Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/84.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 12KB | 321 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Gabon.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Gabon"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Gabon, click {z,"-1.889038,-12.214469,25.942224,8.917012",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Congo and
Equatorial Guinea

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 267,670 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 257,670 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly smaller than Colorado

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,551 km
{3}border countries:{4} Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 885 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
contiguous zone: 24 nm
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed
sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; always hot, humid

{2}Terrain:{4} narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
{3}lowest point:{4} Atlantic Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 1%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 1%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 18%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 78%
{3}other:{4} 2%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} deforestation; poaching

{2}natural hazards:{4} NA

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 1,172,798 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 34% (male 197,188; female 196,562)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 61% (male 364,033; female 353,451)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 5% (male 30,270; female 31,294) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 1.47% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 28.22 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.97 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 90.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 55.59 years
{3}male:{4} 52.72 years
{3}female:{4} 58.56 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 3.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Gabonese (singular and plural)
{3}adjective:{4} Gabonese

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou,
Bateke), other Africans and Europeans 100,000, including 27,000 French

{2}Religions:{4} Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist

{2}Languages:{4} French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 63.2%
{3}male:{4} 73.7%
{3}female:{4} 53.3%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Gabonese Republic
{3}conventional short form:{4} Gabon
{3}local long form:{4} Republique Gabonaise
{3}local short form:{4} Gabon

{2}Type of government:{4} republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

{2}Capital:{4} Libreville

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,
Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

{2}Independence:{4} 17 August 1960 (from France)

{2}National holiday:{4} Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese Democratic Party established)

{2}Constitution:{4} adopted 14 March 1991

{2}Legal system:{4} based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative
acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted

{2}Suffrage:{4} 21 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967) was elected for a five-
year term by universal suffrage on 5 December 1993 (next election to be held 1998); results -
President Omar BONGO received 51% of the vote
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9 December 1994) was
appointed by the president
{3}cabinet:{4} Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the
president

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral; note - the provision of the constitution for the establishment of a
senate has not been implemented
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 5 December 1993 (next to be
held by July 1996, according to the October 1994 Paris Accords; however, President BONGO has
indicated that date might slip); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PDG 64,
National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB) 17, PGP 12, National
Recovery Movement (Morena-Original) 2, PUP 4, CLR 1, FAR 4, UPG 1, independents 15

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former sole party), Simplice
Guedet MANZELA, secretary general; Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR), General Jean Boniface
ASSELE; People's Unity Party (PUP), Louis Gaston MAYILA; Gabonese Socialist Union (USG),
Dr. Serge Mba BEKALE; National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB),
Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-
OKAWE, president; National Recovery Movement (Morena-Origina), note - this party won 2 seats
in the 5 December 1993 elections for the National Assembly but is no longer very active;
Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre Louis AGONDJO OKAWE; African Forum for
Reconstruction (FAR), Leon MBOU-YEMBI, secretary general; Gabonese People's Union (UPG),
Pierre MAMBOUNDOU

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO,
FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
{3}chancery:{4} Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Elizabeth RASPOLIC
{3}embassy:{4} Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
{3}mailing address:{4} B. P. 4000, Libreville
{3}telephone:{4} [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92
{3}FAX:{4} [241] 74 55 07

{2}Flag:{4} three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, Gabon enjoys a per
capita income more than three times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended
on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now
accounts for 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth has been feeble since 1992 and Gabon continues to
face the problem of fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite
an abundance of natural wealth, and a manageable rate of population growth, the economy is
hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and
Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling
agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on
12 January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 15% in 1995.
Nevertheless, the government must continue to keep a tight rein on spending and wage increases.
The IMF and France are considering offering financial assistance in 1996 if Gabon shows
progress in privatization and fiscal discipline.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $6 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $5,200 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 8.2%
{3}industry:{4} 44.7%
{3}services:{4} 47.1% (1993 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 15% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 120,000 salaried
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%, government
2.5%

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 10%-14% (1993 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $1.3 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $311 million (1993 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and
refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} -3% (1991)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 315,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 910 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 757 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil; rubber; okoume (a tropical softwood); cattle; small
fishing operations (provide a catch of about 20,000 metric tons)

{2}Exports:{4} $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} crude oil 80%, timber 14%, manganese 6%, uranium
{3}partners:{4} US 50%, France 16%, Japan 8%, Spain 6%, Germany NA (1994 est.)

{2}Imports:{4} $800 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products, construction materials,
manufactures, machinery
{3}partners:{4} France 35%, African countries, US, Japan, Netherlands (1994)

{2}External debt:{4} $3.8 billion (1993 )

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $75 million (1993)

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

{2}Exchange rates:{4} CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20
(1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)
{3}note:{4} beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from
CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 649 km Gabon State Railways (OCTRA)
standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 7,456 km
{3}paved:{4} 560 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 6,896 km (1988 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} 1,600 km perennially navigable

{2}Pipelines:{4} crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km

{2}Ports:{4} Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo, Port-Gentil

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 3 bulk (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 36,976 GRT/60,319 DWT (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 54
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 7
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 21
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 8
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 15 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 22,000 (1991 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone
communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
{3}international:{4} satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 250,000 (1993 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 3 (repeaters 5)

{2}Televisions:{4} 40,000 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, National Police

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 273,662
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 139,439
males reach military age (20) annually: 10,966 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $154 million, 2.4% of GDP (1993)