Country Guide

Brazil Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean


Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 55 00 W


Map references:
South America


Area:
total:8,514,877 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 5
land:8,459,417 sq km
water:55,460 sq km
note:includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:16,145 km
border countries:Argentina 1,263 km, Bolivia 3,403 km, Colombia 1,790 km, French Guiana 649 km, Guyana 1,308 km, Paraguay 1,371 km, Peru 2,659 km, Suriname 515 km, Uruguay 1,050 km, Venezuela 2,137 km


Coastline:
7,491 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to edge of the continental margin


Climate:
mostly tropical, but temperate in south


    Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Pico da Neblina 2,994 m


Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber


Land use:
arable land:8.45%
permanent crops:0.83%
other:90.72% (2011)


Irrigated land:
54,000 sq km (2011)


Total renewable water resources:
8,233 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
8,233 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south


Environment - current issues:
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective:Brazilian


Ethnic groups:
white 47.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 43.1%, black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, indigenous 0.4% (2010 est.)


Languages:
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language)


Religions:
Roman Catholic 64.6%, other Catholic 0.4%, Protestant 22.2% (includes Adventist 6.5%, Assembly of God 2.0%, Christian Congregation of Brazil 1.2%, Universal Kingdom of God 1.0%, other Protestant 11.5%), other Christian 0.7%, Spiritist 2.2%, other 1.4%, none 8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)


Demographic profile:
Brazil's rapid fertility decline since the 1960s is the main factor behind the country's slowing population growth rate, aging population, and fast-paced demographic transition. Brasilia has not taken full advantage of its large working-age population to develop its human capital and strengthen its social and economic institutions but is funding a study abroad program to bring advanced skills back to the country. The current favorable age structure will begin to shift around 2025, with the labor force shrinking and the elderly starting to compose an increasing share of the total population. Well-funded public pensions have nearly wiped out poverty among the elderly, and Bolsa Familia and other social programs have lifted tens of millions out of poverty. More than half of Brazil's population is considered middle class, but poverty and income inequality levels remain high; the Northeast, North, and Center-West, women, and black, mixed race, and indigenous populations are disproportionately affected. Disparities in opportunities foster social exclusion and contribute to Brazil's high crime rate, particularly violent crime in cities and favelas.


Population:
202,656,788 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 6


Age structure:
0-14 years:23.8% (male 24,534,129/female 23,606,332)
15-24 years:16.5% (male 16,993,708/female 16,521,057)
25-54 years:43.7% (male 43,910,790/female 44,674,915)
55-64 years:8.4% (male 8,067,022/female 9,036,519)
65 years and over:7.6% (male 6,507,069/female 8,805,247) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:45.8 %
youth dependency ratio:34.4 %
elderly dependency ratio:11.3 %
potential support ratio:8.8 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:30.7 years
male:29.9 years
female:31.5 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.8% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 137


Birth rate:
14.72 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 134


Death rate:
6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 148


Net migration rate:
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 117


Urbanization:
urban population:84.6% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.15% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
Sao Paulo 19.924 million; Rio de Janeiro 11.96 million; Belo Horizonte 5.487 million; Porto Alegre 3.933 million; Recife 3.733 million; BRASILIA (capital) 3.813 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.74 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Maternal mortality rate:
56 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:19.21 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 94
male:22.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female:15.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:73.28 yearscountry comparison to the world: 126
male:69.73 years
female:77 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.79 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 155


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
80.3% (2006)


Health expenditures:
8.9% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.76 physicians/1,000 population (2008)


Hospital bed density:
2.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 85.3% of population
total: 97.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 14.7% of population
total: 2.5% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 87% of population
rural: 49.2% of population
total: 81.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 13% of population
rural: 50.8% of population
total: 18.7% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
18.8% (2008)country comparison to the world: 102


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
2.2% (2007)country comparison to the world: 119


Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 49

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:90.4%
male:90.1%
female:90.7% (2010 est.)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:15.4%country comparison to the world: 82
male:12.2%
female:19.8% (2011)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form:Brazil
local long form:Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form:Brasil


Government type:
federal republic


Capital:
name:Brasilia
geographic coordinates:15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference:UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in February
note:Brazil has three time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands


Administrative divisions:
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins


Independence:
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)


Constitution:
several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988; amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)


Legal system:
civil law; note - a new civil law code was enacted in 2002 replacing the 1916 code


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
voluntary between 16 to under 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory 18 to 70 years of age; note - military conscripts by law cannot vote


