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Gabon vs. Republic of the Congo

Geography

GabonRepublic of the Congo
LocationCentral Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial GuineaCentral Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates1 00 S, 11 45 E1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map referencesAfricaAfrica
Areatotal: 267,667 sq km

land: 257,667 sq km

water: 10,000 sq km
total: 342,000 sq km

land: 341,500 sq km

water: 500 sq km
Area - comparativeslightly smaller than Coloradoslightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida
Land boundariestotal: 3,261 km

border countries (3): Cameroon 349 km, Republic of the Congo 2567 km, Equatorial Guinea 345 km
total: 5,554 km

border countries (5): Angola 231 km, Cameroon 494 km, Central African Republic 487 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1775 km, Gabon 2567 km
Coastline885 km169 km
Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climatetropical; always hot, humidtropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrainnarrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and southcoastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation extremeshighest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 377 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 430 m
Natural resourcespetroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropowerpetroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Land useagricultural land: 19% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.)

forest: 81% (2018 est.)

other: 0% (2018 est.)
agricultural land: 31.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 29.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 65.6% (2018 est.)

other: 3.3% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land40 sq km (2012)20 sq km (2012)
Natural hazardsnoneseasonal flooding
Environment - current issuesdeforestation (the forests that cover three-quarters of the country are threatened by excessive logging); burgeoning population exacerbating disposal of solid waste; oil industry contributing to water pollution; wildlife poachingair pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - notea small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversityabout 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them
Total renewable water resources166 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)832 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Population distributionthe relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest as shown in this population distribution mapthe population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville as shown in this population distribution map

Source: CIA Factbook