Government and power in Gabon
Who leads Gabon, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary presidential republic.
Who leads Gabon?
- Head of state: Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (Président de la République gabonaise, Chef de l'État et Chef du Gouvernement)
- Head of government: Raymond Ndong Sima (Premier Ministre de la République gabonaise)
- Foreign minister: Marie-Edith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeneny (Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération, Chargé de l'Intégration et de la Diaspora de la République gabonaise)
Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Governance scores
The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.
- Voice and accountability
- Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.
- Political stability and absence of violence
- Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.
- Government effectiveness
- Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.
- Regulatory quality
- Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.
- Rule of law
- Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.
- Control of corruption
- Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.
How does Gabon score on voice and accountability?
Voice and accountability: 42.6 out of 100 in 2025, 133rd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 41.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 41.9.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Gabon score on political stability?
Political stability and absence of violence: 67.7 out of 100 in 2025, 95th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 56.4). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 63.7.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Gabon score on government effectiveness?
Government effectiveness: 41.1 out of 100 in 2025, 135th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 36.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 37.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Gabon score on regulatory quality?
Regulatory quality: 42.9 out of 100 in 2025, 142nd highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 42.9). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 44.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Gabon score on the rule of law?
Rule of law: 41.8 out of 100 in 2025, 151st highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 44.6). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 48.1.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow does Gabon score on control of corruption?
Control of corruption: 32.4 out of 100 in 2025, 140th highest of 193 UN member states with a score (regional median 32.2). Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was 31.8.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many women are in Gabon's parliament?
Women held 21.6% of seats in the national parliament (single or lower chamber) in 2025, 114th highest of 184 countries with data. Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union, via the World Bank.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many of Gabon's ministers are women?
Women held 35.7% of ministerial posts in 2025, 34th highest of 190.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does the government of Gabon spend?
Central government spending (expense) was 14.1% of GDP in 2021.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much tax does the government of Gabon collect?
Central government tax revenue was 9.5% of GDP in 2021, 112th highest of 127.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow much does Gabon spend on the military?
Military spending was 1.7% of GDP in 2025, 74th highest of 149 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, via the World Bank).
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow big are the armed forces of Gabon?
Armed forces personnel numbered 7,000 in 2020.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow good are Gabon's official statistics?
The World Bank's Statistical Performance Indicator, which scores how well a country's official statistics system works, was 45.5 out of 100 in 2024, 169th highest of 187.
Source: World Bank · saved copyHow many people in Gabon use the internet?
68.7% of people used the internet in 2024.
Source: World Bank · saved copyOfficial bodies that hold power in Gabon
Government
- Government of Gabon portalCouncil of Ministers communiqués, government decisions and official news.
- Presidency of the RepublicPresidential decrees, speeches and official communiqués.
Parliament
- National AssemblyLaws adopted, session records and the list of deputies.
Laws and the official gazette
- Official Journal of the Gabonese RepublicThe official gazette, with laws, ordinances, decrees and official notices.
Government below the national level
- Provinces (9): Governor appointed by the president
- Departments: Departmental council directly elected (single-round list vote, last 27 September 2025); prefect appointed by the state
- Communes: Municipal council directly elected (27 September 2025); councillors elect the mayor
- Cantons, villages and neighbourhoods: Canton, village and neighbourhood chiefs, recognised by the administration
How local power works in Gabon
Places in Gabon
Sources
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
- World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
- World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.