This West African country with the Atlantic as its western border is also bounded by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Congo. Its area is slightly less than Colorado's. Most of the country is covered by a dense tropical forest.
Country lead by President: El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (1967)
Premier: Jean Eyeghe Ndong (2006)
Population
1,424,906 (growth rate: 2.1%); birth rate: 36.2/1000; infant mortality rate: 54.5/1000; life expectancy: 54.5; density per sq mi: 14
Land Area
99,486 sq mi (257,669 sq km); total area: 103,347 sq mi (267,667 sq km)
Monetary unit
CFA Franc Language
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Ethnicity Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings: Fang, Punu, Nzeiby, Mbede (Obamba/Bateke); other Africans and Europeans 10.8%, including 0.8% French and 0.8% persons of dual nationality
Religion Christian 55%–75%, animist, Islam less than 1%
Transportation Railways: total: 814 km (2004). Highways: total: 8,464 km; paved: 838 km; unpaved: 7,626 km (2000 est.). Waterways: 1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2003). Ports and harbors: Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil. Airports: 56 (2004 est.).
