Home

Gabon vs. Republic of the Congo

Military

GabonRepublic of the Congo
Military branchesGabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Forces, National Gendarmerie; Republican Guard (land forces under direct presidential control) (2021)Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy, Congolese Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Gendarmerie (2021)
Military service age and obligation20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021)18 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in the Armed Forces (2019)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP1.6% of GDP (2019)

1.5% of GDP (2018)

1.8% of GDP (2017)

1.5% of GDP (2016)

1.3% of GDP (2015)		2.7% of GDP (2019)

2.5% of GDP (2018)

4.3% of GDP (2017)

6.4% of GDP (2016)
Military and security service personnel strengthsthe Gabonese Defense Forces (FDG) are comprised of approximately 6,500 active duty troops including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2021)the Congolese Armed Forces (FAC) have approximately 12,000 active duty troops (8,000 Army; 800 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie) (2020)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitionsthe FDG is lightly armed with an inventory comprised mostly of Brazilian, French, and South African equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment with France and South Africa as the leading suppliers (2020)the FAC is armed with mostly ageing Russian/Soviet-era weapons, with some French and South African equipment; the leading supplier of arms to the FAC since 2010 is South Africa (2020)

Source: CIA Factbook