World Factbook
Gabon
République Gabonaise
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
257,667 sq km
water
10,000 sq km
total
267,667 sq km
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Land use
other
0.2% (2023 est.)
forest
91.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
8.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Location
Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Coastline
885 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
Mont Bengoue 1,050 m
mean elevation
377 m
Irrigated land
40 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Congo Basin
Map references
Africa
Land boundaries
total
3,261 km
border countries
Cameroon 349 km; Republic of the Congo 2,567 km; Equatorial Guinea 345 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
none
Geography - note
the country has maintained its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Colorado
Geographic coordinates
1 00 S, 11 45 E
Population distribution
the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest, as shown in this population distribution map
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km)