Economy of Gabon
The economy of Gabon is characterized by strong links with France, large foreign investments, dependence on skilled foreign labor, and decline of agriculture.[11] Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa, its reliance on resource extraction industry releasing much of the population from extreme poverty.
![]() Libreville is the capital and financial center of Gabon | |
Currency | 1 Central African CFA franc (XAF) = 100 centimes |
---|---|
calendar year | |
Trade organisations | AU, AfCFTA, WTO |
Country group |
|
Statistics | |
GDP | |
GDP growth |
|
GDP per capita | |
GDP by sector | agriculture: 4.5%; industry: 62.7%; services: 32.8% (2010 est.) |
4.777% (2018)[3] | |
Population below poverty line | |
Labour force | 712,000 (2010 est.) |
Labour force by occupation | agriculture: 60%; industry: 15%; services: 25% (2000 est.) |
Unemployment | 27% (2012 est.) |
Main industries | petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement |
![]() | |
External | |
Exports | $6.803 billion (2010 est.) |
Export goods | crude oil 70%, timber, manganese, uranium |
Main export partners | |
Imports | $2.973 billion (2015 est.) |
Import goods | machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials |
Main import partners |
|
Gross external debt | $2.374 billion (31 December 2010 est.) |
Public finances | |
25.8% of GDP (2010 est.) | |
Revenues | $4.057 billion (2015 est.) |
Expenses | $3.645 billion (2015 est.) |
Economic aid | recipient: $331 million (1995) |
| |
Foreign reserves | $3.202 billion (31 December 2015 est.) |
Resources
The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP and 80% of exports. Although there have been recent offshore finds,[12][13] oil production is now declining from its peak of 370,000 barrels per day (59,000 m3/d) in 1997, and periods of low oil prices have had a negative impact on government revenues and the economy. In 2012 there were six active oil rigs in Gabon.[14]
The government announced in 2012 that it would reassess exactly how much iron ore the Belinga site contains before awarding the concession to a mining company, most likely to be China's CMEC, which temporarily secured the rights to the ore in 2007.[15]
Statistics
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017.[16]
Year | 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDP in $ (PPP) |
6.78 bil. | 9.89 bil. | 12.00 bil. | 15.76 bil. | 17.35 bil. | 20.35 bil. | 20.58 bil. | 22.46 bil. | 23.30 bil. | 22.94 bil. | 24.68 bil. | 26.97 bil. | 28.91 bil. | 31.00 bil. | 32.96 bil. | 34.61 bil. | 35.78 bil. | 36.73 bil. | 40.78 bil. |
GDP per capita in $ (PPP) |
9,056 | 11,853 | 12,903 | 14,788 | 14,395 | 14,923 | 14,720 | 15,601 | 15,590 | 14,789 | 15,326 | 16,138 | 16,665 | 17,196 | 18,020 | 18,655 | 19,017 | 19,254 | 20,123 |
GDP growth (real) |
... | 5.8% | 5.1% | 5.0% | −1.9% | −0.8% | −1.9% | 6.3% | 1.7% | −2.3% | 6.3% | 7.1% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 2.1% | 0.8% | 0.4% |
Inflation (in Percent) |
12.3% | 7.3% | 15.4% | 9.6% | 0.5% | 1.2% | −1.4% | −1.0% | −5.3% | 1.9% | 1.4% | 1.3% | 2.7% | 0.5% | 4.5% | −0.1% | 2.1% | 3.0% | 2.0% |
Government debt (Percentage of GDP) |
... | ... | 90% | 73% | 72% | 49% | 40% | 39% | 20% | 26% | 21% | 21% | 21% | 31% | 34% | 45% | 64% | 61% | 62% |
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture:
5.7%
industry:
57.2%
services:
37% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (2008 est.)
Labour force: 592,000 (2008 est.)
Labour force - by occupation: agriculture 60%, services and government 25%, industry and commerce 15% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$4.46 billion
expenditures:
$2.75 billion (2008 est.)
Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemical production; ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (2008)
Oil - production 244,000 bbl/d (38,800 m3/d) (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption 13,170 bbl/d (2,094 m3/d) (2007 est.)
Oil - exports 255,000 bbl/d (40,500 m3/d) (2005 est.)
Oil - imports 2,485 bbl/d (395.1 m3/d) (2005 est.)
Oil - proven reserves 2 billion barrels (320×10 6 m3) (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production 100 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption 100 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proven reserves 28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.671 TWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel:
27.8%
hydro:
72.2%
nuclear:
0%
other:
0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.365 GWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical hardwood); fish
Current account - balance $591 million (2010 est.)
Currency: 1 Communauté financière africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Communauté financière africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 – 507.71 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995)
note:
since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
See also
- Agriculture in Gabon
- Economy of Africa
- Forestry in Gabon
- List of companies based in Gabon
- Mining in Gabon
- Transport in Gabon
- Chronology of Gabon
- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
References
- "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- "World Bank Country and Lending Groups". datahelpdesk.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- "Global Economic Prospects, June 2019: Heightened Tensions, Subdued Investment. p. 127" (PDF). openknowledge.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
- "Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) - Gabon | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- "Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) - Gabon | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- "Ease of Doing Business in Gabon". Doingbusiness.org. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- "Export Partners of Gabon". CIA World Factbook. 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- "Import Partners of Gabon". CIA World Factbook. 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- "Sovereigns rating list". Standard & Poor's. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- "Gabon". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- Pura Vida Energy (6 March 2013). "20.0 MM[million]BO CONTINGENT RESOURCE AT LOBA M 1 DISCOVERY OFFSHORE GABON, WEST AFRICA". doi:10.1306/703C817D-1707-11D7-8645000102C1865D.
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(help) - "Gabon: FirstAfrica completes offshore EOV development drilling program". 9 September 2006.
- Geological Survey (2015). Minerals Yearbook - Area Reports; International Review: 2012 Africa and the Middle East. Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-1411336773 – via Google Books.
- Reuters, "Gabon's Belinga iron-ore deal to be awarded as late as 2014", Mining Weekly (30 August 2012)
- "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". Retrieved 5 September 2018.