

World Giving Index Higher is better57
Pos.		2022 %57
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
95=	Albania	34.0
95=	Montenegro	34.0
95=	Kazakhstan	34.0
95=	Gabon	34.0
95=	Taiwan	34.0
100	Bangladesh	33.0
101=	Tanzania	33.0
102	Spain	32.0
	Africa Avg	38.2
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better58
Pos.		2022 Points58
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
133	Swaziland	30.0
134=	Djibouti	30.0
134=	Papua New Guinea	30.0
136	Gabon	29.0
137=	Paraguay	28.0
137=	Russia	28.0
137=	Mali	28.0
140	Pakistan	27.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Happiness Higher is better59
Pos.		2024 Score59
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
94	Turkey	5.3
95	S. Africa	5.2
96	Mozambique	5.2
97	Gabon	5.1
98	Ivory Coast	5.1
99	Iran	5.1
100	Congo, (Brazzaville)	5.0
101	Iraq	5.0
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
155	Yemen	155
156	Iraq	156
157	Iran	157
158	Gabon	158
159	Central African Rep.	159
160	Burundi	160
161	Rwanda	161
162	Congo, DR	162
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
149	India	149
150	Cameroon	150
151	Suriname	151
152	Gabon	152
153	Iraq	153
154	Paraguay	154
155	Grenada	155
156	Venezuela	156
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

In recent years, Gabon's score on the Global Peace Index has improved more than any other sub-Saharan country in Africa, in particular due to 'a fall in the level of political terror, with both Amnesty International and the US State Department reporting that government human rights abuses had fallen in 2019'₆₀.

Global Peace Index Lower is better61
Pos.		2023 Score61
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
90	Ivory Coast	2.05
91	Tanzania	2.06
92	Thailand	2.06
93	Gabon	2.07
94	Georgia	2.07
95	Algeria	2.09
96=	Papua New Guinea	2.10
96=	Azerbaijan	2.10
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
78	Turkey	78
79	Georgia	79
80	Albania	80
81	Gabon	81
82	Russia	82
83	Iran	83
84	Serbia	84
85	Mexico	85
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
93	Ghana	93
94	Qatar	94
95	Peru	95
96	Gabon	96
97	Russia	97
98	Papua New Guinea	98
99	Mexico	99
100	Senegal	100
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better62
Pos.		2019 Score62
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
43=	Sierra Leone	0.46
44	Jamaica	0.47
45	Poland	0.48
46	Gabon	0.55
47	Malawi	0.66
48	Azerbaijan	0.70
49	Czechia	0.87
50	Denmark	0.96
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better63
Pos.		201963
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
139	Laos	22.60
140=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	22.80
140=	Myanmar (Burma)	22.80
140=	Gabon	22.80
143	Turkmenistan	23.40
144=	Djibouti	23.40
145	Papua New Guinea	24.10
146=	Zimbabwe	24.20
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better64
Pos.		2023 %64
1	Slovakia	24.1%65
2	Slovenia	24.3%65
3	Belarus	24.4%66
	...
104	Sri Lanka	37.7%67
105=	Israel	37.9%65
105=	Togo	37.9%65
107	Gabon	38.0%68
108	Malawi	38.5%67
109=	Samoa	38.7%69
109=	Kenya	38.7%65
111	El Salvador	38.8%70
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Gabon - only for 2 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better71
Pos.		2018 Severity71
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
41	Suriname	.041
42	Mongolia	.042
43	Peru	.053
44	Gabon	.066
45	Nicaragua	.074
46	Swaziland	.081
47	Morocco	.085
48	Honduras	.090
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below₇₂:

Christian	76.5%
Muslim	11.2%
Hindu	0.1%
Buddhist	0.1%
Folk Religion	6%
Jewish	0.1%
Unaffiliated	5.6%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%₇₃.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems