Photo: FX derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 08 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Gabon: Gender & Equality
How wide is the gap between women's and men's lives?
Gabon is placed 80th of 183 countries on gender & equality in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Women, Business and the Law 91.88 (2025); Women's Political Empowerment Index 0.798 (2025).
Share
Gender & Equality
80th
of 183 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 91.88Women, Business and the Law, 2025WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
- 0.798Women's Political Empowerment Index, 2025Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
- 19.18Firms with a Female Top Manager, 2025Firms with a female top manager (%)
- 28.3Social Institutions and Gender Index, 2023SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Gabon on gender & equality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
91.88
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)
Higher is better
Gabon: 91.88. Across the 190 countries in this edition, values run from 3.125 (Afghanistan) to 100 (Sweden); the world median is 81.25.
- World median
- 81.25
- Best in Middle Africa
- 91.88 Gabon
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 60 · Republic of the Congo 61.25 · Equatorial Guinea 58.13
Key 2 of 4
Women's Political Empowerment Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.798
Women's political empowerment index (0–1)
Higher is better
Gabon: 0.798. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.028 (Afghanistan) to 0.954 (Denmark); the world median is 0.772.
- World median
- 0.772
- Best in Middle Africa
- 0.843 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 0.76 · Republic of the Congo 0.466 · Equatorial Guinea 0.449
Key 3 of 4
Firms with a Female Top Manager
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Gabon’s is from 2025 · CC BY 4.0
19.18
Firms with a female top manager (%)
Higher is better
Gabon: 19.18. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 1.429 (Qatar) to 62.9 (Kiribati); the world median is 19.16.
- World median
- 19.16
- Best in Middle Africa
- 25.08 São Tomé and Príncipe
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 21.18 · Republic of the Congo 19.35 · Equatorial Guinea 8.1
Key 4 of 4
Social Institutions and Gender Index
OECD
2023 edition · data for 2023 · OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
28.3
SIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute)
Lower is better
Gabon: 28.3. Across the 140 countries in this edition, values run from 6.7 (Norway) to 67.4 (Mauritania); the world median is 25.2.
- World median
- 25.2
- Best in Middle Africa
- 25.9 Angola
- Land neighbours
- Cameroon 66.9
02Over time
Which way Gabon is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Women, Business and the Law
WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) · higher is better
GabonWorld median
Gabon rose from 51.25 in 2000 to 91.88 in 2025; the world median went from 63.13 to 81.25.
Every year’s figures
Year Gabon World median 2025 92 81.3 2023 95 81.3 2022 95 80.3 2021 83 80.0 2020 58 79.7 2019 58 78.8 2018 58 77.5 2017 58 77.5 2016 51 76.9 2015 51 75.9 2014 51 75.6 2013 51 75.0 2012 51 73.8 2011 51 73.1 2010 51 73.1 2009 51 72.5 2008 51 71.3 2007 51 69.7 2006 51 68.8 2005 51 67.2 2004 51 66.9 2003 51 64.7 2002 51 63.8 2001 51 63.8 2000 51 63.1 Women's Political Empowerment Index
Women's political empowerment index (0–1) · higher is better
GabonWorld median
Gabon rose from 0.62 in 2000 to 0.798 in 2025; the world median went from 0.681 to 0.772.
Every year’s figures
Year Gabon World median 2025 0.798 0.7715 2024 0.810 0.7745 2023 0.797 0.7755 2022 0.759 0.7825 2021 0.755 0.7785 2020 0.755 0.7755 2019 0.754 0.7665 2018 0.775 0.7715 2017 0.764 0.7710 2016 0.751 0.7780 2015 0.739 0.7755 2014 0.739 0.7795 2013 0.735 0.7730 2012 0.714 0.7740 2011 0.702 0.7650 2010 0.707 0.7610 2009 0.689 0.7515 2008 0.689 0.7505 2007 0.706 0.7380 2006 0.689 0.7290 2005 0.675 0.7350 2004 0.675 0.7205 2003 0.675 0.7160 2002 0.675 0.7150 2001 0.675 0.6950 2000 0.620 0.6810
03In context
Gabon beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 183 countries on gender & equality, never a place within the region.
Gabon and the countries it borders
Standing among all 183; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Women, Business and the LawWBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity) | Women's Political Empowerment IndexWomen's political empowerment index (0–1) | Firms with a Female Top ManagerFirms with a female top manager (%) | Social Institutions and Gender IndexSIGI score (0 = no discrimination, 100 = absolute) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabon | 80th | 91.88 | 0.798 | 19.18 | 28.3 |
 Cameroon | 140th | 60 | 0.76 | 21.18 | 66.9 |
 Republic of the Congo | 145th | 61.25 | 0.466 | 19.35 | — |
 Equatorial Guinea | 166th | 58.13 | 0.449 | 8.1 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Middle Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 183.
Placed either side on gender & equality
The countries immediately above and below Gabon in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Gabon is ahead of the world, and behind
20 more statistics filed under gender & equality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median3
Statistics on which Gabon does better than the middle country measured.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9710.9940.971▲ Improved since 2013
Gabon: 0.994 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 18th of 184 · derived.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.113.317.1No earlier reading
Gabon: 13.3 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 90th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Firms with Female Participation in OwnershipWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 35.1236.6935.12No earlier reading
Gabon: 36.69 · world median 35.12 · Firms with at least one woman among the owners (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.273 to 86.78; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 181 · derived.