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel Miguel Elias TEMER Lulia (since 1 January 2011); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel Miguel Elias TEMER Lulia (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 3 October 2010 with runoff on 31 October 2010 (next to be held on 5 October 2014 and, if necessary, a runoff election on 26 October 2014)
election results:Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Dilma ROUSSEFF 56.01%, Jose SERRA (PSDB) 43.99%


Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each state and federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third and two-thirds of members elected every four years, alternately) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections:Federal Senate - last held on 3 October 2010 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held in October 2014 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 3 October 2010 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results:Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 19, PT 15, PSDB 11, DEM (formerly PFL) 7, PTB 6, PP 4, PDT 4, PR 4, PSB 3, PCdoB 2, PSOL 2, other 4; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 88, PMDB 79, PSDB 53, DEM (formerly PFL) 43, PP 41, PR 41, PSB 34, PDT 28, PTB 21, PSC 17, PCdoB 15, PPS 12, PPS 12, PRB 8, PMN 4, PSOL 3, other 26


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Federal Court (consists of 11 justices)
judge selection and term of office:justices appointed by the president and approved by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system


Political parties and leaders:
Brazilian Communist Party or PCB [Ivan Martins PINHEIRO]
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER]
Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Benito GAMA]
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz]
Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Marcos Antonio PEREIRA]
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Aecio NEVES]
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Eduardo CAMPOS]
Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]
Christian Social Democratic Party or PSDC [Jose Maria EYMAEL]
Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO]
Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI]
the Democrats or DEM [Jose AGRIPINO] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL)
Free Homeland Party or PPL [Sergio RUBENS]
Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz PENNA]
Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Eduardo MACHADO]
Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de Oliveira RESENDE]
National Ecologic Party or PEN [Adilson Barroso OLIVEIRA]
National Labor Party or PTN [Jose Masci de ABREU]
National Mobilization Party or PMN [Oscar Noronha FILHO]
Party of the Republic or PR [Alfredo NASCIMENTO]
Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Roberto Joao Pereira FREIRE]
Progressive Party or PP [Ciro NOGUEIRA]
Progressive Republican Party or PRP [Ovasco Roma Altimari RESENDE]
Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge Abdala NOSSEIS]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Gilberto KASSAB]
Social Liberal Party or PSL [Luciano Caldas BIVAR]
Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL [Luiz ARAUJO]
United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU [Jose Maria DE ALMEIDA]
Workers' Cause Party or PCO [Rui Costa PIMENTA]
Workers' Party or PT [Rui FALCAO]


    Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Workers' Movement or MST


International organization participation:
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (Enhanced Engagement, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mauro Luiz Iecker VIEIRA (since 11 January 2010)
chancery:3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 238-2805
FAX:[1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Liliana AYALDE (since 1 August 2013)
embassy:Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address:Unit 7500, DPO, AA 34030
telephone:[55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX:[55] (61) 3225-9136
consulate(s) general:Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s):Recife


Flag description:
green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife; on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth; the blue circle and stars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal District)


National symbol(s):
Southern Cross constellation


National anthem:
name:'Hino Nacional Brasileiro' (Brazilian National Anthem)

lyrics/music:Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA
note:music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years before it was adopted

Economy

Economy - overview:
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, and a rapidly expanding middle class, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets. Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved its macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, and reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After strong growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in 2008. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However, Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. In 2010, consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth reached 7.5%, the highest growth rate in the past 25 years. Rising inflation led the authorities to take measures to cool the economy; these actions and the deteriorating international economic situation slowed growth in 2011-13. Unemployment is at historic lows and Brazil's traditionally high level of income inequality has declined for each of the last 14 years. Brazil's historically high interest rates have made it an attractive destination for foreign investors. Large capital inflows over the past several years have contributed to the appreciation of the currency, hurting the competitiveness of Brazilian manufacturing and leading the government to intervene in foreign exchange markets and raise taxes on some foreign capital inflows. President Dilma ROUSSEFF has retained the previous administration's commitment to inflation targeting by the central bank, a floating exchange rate, and fiscal restraint.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.416 trillion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$2.362 trillion (2012 est.)
$2.342 trillion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.19 trillion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
2.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
0.9% (2012 est.)
2.7% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$11,900 (2012 est.)
$11,900 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
14.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
15.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
17.6% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:62.5%
government consumption:21.7%
investment in fixed capital:18.3%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:12.4%
imports of goods and services:-14.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:5.5%
industry:26.4%
services:68.1%
(2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef


Industries:
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment


Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Labor force:
107.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:15.7%
industry:13.3%
services:71%
(2011 est.)


