Gabon’s population rose to 2.6 m people in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. A larger population widens the labour force and the domestic market, and it also adds demand for schools, health care, housing and jobs. A smaller one eases that pressure and shrinks the base that pays taxes and buys goods. For that reason the direction alone carries no verdict. The latest figure is 2.6 million, up from 2.5 million a year earlier, a rise of 2.1%. Since 2016 the estimate has run from 2.1 million at the start to 2.6 million in 2025, so the latest reading sits at the top of its range for the period.

Why it matters. With 2.6 million people, Gabon has a small domestic market, and firms often need to look to export markets for scale. Growth of 2.1% a year means more young people reaching school and the job market, and the state needs to add classrooms, clinics and housing to keep pace. Households in towns and cities feel this first, through competition for jobs and homes.