Behind the world median10
Statistics on which Gabon does worse than the middle country measured.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.995.196.9No earlier reading
Gabon: 95.1 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Account Ownership Among WomenWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 71.2463.7271.24▲ Improved since 2014
Gabon: 63.72 · world median 71.24 · Women with an account (% of women aged 15+). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 11.91 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 80th of 139 · derived.
Women Who Think a Husband Is Justified in Hitting or Beating His WifeUNICEF · 2025 · world median 22.429.322.4No earlier reading
Gabon: 29.3 · world median 22.4 · Women aged 15-49 who say a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.2 to 80.2; lower is better.
Position 53rd of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8177.881No earlier reading
Gabon: 77.8 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 89th of 153 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.5050.351▼ Worsened since 2013
Gabon: 0.505 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 135th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3641.6353.36No real change since 2015
Gabon: 41.63 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 144th of 182 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.65232.6646.65▼ Worsened since 2013
Gabon: 232.66 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 34th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.254171.25▼ Worsened since 2013
Gabon: 41 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 175th of 196 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4691.7127.46No real change since 2013
Gabon: 91.71 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 24th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 2024 · world median 35.8619.2535.86No earlier reading
Gabon: 19.25 · world median 35.86 · Women in senior and middle management (% of managers). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.226 to 56.69; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 86 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 333▼ Worsened since 2015
Gabon: 3 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Gabon: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Mean Age at First Marriage, WomenUN DESA Population Division · 2019 · world median 24.6525.124.65No earlier reading
Gabon: 25.1 · world median 24.65 · Singulate mean age at marriage, women (years). UN DESA Population Division, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 17 to 34.
Female-Headed HouseholdsUN DESA Population Division · 2026 · world median 33.2131.8933.21No earlier reading
Gabon: 31.89 · world median 33.21 · Households headed by a woman (% of households). UN DESA Population Division, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 5.33 to 64.59.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1728.1838.17No earlier reading
Gabon: 28.18 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.658.620.65No earlier reading
Gabon: 8.6 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Sex Ratio at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 105.1102.1105.1No real change since 2013
Gabon: 102.1 · world median 105.1 · Male births per 100 female births. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 101.1 to 116.3.
No current reading for Gabon
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2021), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2003), Gender Social Norms Index, Global Gender Parity Index, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Women's Empowerment Index and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Gender & Equality among Gabon’s 16 topics
Gender & Equality is Gabon’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability21st of 1862/4 keys
- Peace & Security70th of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equality80th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy93rd of 1653/3 keys
- Digital & Technology114th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 110th of 1764/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality102nd of 1593/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience124th of 1934/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties131st of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing139th of 2003/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 140th of 1962/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture139th of 1843/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 160th of 1944/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade160th of 1773/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge185th of 1984/4 keys
- Work & Labour177th of 1824/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on gender & equality
The three countries placed highest of 183, and the leaders Gabon can most readily be measured against.
1
LatviaNorthern Europe
1st of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Marcin Szala · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
TaiwanEastern Asia
2nd of 183 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: xiangyang17 · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
3
ItalySouthern Europe
3rd of 183 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Francisco Antunes · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Cabo Verde=34th3/4 keysHighest in Middle Africa
São Tomé and Príncipe61st3/4 keysThis page
Gabon80th4/4 keys
Positions out of 183 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Gabon on gender & equality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Gabon rank on gender & equality?
Gabon is placed 80th of 183 countries on Gender & Equality in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Women, Business and the Law, Women's Political Empowerment Index, Firms with a Female Top Manager and Social Institutions and Gender Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Women, Business and the Law figure for Gabon?
91.88 in 2025 (wBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 81.25.
What is the latest Women's Political Empowerment Index figure for Gabon?
0.798 in 2025 (women's political empowerment index (0–1)), according to V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg. The world median in the same edition was 0.772.
How does Gabon compare with Cameroon on gender & equality?
Cameroon is placed 140th of 183, and Gabon 80th. Women, Business and the Law: Cameroon 60, Gabon 91.88; Women's Political Empowerment Index: Cameroon 0.76, Gabon 0.798; Firms with a Female Top Manager: Cameroon 21.18, Gabon 19.18; Social Institutions and Gender Index: Cameroon 66.9, Gabon 28.3.
How have Gabon’s gender & equality figures changed?
Women, Business and the Law rose from 51.25 in 2000 to 91.88 in 2025; Women's Political Empowerment Index rose from 0.62 in 2000 to 0.798 in 2025.
Which gender & equality statistics are missing for Gabon?
No current reading is published for Gabon on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Female Share of STEM Graduates, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Gender Social Norms Index, Global Gender Parity Index, Legal Guarantees of Women's Equal Rights to Land, Women's Empowerment Index and Women's Share of Agricultural Landowners. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Violence against women is not a key here, because comparable data covers too few countries. The Gender Inequality Index is published here as context rather than as a key: its reading is driven largely by maternal and adolescent health, which moves with a country’s overall development and is already measured under Development and Health. Women’s labour force participation, women in management and child marriage are published here as context too.
How the Gender & Equality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The gender & equality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Women, Business and the Law — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Women's Political Empowerment Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Firms with a Female Top Manager — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Social Institutions and Gender Index — OECD, OECD Terms and Conditions — data clause
The other 20 statistics on this page come from 7 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Gabon’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Gabon (banner) — FX derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- Latvia — Marcin Szala, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Taiwan — xiangyang17, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Italy — Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Gabon: Gender & Equality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/gabon/gender