Unemployment rate:
5.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
5.5% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
21.4%


    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:0.8%
highest 10%:42.9% (2009 est.)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
51.9 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 16
55.3 (2001)


Budget:
revenues:$851.1 billion
expenditures:$815.6 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
38.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
1.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Public debt:
59.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
58.8% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
5.4% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
11% (31 December 2011 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
26.9% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
36.64% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$157.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$159.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$870.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
$863.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$2.435 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$2.381 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.23 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$77.63 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
-$54.23 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$244.8 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$242.6 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos


Exports - partners:
China 17%, US 11.1%, Argentina 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2% (2012)


Imports:
$241.4 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$223.2 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics


Imports - partners:
China 15.3%, US 14.6%, Argentina 7.4%, Germany 6.4%, South Korea 4.1% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$378.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$373.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$475.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$438.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$663.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$604.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$179.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$177.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
reals (BRL) per US dollar -
2.153 (2013 est.)
1.9546 (2012 est.)
1.7592 (2010 est.)
2 (2009)
1.8644 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
530.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Electricity - consumption:
455.8 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10


Electricity - exports:
2.544 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40


Electricity - imports:
38.43 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
113.7 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
19.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
1.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
71% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
7.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Crude oil - production:
2.652 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11


Crude oil - exports:
619,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21


Crude oil - imports:
343,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
13.15 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15


Refined petroleum products - production:
2.108 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
2.594 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8


Refined petroleum products - exports:
158,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Refined petroleum products - imports:
457,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Natural gas - production:
17.03 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35


Natural gas - consumption:
25.2 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31


Natural gas - exports:
400 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46


Natural gas - imports:
13.3 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25


Natural gas - proved reserves:
395.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
475.4 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
44.3 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 5


Telephones - mobile cellular:
248.324 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 6


Telephone system:
general assessment:good working system including an extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations
domestic:fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less expensive mobile-cellular technology has been a major driver in expanding telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population with mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 120 per 100 persons
international:country code - 55; landing point for a number of submarine cables, including Americas-1, Americas-2, Atlantis-2, GlobeNet, South America-1, South American Crossing/Latin American Nautilus, and UNISUR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating - mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2007)


Internet country code:
.br


Internet hosts:
26.577 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 3


Internet users:
75.982 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4

Transportation

Airports
4,093 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 2


Airports - with paved runways
total:698
over 3,047 m:7
2,438 to 3,047 m:27
1,524 to 2,437 m:179
914 to 1,523 m:436
under 914 m:49 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:3,395
1,524 to 2,437 m:92
914 to 1,523 m:1,619
under 914 m:
1,684 (2013)


Heliports
13 (2013)


Pipelines
condensate/gas 251 km; gas 17,312 km; liquid petroleum gas 352 km; oil 4,831 km; refined products 4,722 km (2013)


Railways
total:28,538 kmcountry comparison to the world: 10
broad gauge:5,627 km 1.600-m gauge (467 km electrified)
standard gauge:194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge:22,717 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:1,580,964 kmcountry comparison to the world: 4
paved:212,798 km
unpaved:1,368,166 km
note:does not include urban roads (2010)


    Waterways
50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 3


Merchant marine
total:109country comparison to the world: 48
by type:bulk carrier 18, cargo 16, chemical tanker 7, container 13, liquefied gas 11, petroleum tanker 39, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned:27 (Chile 1, Denmark 3, Germany 6, Greece 1, Norway 3, Spain 12, Turkey 1)
registered in other countries:36 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 1, Ghana 1, Liberia 20, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 3, Singapore 9) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Belem, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao
river port(s):Manaus (Amazon)
dry bulk cargo port(s):Sepetiba ore terminal
container ports (TEUs):Santos (2,985,922), Itajai (983,985)(2011)
oil/gas terminal(s):DTSE/Gegua oil terminal, Ilha Grande (Gebig), Guaiba Island terminal, Guamare oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import):Pecem, Rio de Janiero

Military

Military branches
Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2011)


Military service age and obligation
18-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 9-12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are 'long-service' volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:53,350,703
females age 16-49:53,433,918 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:38,993,989
females age 16-49:44,841,661 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:1,733,168
female:1,672,477 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.47% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 64
1.49% of GDP (2011)
1.47% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
uncontested boundary dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera/Brasiliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question; smuggling of firearms and narcotics continues to be an issue along the Uruguay-Brazil border; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Brazil's border region with Venezuela


    Illicit drugs
second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world; illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area (2008)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Gabon

Country Guide

Gabon Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea


Geographic coordinates:
1 00 S, 11 45 E


Map references:
Africa


Area:
total:267,667 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 77
land:257,667 sq km
water:10,000 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Colorado


Land boundaries:
total:3,261 km
border countries:Cameroon 349 km, Republic of the Congo 2,567 km, Equatorial Guinea 345 km


Coastline:
885 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm


Climate:
tropical; always hot, humid


Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mont Iboundji 1,575 m


    Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:1.21%
permanent crops:0.64%
other:98.15% (2011)


Irrigated land:
44.5 sq km (2003)


Total renewable water resources:
164 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
164 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
NA


Environment - current issues:
deforestation; poaching


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective:Gabonese


Ethnic groups:
Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality


Languages:
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi


Religions:
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%


Population:
1,672,597country comparison to the world: 154
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)



Age structure:
0-14 years:42.1% (male 353,863/female 350,456)
15-24 years:20.3% (male 169,681/female 169,082)
25-54 years:29.7% (male 248,328/female 248,063)
55-64 years:4.2% (male 33,608/female 35,838)
65 years and over:3.8% (male 27,117/female 36,561) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:77 %
youth dependency ratio:68 %
elderly dependency ratio:9 %
potential support ratio:11.1 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:18.6 years
male:18.4 years
female:18.8 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.94% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 54


Birth rate:
34.64 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 27


Death rate:
13.13 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 20


Net migration rate:
-2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 168


Urbanization:
urban population:86.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.27% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
LIBREVILLE (capital) 686,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.73 male(s)/female
total population:0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


    Mother's mean age at first birth:
20.3


Maternal mortality rate:
230 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:47.03 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 43
male:54.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female:39.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:52.06 yearscountry comparison to the world: 214
male:51.54 years
female:52.6 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
4.49 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 30


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
31.1% (2012)


Health expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2004)


Hospital bed density:
6.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 96.8% of population
rural: 63% of population
total: 92.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.2% of population
rural: 37% of population
total: 7.8% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 42.9% of population
rural: 32% of population
total: 41.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 57.1% of population
rural: 68% of population
total: 58.6% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
4% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 16


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
40,700 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 67


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,300 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 58


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
13.9% (2008)country comparison to the world: 124


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
6.5% (2012)country comparison to the world: 79


Education expenditures:
NA

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:89%
male:92.3%
female:85.6% (2011 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form:Gabon
local long form:Republique Gabonaise
local short form:Gabon


Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime


Capital:
name:Libreville
geographic coordinates:0 23 N, 9 27 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem


Independence:
17 August 1960 (from France)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 August (1960)


Constitution:
previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991; amended several times, last in 2011 (2013)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Ali BONGO ONDIMBA (since 16 October 2009)
head of government:Prime Minister Daniel ONA ONDO (since 27 January 2014)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections:president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results:President Ali BONGO ONDIMBA elected; percent of vote - Ali BONGO ONDIMBA 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO 3.9%, other 3.3%
note:President BONGO died on 8 June 2009 after serving as president for 32 years; in accordance with the constitution he was replaced on an interim basis by the president of the Senate, Rose Francine ROGOMBE on 10 June 2009; new elections were held on 30 August 2009 and the son of the former president, Ali BONGO Ondimba, was elected president


Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (102 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:Senate - last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in January 2015); National Assembly - last held on 17 December 2011 (next to be held in December 2016)
election results:Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 75, RPG 6, UGDD 3, CLR 2, PGCI 2, PSD 2, UPG 2, ADERE 1, independents 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 114, RPG 3, others 3


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (organized into Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts chambers and consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges appointment and tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 3 by the national president, 3 by the president of the Senate, and 3 by the president of the National Assembly; judges serve 7-year, single renewable terms
subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; county courts; military courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Alliance for National Rebirth or ARENA [Richard MOULOMBA]
Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]
Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes OGOULIGUENDE]
Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]
Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG [Ali BONGO ONDIMBA]
Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Benoit Mouity NZAMBA]
Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD [Zacharie MYBOTO]
Independent Center Party of Gabon or PGCI [Luccheri GAHILA]
National Rally of Woodcutters-Democratic or RNB-D [Pierre Andre KOMBILA]
National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]
Party of Development and Social Solidarity or PDS [Seraphin Ndoat REMBOGO]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]
Union for Democracy and Social Integration or UDIS
Union for the New Republic or UPRN [Louis Gaston MAYILA]
Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Mathieu Mboumba NZIENGUI (until the next Congress)]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA


