REC MEMBERSHIP – ECCAS, OHADA

Gabon Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG)

Overall Governance score: 46.6 (/100) Rank: 32nd (out of 54 countries)

The current population of Gabon is 2,592,268 as of 29 June 2025, based on Worldometer’s elaboration of the latest United Nations data.

Gabon’s 2025 population is estimated at 2,593,130 people at mid-year.

The informal economy in Gabon is significant and accounted for approximately 33.6% of GDP in 2023.

Gabon’s legal system combines French civil law and customary law.

The influence of French civil law is reflected in the codification and structure of national legislation, while customary law reflects traditional norms and practices within local communities.

The legal framework also incorporates international treaties and regional legislation, including those adopted within regional economic communities.

Gabon has been a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 1960.

Gabon signed its first Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) with the ILO on 22 May 2024.

The DWCP establishes a framework aimed at promoting decent and productive work, aligned with:

• Gabon’s national development priorities
• the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

Gabon’s legal framework generally protects workers’ rights, including:

• freedom of association
• collective bargaining
• protection against forced labour
• protection against child labour

(Arts. 4, 7 and 14 of Labour Code (Act No. 022/2021 of 19 November 2021))

However, enforcement of these rights—particularly within the informal sector and among foreign workers—can be weak.

Employment discrimination is prohibited and the law provides for acceptable working conditions, including:

• minimum wage protections
• overtime compensation

(Art. 9 of Labour Code (Act No. 022/2021 of 19 November 2021))

Gabon’s social protection system is undergoing reforms aimed at expanding coverage and addressing social inequalities.

Key legal instruments include:

• Social Protection Code (Act No. 2016-28 of 6 February 2017)

This legislation expands the range of social and economic risks covered and forms part of ongoing reforms intended to strengthen the national social security system and improve financial management.

See sector-specific regulation below.

Further analysis is provided in the sector pages below:

• Domestic Work Sector
• Street Vendors
• Waste Reclaiming
• Home Working
• Gig Work and the Platform Economy
• Farm Work
• The Mining Sector and Artisanal Mining
• Taxi and Transport Sector (Gig-work/platform economy overlap)
• Cross-Border Informal Trade