Gabon is a country in Africa, with about 2.59 million people (2025) and an area of 267,670 square kilometres. Its capital is Libreville, and it shares land borders with 3 countries.
By Team Geography·Last reviewed
Flag of GabonGabon in solid, land neighbours outlined, capital marked.
The app teaches each country through short hand written lenses: PLACE for physical geography, STORY for history and identity, NOW for the news, and THREAD for the ties between countries. Here is one of Gabon's 5, in full.
PLACELens 1 of 5
Rain forest covers nearly all of Gabon
Gabon straddles the equator on the west coast of Central Africa, bordered by Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Atlantic to the west. Tropical rain forest covers nearly 88 percent of the country. The Ogooué River, its main waterway, drains much of the interior and carried European explorers into the dense forest. Libreville, the capital, sits on the Gabon Estuary at the northwest coast, founded by freed slaves in 1849.
More on Ogooué River
At roughly 1,200 kilometers, the Ogooué is Gabon's longest river. Albert Schweitzer built his famous hospital at Lambaréné on its middle reaches, and the river remains the primary transport route for communities beyond the road network.
4 more lenses on Gabon in the app
STORY A dynasty that lasted 55 years and ended overnight
NOW Oil, manganese, and a rain forest the world is watching
STORY Where forest elephants and Bwiti coexist
THREAD France's quietest African outpost finds new suitors
Titles only. The app brings each lens back on a spaced repetition schedule set by how well you knew it: New, Hazy or Clear.
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Common questions
What is the capital of Gabon?
The capital of Gabon is Libreville. Libreville lies at about 0.4 degrees north and 9.5 degrees east. Gabon is in Africa. It is home to about 2.59 million people. The world capitals quiz on this site tests every capital, and the printable capitals sheets cover each continent.
What is the population of Gabon?
About 2.59 million people live in Gabon, according to the World Bank figures for 2025. That makes it the 140th most populous of the 195 countries. With an area of 267,670 square kilometres, that is about 9.7 people per square kilometre.
What countries border Gabon?
Gabon shares land borders with 3 countries: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Republic of the Congo. The map on this page outlines each of them around Gabon. The count includes only borders on land, not neighbours across a sea or a lake.
How big is Gabon?
Gabon covers 267,670 square kilometres, or about 103,348 square miles. That makes it the 75th largest of the 195 countries. The figure is total surface area, which includes inland water such as lakes and rivers. Its population of about 2.59 million gives a density of 9.7 people per square kilometre.
Gabon is a country in Africa, with about 2.59 million people (2025) and an area of 267,670 square kilometres. Its capital is Libreville, and it shares land borders with 3 countries.
Capital
Libreville
Continent
Africa
Population
2,593,130 2025, World Bank. 140th of 195.
Area
267,670 km² (103,348 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 75th largest of 195.
Population density
9.7 people per km²
Land neighbours
3: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo
Official name
Gabonese Republic
UN status
Member state
PLACE · from the Geography app
Rain forest covers nearly all of Gabon
Gabon straddles the equator on the west coast of Central Africa, bordered by Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Atlantic to the west. Tropical rain forest covers nearly 88 percent of the country. The Ogooué River, its main waterway, drains much of the interior and carried European explorers into the dense forest. Libreville, the capital, sits on the Gabon Estuary at the northwest coast, founded by freed slaves in 1849.
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/gabon/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
Geography · Country report
Gabon
NameDate
Draw the flag
Colour Gabon on the map, then fill in what you find.
Capital
Continent
Population
Area
Languages
Currency
Neighbours
Landmarks
Rivers or mountains
Three things I learned
1
2
3
One question I still have
?
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/gabon/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
