Macroeconomic data

Gabon is a small, open economy that relies heavily on its natural resources. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates its gross domestic product (GDP) at about 21.6 billion US dollars in 2025. Public revenue, exports and growth largely follow oil volumes and prices, then those of manganese and timber. According to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the extractive sector accounted for 30.3% of GDP, 95.3% of exports and 68.1% of government revenue in 2022.

As a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), the country shares the CFA franc, pegged to the euro, and a common monetary policy set by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC). Inflation therefore generally remains contained, and the economy adjusts mainly through the government budget.

Moderate growth. According to the IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO) of April 2026, real growth was 3.0% in 2022, 2.4% in 2023 and 3.4% in 2024, and is estimated at 2.5% in 2025. The World Bank also puts 2025 growth at 2.5% and attributes it to public infrastructure investment, while ageing oil fields, technical problems and transport difficulties held back oil, manganese and timber. Estimates vary by source and vintage: in June 2025 the World Bank put 2024 growth at 2.9%.

Low inflation. Consumer price inflation fell from 4.3% in 2022 to 1.2% in 2024 according to the IMF, which estimates it at 2.0% in 2025. The World Bank reports year-on-year inflation of 1.6% in December 2025, below the regional convergence criterion of 3%, helped by subsidies and tight monetary policy. The BEAC raised its main policy rate to 4.75% on 15 December 2025.

Public finances under pressure. The fiscal balance, a surplus of 1.8% of GDP in 2023, turned into a deficit of 3.3% in 2024 and 8.5% in 2025 according to IMF estimates. Gross public debt rose from 70.6% of GDP in 2023 to 78.9% in 2025. The World Bank points to higher spending on infrastructure, social measures (fuel subsidies, scholarships) and debt service.

Weaker external accounts. The current account surplus of 8.8% of GDP in 2022 narrowed to 1.7% in 2024 and would turn into a deficit of 3.1% in 2025, according to the IMF.

In its World Economic Outlook published in April 2026, the IMF projects real growth of 2.7% in 2026 and 2.8% a year from 2027 to 2030, with inflation between 2.3% and 2.5%. Its fiscal projections are more worrying: under unchanged policies, the government deficit would reach 10.0% of GDP in 2026 and public debt 86.1% of GDP, rising above 100% of GDP from 2028. These projections rest on the commodity price and fiscal policy assumptions made at that date and may be revised in later editions.

Economic policy is framed by the National Growth and Development Plan (PNCD) 2026-2030, which according to Gabonmediatime focuses on infrastructure, human capital and diversification. Local processing of raw materials, including the ban on raw manganese exports from 1 January 2029 decided by the Council of Ministers on 30 May 2025 according to Gabonreview, is one of its pillars. Developments in oil output, mining investment and fiscal consolidation will largely determine the path of the coming years.

The series shown on this page come from the open interfaces of the IMF (World Economic Outlook database) and the World Bank (World Development Indicators). Each chart states its source, update date and the status of the values: the most recent IMF figures are estimates and future years are projections. National accounts and economic notes published by the Gabonese administration, in particular the Directorate General of Economy and Fiscal Policy (DGEPF), may differ from these international series.