International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Michael MOUSSA-ADAMO (since 2 September 2011)
chancery:Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 797-1000
FAX:[1] (202) 332-0668
consulate(s):New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Dante PARADISO; note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe
embassy:Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville
mailing address:Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch: 2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270
telephone:[241] 01-45-71-00, after hours - 07380171
FAX:[241] 74 55 07


Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue; green represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun, blue represents the sea


National symbol(s):
black panther


National anthem:
name:'La Concorde' (The Concorde)

lyrics/music:Georges Aleka DAMAS
note:adopted 1960

Economy

Economy - overview:
Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most sub-Saharan African nations, but because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The economy was reliant on oil for about 50% of its GDP, about 70% of revenues, and 87% of goods exports for 2010, although some fields have passed their peak production. A rebound of oil prices from 1999 to 2008 helped growth, but declining production has hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2007, and later that year issued a $1 billion sovereign bond to buy back a sizable portion of its Paris Club debt. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management has stifled the economy. However, President BONGO ONDIMBA has made efforts to increase transparency and is taking steps to make Gabon a more attractive investment destination to diversify the economy. BONGO ONDIMBA has attempted to boost growth by increasing government investment in human resources and infrastructure. GDP grew more than 6% per year over the 2010-13 period.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$30.06 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$28.19 billion (2012 est.)
$26.7 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$19.97 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
6.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
5.6% (2012 est.)
7.1% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,200 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$18,300 (2012 est.)
$17,600 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
44.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
47.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
44.9% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:39.1%
government consumption:10.5%
investment in fixed capital:33.7%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:58.1%
imports of goods and services:-41.4%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:3.6%
industry:63.9%
services:32.5% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish


Industries:
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement


Industrial production growth rate:
4.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Labor force:
629,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:60%
industry:15%
services:25% (2000 est.)


Unemployment rate:
21% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

    Population below poverty line:
NA%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.5%
highest 10%:32.7% (2005)


Budget:
revenues:$5.031 billion
expenditures:$6.599 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
25.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-7.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192


Public debt:
23.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
22.2% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
2.7% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
15% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$2.497 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$2.552 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$3.973 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$3.908 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$1.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
$1.672 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
$1.783 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$2.687 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$9.777 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$10.2 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
crude oil, timber, manganese, uranium


Exports - partners:
Japan 24.1%, US 17%, Australia 11.3%, India 7.4%, China 5.4%, Spain 4.1% (2012)


Imports:
$3.934 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$3.638 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials


Imports - partners:
France 28.2%, China 12.6%, US 9.4%, Belgium 5.8%, Cameroon 4.3% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.47 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$2.373 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$3.433 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
$3.196 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
504.9 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010 est.)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
1.777 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139


Electricity - consumption:
1.442 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
415,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
59% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
41% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175


Crude oil - production:
242,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37


Crude oil - exports:
225,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
2 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36


Refined petroleum products - production:
19,280 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
15,800 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140


Refined petroleum products - exports:
7,670 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Refined petroleum products - imports:
4,594 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Natural gas - production:
70 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Natural gas - consumption:
80 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196


Natural gas - proved reserves:
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
4.758 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
17,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 194


Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.93 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 133


Telephone system:
general assessment:adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic:a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons
international:country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
state owns and operates 2 TV stations and 2 radio broadcast stations; a few private radio and TV stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available (2007)


Internet country code:
.ga


Internet hosts:
127 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 205


Internet users:
98,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160

Transportation

Airports
44 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 99


Airports - with paved runways
total:14
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:2
1,524 to 2,437 m:9
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:30
1,524 to 2,437 m:7
914 to 1,523 m:9
under 914 m:
14 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 807 km; oil 1,639 km; water 3 km (2013)


Railways
total:649 kmcountry comparison to the world: 105
standard gauge:649 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:9,170 kmcountry comparison to the world: 138
paved:1,097 km
unpaved:8,073 km (2007)


Waterways
1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49


Merchant marine
registered in other countries:2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)country comparison to the world: 145


Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil
oil/gas terminal(s):Gamba, Lucina

Military

Military branches
Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Force (Force Terrestre), Gabonese Navy (Marine Gabonaise), Gabonese Air Forces (Forces Aerienne Gabonaises, FAG) (2012)


Military service age and obligation
20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:350,640
females age 16-49:351,718 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:202,404
females age 16-49:195,389 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:17,638
female:17,614 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
1.34% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 78
NA% (2011)
1.34% of GDP (2010)
Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

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