Gabon (Gabonese Republic)

Gabon Gabonese Republic
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	142nd 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
   1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets
   2. Gender Equality Datasets
   3. Prejudice Datasets
5. Gabon's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Gabon's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Gabon's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Gabon's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#france #gabon

“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	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
139	N. Korea	106.9
140	Samoa	107.9
141	Saudi Arabia	108.1
142	Gabon	108.9
143	Burkina Faso	109.1
144	Palestine	109.1
145	Micronesia	109.3
146	Sao Tome & Principe	109.5
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

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	65.7
148	Papua New Guinea	65.4
149	Marshall Islands	65.3
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
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:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
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.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
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)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Cape Verde	66.3
2	S. Africa	70.7
3	Mauritius	74.9
	...
11	Madagascar	98.8
12	Rwanda	102.5
13	Mali	102.9
14	Gabon	103.1
15	Mozambique	104.8
16	Tunisia	105.6
17	Sierra Leone	106.3
18	Benin	108.6
19	Central African Rep.	109.1
	Africa Avg	110.04
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
116	Haiti	102.6
117	Marshall Islands	102.9
118	Mali	102.9
119	Gabon	103.1
120	Vietnam	103.4
121	India	104.4
122	Mozambique	104.8
123	Russia	104.9
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₀. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₀.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting 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 Europe₂₀, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₀.

For more, see:

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

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics #slavery

Press Freedom Higher is better21
Pos.		202521
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. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

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

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better22
Pos.		Total Per 100022
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
113	Uzbekistan	7.40
114=	Romania	7.50
114=	Burundi	7.50
116=	Gabon	7.60
116=	Lebanon	7.60
116=	Ecuador	7.60
119	Slovakia	7.70
120=	Colombia	7.80
	Africa Avg	6.90
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better23
Pos.		2014 Rank23
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
163=	Kyrgyzstan	6.0
163=	Ethiopia	6.0
163=	Gabon	6.0
163=	Egypt	6.0
163=	Cambodia	6.0
163=	Rwanda	6.0
163=	Djibouti	6.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better24
Pos.		2009 Treaties24
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
95=	Burundi	16
95=	Nigeria	16
95=	Benin	16
95=	Gabon	16
95=	San Marino	16
95=	Cambodia	16
101=	Sierra Leone	15
101=	Chad	15
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better25
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty25
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.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

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 better26
Pos.		202226
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

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.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better27
Pos.		Total Score27
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
121	Burkina Faso	-1.15
122	Kyrgyzstan	-1.18
123	Haiti	-1.27
124	Gabon	-1.38
125	Vatican City	-1.45
126	Georgia	-1.49
127	Swaziland	-1.51
128	Venezuela	-1.63
	Africa Avg	-3.78
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Homosexuality in Gabon is currently legal (since 2020), but same-sex marriage is constitutionally banned as of April 2025. Historically, it was also legal from independence in 1960 until 2019, briefly criminalized when the Penal Code made being homosexual punishable by 6 months' prison or fines, and then re-legalized it in 2020. Gabon has sometimes supported pro-LGBT-tolerance motions at the United Nations (i.e. in 2008), but otherwise opposed them. The age of consent remains unequal: 15 for heterosexual relations, 21 for homosexual relations. ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Gabon had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

•  ⇣  Opposed a 2003 resolution at the UN Commission tabled by Brazil, on prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and opposed it again in 2004 (it was defeated both times by the Vatican and a collection of Islamic countries).
•  ⇣  Opposed the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.
•  ⇣  Opposed the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights tabled by Argentina.
•  ⇡  Supported the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights, tabled by Argentina.
•  ⇣  Voted against the 2011 Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council posted by South Africa, requesting a report on discrimination and violence against LGBTQ folk.
•  ⇣  Voted against the 2014 Resolution 27/32 at the UN Human Rights Council against discrimiantion based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better28
Pos.		202128
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
25=	Kosovo	1.8
25=	S. Korea	1.8
27=	Barbados	2.0
27=	Gabon	2.0
27=	New Zealand	2.0
27=	Sierra Leone	2.0
27=	Luxembourg	2.0
27=	S. Sudan	2.0
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Gabon's Health

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

Compared to Africa (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Mauritius	71.1
2	Tunisia	75.3
3	Seychelles	77.4
	...
31	Guinea-Bissau	136.2
32	Ethiopia	136.3
33	Benin	136.7
34	Gabon	137.4
35	Uganda	137.4
36	Cameroon	138.1
37	Burkina Faso	139.0
38	Sudan	139.1
39	Congo, DR	141.1
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
181	Ethiopia	136.3
182	Benin	136.7
183	Papua New Guinea	136.9
184	Gabon	137.4
185	Uganda	137.4
186	Cameroon	138.1
187	Burkina Faso	139.0
188	Sudan	139.1
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

42 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, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

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

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #gabon #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation

