Gabón

Interesting Facts About Gabón

• Gabon has at least 40 distinct ethnic groups, including the Fang, Myènè, and indigenous Pygmy peoples such as the Baka, who speak the only non-Bantu language in the country.
• Gabon is the most urbanised country in Africa, with an urbanisation rate of 92.09% in 2025, driven largely by superior infrastructure and services in cities compared to rural areas.
• Nearly 59% of Gabon's total population lives in just two cities: Libreville and Port-Gentil.
• Gabon has the highest share of French-speakers in mainland Africa, with 84.1% of respondents in a 2024 survey stating French as their primary home language.
• In Libreville, over 97% of residents have access to clean drinking water, compared to fewer than 55% in rural areas, reflecting the stark infrastructure divide.
• Gabon ranks fourth highest in Human Development Index among Sub-Saharan African countries, despite having one of the lowest population densities on the continent.
• The rapid urbanisation of Gabon accelerated significantly after the 1970s due to the growth of the oil industry, which created major job opportunities in urban centres like Port-Gentil and Gamba.

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