GeoRealityMatch
Modern cityscape of Lagos, Nigeria, with residential and commercial buildings near the ocean.A pelican stands elegantly on a tree branch surrounded by lush greenery, showcasing wildlife beauty.

Gabon

Africa · Middle Africa

Medium safetyHigh development

Access to essential health services is patchy.

Safety

99th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.086lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#99 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$8,090national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 21% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 1% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$13K$25K$22,218 PPP$8,263Inflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $6,847 a person, $13,637 at PPP, inflation -1.4%2007, $8,004 a person, $14,391 at PPP, inflation 5%2008, $9,689 a person, $13,734 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2009, $7,291 a person, $13,384 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2010, $8,357 a person, $14,015 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2011, $10,219 a person, $14,784 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2012, $9,297 a person, $14,620 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2013, $9,198 a person, $14,498 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2014, $9,201 a person, $14,854 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2015, $7,047 a person, $14,306 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2016, $6,677 a person, $13,998 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2017, $6,922 a person, $14,797 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2018, $7,624 a person, $15,432 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2019, $7,441 a person, $15,950 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2020, $6,606 a person, $14,477 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2021, $8,181 a person, $18,524 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2022, $8,409 a person, $19,989 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2023, $7,803 a person, $20,773 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2024, $8,230 a person, $21,541 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2025, $8,263 a person, $22,218 at PPP, inflation 1.8%$0$13K$25KInflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $6,847 a person, $13,637 at PPP, inflation -1.4%2007, $8,004 a person, $14,391 at PPP, inflation 5%2008, $9,689 a person, $13,734 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2009, $7,291 a person, $13,384 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2010, $8,357 a person, $14,015 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2011, $10,219 a person, $14,784 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2012, $9,297 a person, $14,620 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2013, $9,198 a person, $14,498 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2014, $9,201 a person, $14,854 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2015, $7,047 a person, $14,306 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2016, $6,677 a person, $13,998 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2017, $6,922 a person, $14,797 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2018, $7,624 a person, $15,432 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2019, $7,441 a person, $15,950 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2020, $6,606 a person, $14,477 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2021, $8,181 a person, $18,524 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2022, $8,409 a person, $19,989 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2023, $7,803 a person, $20,773 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2024, $8,230 a person, $21,541 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2025, $8,263 a person, $22,218 at PPP, inflation 1.8%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
68.5years, at birthLow
#143 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
48WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
22.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Moderate home internet speeds

Unemployment rate
20.2%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
37 Mbpsmedian download speedModerateOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet37 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A pelican stands elegantly on a tree branch surrounded by lush greenery, showcasing wildlife beauty.
How it changed

Gabon's Human Development Index

0.733High human development

108th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 7th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #107Uzbekistan0.740
  2. #108Bolivia0.733
  3. #108Gabon0.733
  4. #108Marshall Islands0.733
  5. #111Botswana0.731
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.621 in 1990 to 0.733 in 2023.

0.600.700.800.73319902000201020231990: 0.6211991: 0.6271992: 0.6281993: 0.6311994: 0.6361995: 0.6401996: 0.6441997: 0.6481998: 0.6541999: 0.6532000: 0.6522001: 0.6572002: 0.6612003: 0.6642004: 0.6652005: 0.6712006: 0.6702007: 0.6742008: 0.6752009: 0.6812010: 0.6842011: 0.6902012: 0.6992013: 0.7072014: 0.7162015: 0.7202016: 0.7242017: 0.7262018: 0.7272019: 0.7302020: 0.7322021: 0.7202022: 0.7302023: 0.7330.600.700.8019902000201020231990: 0.6211991: 0.6271992: 0.6281993: 0.6311994: 0.6361995: 0.6401996: 0.6441997: 0.6481998: 0.6541999: 0.6532000: 0.6522001: 0.6572002: 0.6612003: 0.6642004: 0.6652005: 0.6712006: 0.6702007: 0.6742008: 0.6752009: 0.6812010: 0.6842011: 0.6902012: 0.6992013: 0.7072014: 0.7162015: 0.7202016: 0.7242017: 0.7262018: 0.7272019: 0.7302020: 0.7322021: 0.7202022: 0.7302023: 0.733

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
68.5 years2024at birthUp 5.5 years from 63 years in 2005
Internet users
69%2024of people onlineUp 63 points from 5% in 2006
Urban population
92%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 84% in 2006
Births per woman
3.592024births per womanDown 0.62 from 4.21 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
91%2021of energy usedUp 6 points from 86% in 2004
Access to electricity
95%2024of people with electricityUp 14 points from 82% in 2005
Infant mortality
262024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 18 from 44 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.3 t from 4.4 t in 2005
Forest area
91%2023of land under forestDown 1 point from 92% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Oil-wealthy Central African state with high income by regional standards; a recent coup. The case against is patchy access to essential health services, short lives and polluted air.

About Gabon

Gabon is a Central African country with one of the highest proportions of protected rainforest in the world, including beach-forest ecosystems where forest elephants and gorillas can be seen from the Atlantic coast. The country is wealthier than most of its neighbours and the infrastructure reflects this, making it a more accessible entry point to the Congo Basin ecosystem. Those who come for wildlife and wilderness will find it remarkable.

Practical facts

  • CapitalLibreville
  • LanguagesFrench
  • CurrencyCentral African CFA franc (XAF)
  • Area257,670 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

CameroonRepublic of the CongoEquatorial Guinea

Side by side

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Quick answers

What is Gabon's Human Development Index?

Gabon's Human Development Index is 0.733 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #108 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Gabon safe?

Gabon scores 2.09 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #99 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Gabon?

Life expectancy at birth in Gabon is 68.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #143 of 195 countries.