Gabon is a pretty unhealthy country. Gabon does better than average when it comes to the prevalence of overweight adults₃₁ (but high for Africa). But unfortunately Gabon gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₂, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₃, its average life expectancy₁₁ (still good for Africa), delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₄, its fertility rate₁₅ (still good for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate₃₅ (amongst the worst in Africa) and in its adolescent birth rate₃₆. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₇. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. 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	65.7
148	Papua New Guinea	65.4
149	Marshall Islands	65.3
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better35
Pos.		2016 Per Capita35
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
171=	Estonia	11.6
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
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 better31
Pos.		1976 %31
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 better38
Pos.		2022 %38
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better36
Pos.		2022 Per 100036
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better37
Pos.		Total Avg %37
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
196	Bolivia	69.9
197	Somalia	69.3
198	Syria	68.3
199	Gabon	67.4
200	Nigeria	65.8
201	Madagascar	65.5
202	Guinea	65.0
203	Haiti	64.5
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better34
Pos.		2015 Avg %34
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.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better33
Pos.		Total Per 100033
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
139	S. Africa	39.83
140	Bangladesh	40.07
141	Turkmenistan	43.08
142	Gabon	45.25
143	India	45.47
144	Eritrea	47.24
145	Kenya	48.20
146	Yemen	49.34
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

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)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
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)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
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"₄₀. 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 is positioned 115th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This is computed using 21 data sets. Gabon comes in the best 20 for energy to GDP efficiency₄₁. However Gabon performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average for reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₂ (one of the worst in Africa), its environmental performance₄₃, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₄.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better44
Pos.		Total44
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 better43
Pos.		201843
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
137	Chad	45.3
138	Myanmar	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 better41
Pos.		2022 Avg41
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
15	Congo, DR	0.49
16	Nigeria	0.49
17	Myanmar	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. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

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. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Meat Consumption Lower is better42
Pos.		2021 kg42
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. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Gabon's Modernity and Learning

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

Compared to Africa (2025)45
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank45
1	S. Africa	58.2
2	Tunisia	63.4
3	Seychelles	64.9
4	Mauritius	67.2
5	Egypt	69.1
6	Morocco	79.5
7	Algeria	81.9
8	Gabon	83.0
9	Cape Verde	84.0
10	Libya	88.6
11	Kenya	97.0
12	Djibouti	102.5
13	Botswana	104.9
	Africa Avg	119.28
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)45
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank45
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
101	UAE	79.9
102	Algeria	81.9
103	Nicaragua	82.3
104	Gabon	83.0
105	Cape Verde	84.0
106	St Kitts & Nevis	84.2
107=	Bahrain	85.0
107=	Qatar	85.0
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

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 The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₆. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₆. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₇.

“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)₄₈

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, 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 Europe₄₆, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₆.

For more, see:

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

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#metric #research #science

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2949
2	Israel	4.1149
3	Japan	3.5849
	...
52	Bulgaria	0.6550
53	Ethiopia	0.6150
54	Latvia	0.6050
55=	Gabon	0.5851
55=	Argentina	0.5852
57=	Mexico	0.5449
57=	Senegal	0.5453
59	UAE	0.4954
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
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.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better55
Pos.		2025 %55
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
60=	Azerbaijan	95
60=	Ecuador	95
60=	Colombia	95
60=	Gabon	95
60=	Cape Verde	95
60=	Paraguay	95
60=	Singapore	95
60=	Seychelles	95
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Gabon officially adopted metric in 1960₅₆. Progression:

• 1960 (60%): French metric legacy; mixed everyday use.
• 1970 (75%): Standardization in commerce/education.
• 1980 (90%): Metric dominant across sectors.
• 2000 (95%).
• 2025 (95%).

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better57
Pos.		201857
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 better58
Pos.		2021 Years58
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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better59
Pos.		201659
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 better60
Pos.		2017 Ratio60
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 #charity #corruption #economics #extremism #gabon #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

World Giving Index Higher is better61
Pos.		2022 %61
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
100=	Tanzania	33.0
102=	Spain	32.0
	Africa Avg	38.2
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better62
Pos.		2022 Points62
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
133=	Swaziland	30.0
133=	Djibouti	30.0
133=	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. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Happiness Higher is better63
Pos.		2024 Score63
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
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.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better64
Pos.		Total Q64
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
144=	India	58.8
144=	Mauritania	58.8
146	Tajikistan	58.5
147	Gabon	58.0
148	Ivory Coast	57.3
149	Senegal	56.8
150	Madagascar	56.5
151	Togo	56.2
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
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.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #gabon #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

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 2019'₆₅.

Global Peace Index Lower is better66
Pos.		2023 Score66
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. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
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 better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
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 better67
Pos.		2019 Score67
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.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better68
Pos.		201968
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
139	Laos	22.60
140=	Congo, (Brazzaville)	22.80
140=	Myanmar	22.80
140=	Gabon	22.80
143=	Turkmenistan	23.40
143=	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 better69
Pos.		2023 %69
1	Slovakia	24.1%70
2	Slovenia	24.3%70
3	Belarus	24.4%71
	...
104	Sri Lanka	37.7%72
105=	Israel	37.9%70
105=	Togo	37.9%70
107	Gabon	38.0%73
108	Malawi	38.5%72
109=	Samoa	38.7%74
109=	Kenya	38.7%70
111=	El Salvador	38.8%75
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

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

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better76
Pos.		2018 Severity76
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

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₇:

	2010	2020
Christian	86%	83.7%
Muslim	5.45%	8.64%
Unaffiliated	7.79%	5.76%
Other	0.721%	1.86%
Jewish	None	None
Hindu	None	None
Buddhist	None	None

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states simply: Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%₇₈.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems