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Gabon economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Gabon ranked 127/197 by economy size with a GDP of $20.9B and 93/197 by GDP per capita at $8,230. Gabon has $15.2B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 72.7%.

In 2024, Gabon made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.01% in 1960.

Gabon GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Inflation-adjusted growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $20,895,684,426 3.39%
2023 $19,388,372,071 2.44%
2022 $20,440,655,695 3.04%
2021 $19,444,935,097 1.47%
2020 $15,342,236,164 -1.84%
2019 $16,874,405,465 3.92%
2018 $16,867,326,402 0.84%
2017 $14,929,487,485 0.47%
2016 $14,023,890,265 2.09%
2015 $14,383,107,763 3.88%
2014 $18,203,966,896 4.31%
2013 $17,595,744,798 5.64%
2012 $17,170,464,016 5.25%
2011 $18,210,307,744 7.09%
2010 $14,372,593,020 7.09%
2009 $12,113,699,068 0.13%
2008 $15,571,348,344 -3.31%
2007 $12,455,409,587 6.01%
2006 $10,327,598,306 -2.81%
2005 $9,582,783,991 2.68%
2004 $7,770,219,008 0.69%
2003 $6,511,903,365 2.25%
2002 $5,335,451,100 -0.25%
2001 $5,023,265,413 2.14%
2000 $5,080,483,629 -1.88%
1999 $4,662,992,036 -8.93%
1998 $4,483,417,310 3.48%
1997 $5,326,817,115 5.74%
1996 $5,694,040,003 3.63%
1995 $4,958,845,648 4.97%
1994 $4,190,819,344 3.71%
1993 $4,378,645,081 3.95%
1992 $5,592,390,827 -3.09%
1991 $5,402,919,785 6.11%
1990 $5,952,293,765 5.19%
1989 $4,186,411,464 8.55%
1988 $3,834,503,376 12.8%
1987 $3,281,797,043 -17.1%
1986 $3,403,638,189 -0.8%
1985 $3,339,914,757 -2.33%
1984 $3,561,451,561 7.51%
1983 $3,391,275,732 5.61%
1982 $3,618,007,841 -3.1%
1981 $3,862,269,121 5.1%
1980 $4,279,637,942 2.55%
1979 $3,030,251,120 0.47%
1978 $2,389,479,272 -24%
1977 $2,809,349,069 -12.6%
1976 $3,009,409,974 35.6%
1975 $2,157,592,940 19.2%
1974 $1,544,216,002 39.5%
1973 $722,780,701 10.2%
1972 $430,508,359 11.3%
1971 $381,687,073 10.3%
1970 $323,802,476 8.68%
1969 $318,124,701 8.08%
1968 $294,468,564 2.51%
1967 $271,543,680 4.12%
1966 $245,849,781 4.51%
1965 $226,474,286 8.33%
1964 $215,679,855 4.55%
1963 $154,480,244 6.09%
1962 $182,796,536 7.45%
1961 $167,637,907 14.8%
1960 $141,468,978 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon | CC BY

Gabon GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $8,230 $21,510
2023 $7,803 $20,756
2022 $8,409 $19,993
2021 $8,181 $18,524
2020 $6,606 $14,477
2019 $7,441 $15,950
2018 $7,624 $15,432
2017 $6,922 $14,797
2016 $6,677 $13,998
2015 $7,047 $14,306
2014 $9,201 $14,854
2013 $9,198 $14,498
2012 $9,297 $14,620
2011 $10,219 $14,784
2010 $8,357 $14,015
2009 $7,291 $13,384
2008 $9,689 $13,734
2007 $8,004 $14,391
2006 $6,847 $13,637
2005 $6,548 $14,028
2004 $5,466 $13,638
2003 $4,711 $13,564
2002 $3,966 $13,369
2001 $3,836 $13,556
2000 $3,983 $13,326
1999 $3,751 $13,629
1998 $3,700 $15,138
1997 $4,509 $14,837
1996 $4,943 $14,147
1995 $4,415 $13,750
1994 $3,828 $13,164
1993 $4,106 $12,757
1992 $5,386 $12,312
1991 $5,345 $12,760
1990 $6,051 $11,952
1989 $4,374 -
1988 $4,119 -
1987 $3,624 -
1986 $3,865 -
1985 $3,898 -
1984 $4,273 -
1983 $4,182 -
1982 $4,584 -
1981 $5,026 -
1980 $5,718 -
1979 $4,155 -
1978 $3,360 -
1977 $4,048 -
1976 $4,441 -
1975 $3,258 -
1974 $2,384 -
1973 $1,140 -
1972 $693 -
1971 $627 -
1970 $543 -
1969 $545 -
1968 $515 -
1967 $482 -
1966 $443 -
1965 $415 -
1964 $400 -
1963 $290.7 -
1962 $348 -
1961 $323 -
1960 $276.1 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon | CC BY

Gabon has a GDP per capita of $8,230, ranking 93/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $21,510, ranking 90/197, and a median annual after tax income of $5,368, ranking 111/197.

Gabon GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 125 87 84
2023 127 92 87
2022 116 84 84
2021 117 83 79
2020 122 88 93
2019 121 87 91
2018 121 86 85
2017 124 87 86
2016 123 87 88
2015 124 85 85
2014 117 75 84
2013 121 75 84
2012 119 75 78
2011 112 69 77
2010 115 73 78
2009 122 74 80
2008 111 67 79
2007 112 67 70
2006 111 66 68
2005 111 64 59
2004 114 65 59
2003 114 65 57
2002 118 71 54
2001 119 72 52
2000 117 69 52
1999 117 68 49
1998 116 69 43
1997 110 60 43
1996 108 56 42
1995 109 57 42
1994 106 58 40
1993 104 53 40
1992 98 49 39
1991 97 49 39
1990 95 47 40
1989 97 48 -
1988 96 48 -
1987 97 48 -
1986 91 46 -
1985 90 41 -
1984 89 40 -
1983 89 40 -
1982 88 40 -
1981 87 39 -
1980 84 37 -
1979 86 37 -
1978 90 36 -
1977 82 32 -
1976 73 29 -
1975 83 32 -
1974 87 37 -
1973 93 48 -
1972 101 54 -
1971 100 53 -
1970 102 55 -
1969 97 42 -
1968 98 41 -
1967 98 44 -
1966 96 45 -
1965 98 45 -
1964 97 42 -
1963 99 54 -
1962 97 41 -
1961 96 41 -
1960 95 47 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Gabon is ranked 125th out of 182 by GDP (down from 117th), 87th by GDP per capita (down from 69th), and 84th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 52nd).

Economic indicators

Gabon Rank
Gross domestic product
$20.9B
2024
127/197
GDP growth
3.39%
2023-2024
94/194
GDP per capita
$8,230
2024
93/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$21,510
2024
90/197
Government debt
$15.2B
2024
111/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
72.7%
2024
51/185
Government debt per person
$5,985
2024
75/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,368
2026
111/197
Income share by richest 10%
27.7%
2017
84/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2017
120/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
24.8%
2024
123/195
Consumer prices inflation
1.17%
2023-2024
165/195
Unemployment rate
20.4%
2010
9/196
Population
2663339
141/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 24.8% 72.7% -3.84%
2023 21.5% 70.6% 1.79%
2022 19.7% 65.6% -0.89%
2021 17.3% 72.9% -1.93%
2020 19.8% 83% -2.19%
2019 17.4% 59.8% 2.13%
2018 17.1% 62.3% -0.21%
2017 18.1% 62.9% -1.7%
2016 21.8% 64.5% -4.71%
2015 22.3% 44.7% -1.12%
2014 23.8% 34.1% 5.98%
2013 34.7% 31.1% -3.07%
2012 23.9% 21.4% 6.2%
2011 22.1% 21.4% 1.41%
2010 23.1% 21.3% 2.7%
2009 22.6% 26% 6.77%
2008 18.9% 20.1% 11%
2007 19.4% 39.2% 8.06%
2006 21.1% 34.9% 8.67%
2005 20.8% 41.7% 7.98%
2004 20.9% 60.3% 6.99%
2003 21.2% 70.2% 7.75%
2002 25.7% 81.1% 3.72%
2001 27.8% 81% 4.07%
2000 20.3% 72.5% 11.1%
1999 25.5% 73.1% 1.11%
1998 45.5% 87.6% -13.1%
1997 29.7% 57% 1.41%
1996 22.2% 64.5% 2.12%
1995 25.1% 73.4% 2.64%
1994 23.9% 71.3% -1.53%
1993 26.9% 90.1% -5.35%
1992 26.5% 87.9% -4.9%
1991 25.1% 89.3% -2.03%
1990 22.6% 90% -3.83%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon | CC BY

This chart shows Gabon's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Gabon recorded a fiscal deficit in 15 of them, with an average annual surplus equal to 1.52% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $5.18B (24.8% of GDP), with a deficit of 3.84%.

The national debt reached $15.2B, ranking 111th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 72.7%, ranking 51st.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 1.17%
2023 3.63%
2022 4.23%
2021 1.09%
2020 1.35%
2019 2.46%
2018 4.75%
2017 2.65%
2016 2.11%
2015 -0.34%
2014 4.69%
2013 0.51%
2012 2.65%
2011 1.26%
2010 1.46%
2009 1.89%
2008 5.26%
2007 5.03%
2006 -1.41%
2005 3.71%
2004 0.41%
2003 2.24%
2002 0.04%
2001 2.14%
2000 0.5%
1999 -1.94%
1998 1.45%
1997 3.97%
1996 0.69%
1995 9.65%
1994 36.1%
1993 0.53%
1992 -9.54%
1991 -11.7%
1990 7.73%
1989 6.74%
1988 -8.78%
1987 -0.95%
1986 6.29%
1985 7.35%
1984 5.86%
1983 10.7%
1982 16.7%
1981 8.71%
1980 12.3%
1979 7.95%
1978 10.8%
1977 13.9%
1976 20.2%
1975 28.5%
1974 12.1%
1973 6.21%
1972 3.49%
1971 3.86%
1970 3.81%
1969 2.98%
1968 2.34%
1967 1.98%
1966 3.64%
1965 2.44%
1964 3.33%
1963 7.16%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1963–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Gabon has had an average annual inflation rate of 2.41%. In 2024, inflation was 1.17%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Gabon Rank
Current account balance
$141M
2015
66/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+0.98%
2015
68/190
Goods imports
$3.17B
2015
144/189
Goods exports
$5.11B
2015
120/189
Service imports
$1.88B
2015
124/189
Service exports
$277M
2015
158/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
27.5%
2024
136/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
64.6%
2024
37/193

Gabon top 10 trading partners

Gabon's biggest trading partner accounting for 23.9% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of +$3.03B: Gabon exports $3.52B worth of goods and services to China and imports $491M.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Gabon.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 China $4.01B 23.9% $3.52B $491M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
2 France $1.89B 11.3% $1.34B $550M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
3 Netherlands $827M 4.93% $725M $102M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
4 Spain $822M 4.9% $756M $66.7M Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
5 India $753M 4.49% $589M $165M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
6 Israel $686M 4.09% $680M $5.87M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
7 Italy $673M 4.01% $594M $78.6M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
8 Malaysia $663M 3.95% $632M $31.3M Raw materials & minerals Processed food, beverages & tobacco
9 South Korea $625M 3.72% $63.1M $562M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment
10 Indonesia $597M 3.56% $574M $23.5M Raw materials & minerals Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Gabon Rank
Raw materials & minerals $9.84B 55/193
Machinery & equipment $1.78B 73/193
Wood & paper products $838M 52/192
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $110M 128/192
Metals $97.4M 121/192
Government & miscellaneous services $55.8M 95/180
Transport & tourism services $47.5M 169/188
Business & finance services $41.1M 140/188
Manufacturing & construction services $32M 108/164
Chemicals & pharma $19.4M 136/193

Top 10 imports

Gabon Rank
Machinery & equipment $2.2B 123/193
Transport & tourism services $795M 130/188
Business & finance services $571M 108/188
Raw materials & minerals $460M 151/193
Metals $349M 134/193
Chemicals & pharma $336M 145/193
Animal & marine products $244M 109/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $242M 150/193
Raw agricultural goods $181M 146/193
Textiles & consumer goods $144M 156/193

Economic freedom indices

Gabon Rank
Economic freedom 56.6 120/197
Property rights 30 140/182
Government integrity 22.6 155/182
Judicial effectiveness 19.9 149/182
Tax burden 76.5 107/182
Government spending 85.5 46/180
Fiscal health 87.9 55/181
Business freedom 63.6 98/182
Labor freedom 55.4 98/182
Monetary freedom 80.9 12/180
Trade freedom 57.4 160/181
Investment freedom 60 69/181
Financial freedom 40 112/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 56.6 19.9 76.5 85.5 87.9
2025 56.3 19.8 77.7 88.4 85.7
2024 56.9 19.4 77.4 90.8 92.5
2023 56.1 25.6 77.3 90.4 90.7
2022 55.8 18.6 77.4 90.2 89.5
2021 58.1 25.5 77.7 90.8 93.7
2020 56.7 20.8 74.3 89.3 88.9
2019 56.3 30.6 75.8 86.6 82.1
2018 58 27.8 74.3 84.6 92.3
2017 58.6 26.7 77 81 96.1
2016 59 - 77.6 74.5 -
2015 58.3 - 77.5 74.6 -
2014 57.8 - 74.5 81.7 -
2013 57.8 - 74.2 80.1 -
2012 56.4 - 73.5 81.5 -
2011 56.7 - 74.5 87.9 -
2010 55.4 - 61.5 86.4 -
2009 55 - 61.7 84.8 -
2008 54.2 - 61.7 85.6 -
2007 54.8 - 61.3 85.9 -
2006 56.1 - 59.7 84.9 -
2005 54.8 - 61.2 76.1 -
2004 57.1 - 61.5 84.1 -
2003 58.7 - 56.4 85.7 -
2002 58 - 53.2 76.5 -
2001 55 - 52.2 63.3 -
2000 58.2 - 53.1 79.7 -
1999 60.5 - 53.5 83.3 -
1998 59.2 - 49.5 78.6 -
1997 58.8 - 49.9 80.5 -
1996 55.7 - 52.5 75.5 -
1995 57.5 - 49.4 76 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon | CC BY

Gabon is ranked 107/174 for economic freedom with a score of 56.6, compared to 101/162 and a score of 56.1 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Gabon Rank
Services, % of GDP
36.8%
2024
183/191
Industry, % of GDP
52.9%
2024
7/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
6.56%
2024
96/193
GNI, Atlas method
$19.8B
2024
124/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$20,400
2024
91/191
Total reserves including gold
$1.45B
2023
136/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$25.3M
2015
57/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$1.14B
2024
91/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$33.8M
2019
176/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.67%
2024
41/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
33.4%
2017
52/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19.1%
2024
131/178

Compare Gabon vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/gabon | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2021–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.