|
Country
|
Gabon | 
Central African Republic |
|
Leader
|
President: Ali Ben Bongo
|
President: Francois Bozize
|
|
Population
|
1,608,321
| 5,057,208
|
|
Life Expectancy
|
52.290 years
| 50.480 years
|
|
Capital City
|
Libreville
| Bangui
|
|
Largest city
|
| Libreville (population: 578,156) | Bangui (population: 542,393) |
|
Human Development Index
|
0.729
| 0.352
|
| GDP per capita |
$16,400 US
| $800 US
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
63.2%
| 48.6%
|
|
Corruption Perception Index
|
3.1
| 2
|
|
Percentage of Women in Parliament
|
16.1%
| 10.5%
|
| Wealthiest Citizens |
|
|
| Unemployment Rate |
21.000%
| 8.000%
|
|
Death Penalty
|
Abolished in practice
| Abolished in practice
|
| |
|
Political System
|
republic; multiparty presidential regime
| republic
|
|
Independence date
|
17 August 1960 (from France)
| 13 August 1960 (from France)
|
| Religions |
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
| indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
|
| Languages |
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
| French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
|
| Exports |
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
| diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
|
| External Debt |
$2,726,000,000 $
| $483,900,000 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)
| Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 438.77 (2008 est.), 481.8 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
|
| Military Budget as percentage of GDP |
0.900%
| 0.900%
|
| Beijing Olympics Medal Count |
|
|
| Location |
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
| Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
| Area |
267,667 km sq
| 622,984 km sq
|
| Coastline |
885 km
| 0 km
|
| Climate |
tropical; always hot, humid
| tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
|
|
|
|
