Gabon now has a population of 3,518,621, according to the final results of the 2026 General Population and Housing Census (RGPL), released on Thursday by the Constitutional Court.
With 2,184,908 inhabitants, Estuaire Province ranks by far as the country’s most populous region. It accounts for a significant share of the national population, particularly around Libreville, the capital located on the Atlantic coast. The province has 1,125,301 men and 1,059,607 women.
Far behind Estuaire, Haut-Ogooué ranks second with 297,100 inhabitants, followed by Ogooué-Maritime with a population of 292,652. Woleu-Ntem, in the north of the country, has 242,029 inhabitants.
Next come Ngounié with 159,404 inhabitants, Moyen-Ogooué with 105,703, Ogooué-Ivindo with 93,482, and Ogooué-Lolo with 75,128 inhabitants.
Nyanga, in the southwest of the country, ranks last with 68,215 inhabitants, making it Gabon’s least populated province.
The Constitutional Court stated that the census operations were generally conducted under satisfactory conditions, both in Libreville and in other parts of the country. However, it noted several difficulties, including the inability to reach certain areas due to transportation challenges and poor road conditions.
This new census is a key tool for gaining a better understanding of Gabon’s demographic situation and guiding public policy. The 2026 RGPL aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the population living within the national territory, as well as the housing they occupy.
Above all, the 2026 figure represents a dramatic increase compared with the previous census. In 2013, Gabon had a population of 1,811,079. Over the past 13 years, the country’s recorded population has therefore nearly doubled, reaching more than 3.5 million inhabitants.
