Country Details
Gabon
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Explore Information
Choose a category to dive deeper
Geography
Detailed information and insights
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates
13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references
Africa
Area
Total
11,300 sq km
Land
10,120 sq km
Water
1,180 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries
Total
749 km
Border countries
Senegal 749 km
Coastline
80 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea
12 nm
Contiguous zone
18 nm
Continental shelf
extent not specified
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Climate
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation
Highest point
unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi
Lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation
34 m
Natural resources
fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land use
Agricultural land
62.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Forest
22% (2023 est.)
Other
15.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Population distribution
settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
droughts
Geography - note
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland