If you lived in Gabon instead of Benin, you would:

Health

live 7.5 years longer

In Benin, the average life expectancy is 62 years (60 years for men, 64 years for women) as of 2022. In Gabon, that number is 70 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022.

be 3.3 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Benin, 0.9% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.0% of people as of 2020.

be 56.3% more likely to be obese

In Benin, 9.6% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Gabon, that number is 15.0% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 5.2 times more money

Benin has a GDP per capita of $3,800 as of 2023, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $19,800 as of 2023.

be 13.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Benin, 38.5% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Gabon, however, that number is 33.4% as of 2017.

be 14.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Benin, 1.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 20.4% as of 2023.

Life

be 56.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Benin, approximately 523.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Gabon, 227.0 women do as of 2020.

be 86.7% more likely to be literate

In Benin, the literacy rate is 45.8% as of 2021. In Gabon, it is 85.5% as of 2021.

be 48.8% less likely to die during infancy

In Benin, approximately 55.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Gabon, on the other hand, 28.6 children do as of 2022.

have 36.2% fewer children

In Benin, there are approximately 40.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gabon, there are 25.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 65.5% more likely to have access to electricity

In Benin, approximately 56% of people have electricity access (67% in urban areas, and 18% in rural areas) as of 2022. In Gabon, that number is 94% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 27% in rural areas) as of 2022.

be 2.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Benin, approximately 34.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Gabon, about 72.0% do as of 2021.

be 24.6% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Benin, approximately 75% of people have improved drinking water access (79% in urban areas, and 71% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 93% of people on average (97% in urban areas, and 55% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 30.8% more on healthcare

Benin spends 2.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Gabon, that number is 3.4% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 7.3 times more coastline

Benin has a total of 121 km of coastline. In Gabon, that number is 885 km.


The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
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How big is Gabon compared to Benin? See an in-depth size comparison.

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