Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general Prime minister: Baldwin Spencer
Population
1,608,321
89,018
Life Expectancy
52.290 years
75.690 years
Capital City
Libreville
Saint John's
Largest city
Libreville (population: 578,156)
Saint John's (population: 24,226)
Human Development Index
0.729
0.83
GDP per capita
$16,400 US
$18,200 US
Literacy Rate
63.2%
85.8%
Corruption Perception Index
3.1
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
16.1%
16.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
21.000%
11.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
republic; multiparty presidential regime
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government
Independence date
17 August 1960 (from France)
1 November 1981 (from UK)
Religions
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census)
Languages
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
English (official), local dialects
Exports
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
petroleum products, bedding, handicrafts, electronic components, transport equipment, food and live animals
External Debt
$2,726,000,000 $
$359,800,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 441.72 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003) note: fixed rate since 1976
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
0.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Area
267,667 km sq
443 km sq
Coastline
885 km
153 km
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
