Gabon
Africa · Middle Africa
Oil-wealthy Central African state with high income by regional standards; a recent coup.
At a Glance
📈Gabon's Human Development Index
0.693
Medium human development#121 of 191 countries worldwide, #10 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 37% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- 85% of the country is covered by primary rainforest — among the highest anywhere.
- Has a small population and significant oil wealth, yet inequality remains severe.
- Home to more than half of Africa's forest elephant population.
Quick Facts
Capital
Libreville
Language
French
Currency
Fr XAF
Area
257,670 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
37Mbps
GDP / Capita
$8K
PPP / Capita
$22K
Inflation
1.8%
Unemployment
20.2%
GNI / Capita
$8K
Tax Revenue
9.5%
FDI Inflows
5.5%
Education Spend
2.3%
Price Level Index
66th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.599 → 0.693 (+0.094)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Gabon for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
💬Quick answers
What is Gabon's Human Development Index?
Gabon's Human Development Index is 0.693 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #121 of 191 countries.
Is Gabon safe?
Gabon scores 2.09 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #99 of 160 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.