Gabon is a Central African nation located on the west coast of the continent and bordered by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo. It has a population of around 2 million people and is home to a diverse range of ethnicities including Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Punu, and others.
The official language of Gabon is French, although many other languages are spoken in the country such as Fang, Myene, Nzebi and Punu. English is also spoken by some people in Gabon. The majority of Gabonese are Christian with the largest denomination being Roman Catholic (60%). However, there are also significant numbers who practice traditional religions or have no religious affiliation.
Gabon has one of the highest standards of living in Africa with an estimated GDP per capita of $7,000 USD; this is largely due to its oil production which accounts for around 60% of its GDP. Additionally, it has a relatively low poverty rate compared to other African countries at just over 25%.
The economy in Gabon is largely reliant on oil production which accounts for 80% of exports; however there is an increasing focus on diversifying into other industries such as tourism and agriculture. The government has made efforts to reduce poverty through social protection programs; however inequality remains high with much wealth concentrated among a small elite group.
Society in Gabon tends to be quite traditional with strong family ties being important; many families live together in extended households or villages which helps them support each other financially and socially. Gender roles tend to be quite traditional too with women often expected to take care of domestic duties while men are seen as the primary breadwinners. There is also a strong sense of national pride among many Gabonese people who take great pride in their culture and history.
Demographics of Gabon
Gabon is a Central African nation located on the west coast of the continent and bordered by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo. It has an estimated population of around 2 million people with a diverse range of ethnicities including Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Punu, and others.
According to wholevehicles.com, the majority of Gabonese (84%) are native Africans while 15% are French or European descent. The official language of Gabon is French although other languages such as Fang, Myene, Nzebi and Punu are also spoken in the country. English is also spoken by some people in Gabon.
The majority of Gabonese are Christian with the largest denomination being Roman Catholic (60%). However, there are also significant numbers who practice traditional religions or have no religious affiliation.
The population in Gabon is relatively young with 43% aged 0-14 years and just 4% aged 65 or over; this suggests that there will be a large labour force in the future to help drive economic growth. Additionally, life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 63 years for men and 66 years for women which is slightly lower than the global average.
In terms of gender equality, there has been some progress made in recent years but inequality still exists; women tend to take on more domestic duties while men are seen as primary breadwinners. Additionally, women often face discrimination when it comes to access to education and healthcare services as well as legal protections for workers’ rights.
Poverty in Gabon
Poverty is a major issue in Gabon, with more than half of the population living below the poverty line. According to the World Bank, the poverty rate in Gabon stands at 54.3%, which is significantly higher than the average for Sub-Saharan Africa (41.1%). This means that over 1 million people are living in extreme poverty and struggling to meet their basic needs.
The lack of economic development and inequality is a major contributing factor to poverty in Gabon. The country’s economy is heavily reliant on oil production which has been declining since 2014 due to reduced global demand and lower prices for crude oil. This has resulted in reduced government revenue which has had a negative impact on public services such as healthcare and education, making it difficult for people to escape poverty.
Additionally, inequality is also a key factor driving poverty in Gabon with the richest 10% of households accounting for nearly 40% of total income while the poorest 10% account for only 3%. This means that access to resources such as healthcare, education, and employment opportunities are not evenly distributed among citizens leading to increased levels of inequality and deprivation.
Finally, despite some progress in recent years there are still many challenges facing those living in poverty in Gabon including inadequate access to basic services such as water and sanitation; poor quality housing; limited access to credit; lack of secure land tenure; inadequate infrastructure; and limited job opportunities outside of the informal sector. These factors contribute significantly to keeping people trapped in a cycle of poverty with little hope for improvement or escape from their current situation.
Labor Market in Gabon
According to Countryvv, the labor market in Gabon is characterized by high unemployment and underemployment, with the official unemployment rate standing at 12.7% in 2020. This is significantly higher than the average for Sub-Saharan Africa (7.8%) and is driven largely by a lack of available jobs and an inadequate supply of skilled workers.
In terms of employment, most jobs are in the informal sector such as retail, farming, fishing, construction, and domestic work. This makes up around 70% of total employment in Gabon with formal sector jobs accounting for only 30%. The informal sector often provides low wages and poor working conditions such as long hours, lack of job security, and limited access to social protection schemes. This has resulted in a large number of people struggling to make ends meet despite having a job.
Additionally, there are also significant gender disparities within the labor market with men more likely to be employed than women (62% versus 54%). Women are also more likely to be employed in part-time or unpaid roles due to traditional gender roles which leave them responsible for most household tasks.