Capital of Gabon: Libreville
The capital of Gabon is Libreville. Gabon sits in Africa, has a population of 2,388,992, and uses the XAF. Official languages include French.
Quick facts
- Capital: Libreville
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~2,388,992
- Area: 267,668 km²
- Population density: 8.9 people per km²
- Official language: French
- Currency: XAF
- ISO code: GA
How big is Gabon?
By population, Gabon ranks 144th in the world, holding roughly 0.03% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 76th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Gabon has 8.9 people per square kilometre, which is about 6.7 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Africa, Gabon is the 44th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Gabon in population are Lesotho (2,305,825) and Namibia (2,567,012).
By land area, its closest counterparts are New Zealand (268,021 km²) and Burkina Faso (272,967 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
French is spoken officially in 30 countries in this dataset, including Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Cameroon, and 24 others.
The XAF is not unique to Gabon — it is also used by Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad and Congo, and 1 other. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Gabon in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Gabon belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Gabon and a page on the flag of Gabon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Gabon?
The capital of Gabon is Libreville.
What is the population of Gabon?
About 2,388,992, making it the 144th most populous country in the world.
How big is Gabon?
267,668 square kilometres, ranking 76th by land area, at a density of 8.9 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Gabon use?
The XAF, shared with 5 other countries.