In Gabon, the education follows a 5-4-3 system, where the primary school lasts for 5 years, the secondary school for 4 years and the secondary school for 3 years. According to UNESCO, in 2011, 11% of the population over 15 years were illiterate.

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Basic education

Children start school at age 6. In principle, education is free and it is compulsory to complete secondary school. The teaching is given at public and private schools, as well as at a number of mission schools.

Higher education

Higher education is offered at vocational schools, colleges and universities. Omar Bongo University is the country’s leading university and is located in the capital Libreville. An academic school year lasts a minimum of 30 weeks and is divided into trimester (October-December, January-March, April-July).

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Country data

Area: 267,668 km² (world ranking: 75)

Residents: 2,025,000

Population density: 8 per km² (as of 2017, world ranking: 146)

Capital: Libreville

Official languages: French

Gross domestic product: 14.6 billion US $; Real growth: 1.1%

Gross national product (GNP, per resident and year): 6610 US$

Currency: CFA franc

Embassy

Hohensteiner Str. 16, 14197 Berlin
Telephone 030 516544790,
Fax 030 516544794
www.amba-allemagne.ga

Government
Head of State: Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba, Head of Government: Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet, Exterior: Régis Immongault Tatangani

National Day: 17.8.

Administrative structure
9 provinces

State and form of government
Constitution of 1991
Presidential Republic
Parliament: National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 120 members, election every 5 years; Senate (Sénat) with 102 indirectly elected Members, election every 6 years
Direct election of the head of state every 7 years
Suffrage from 18 years of age

Population: Gabonese, last census 2013: 1,811,079 residents
around 40 ethnic groups (mainly Bantu groups)

Cities (with population): (as of 2013) Libreville pop. 703,940, Port Gentil 136,462, Franceville 110,568, Owendo 79,300, Oyem 60,685, Moanda 59,154, Ntoum 51,954

Religions: 80% Christians (2/3 Catholics, 1/3 Protestants), 10% Muslims, 10% followers of indigenous religions (status: 2006)

Languages: French; Fang, Bantu languages Employed

By economic sector: no information

Unemployment (in% of all economically active persons)
no information

Inflation rate (in%): 2017: 3.0%

Foreign trade: Import: 2.3 billion US $ (2017); Export: US $ 5.6 billion (2017)