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Gabon vs Rwanda
Side-by-side comparison of Gabon and Rwanda from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Rwanda scores 34.3 in the NationsTree Index (149th in the world) and Gabon scores 34.0 (150th), a gap of 0.3 points. Their trees are 4.1 m and 4.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Rwanda has 5.6 times the population of Gabon. Gabon is 10 times larger than Rwanda by land area. Gabon and Rwanda have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Gabon 2.6 million and Rwanda 14.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $22,218 in Gabon and $4,164 in Rwanda (2025, international dollars). Life expectancy is almost the same: 68.5 and 68.0 years.
Of 29 indicators reported by both countries, Gabon ranks higher in the world on 15 and Rwanda on 14. Gabon is clearly stronger in environment & energy, main industries and natural resources. Rwanda is clearly stronger in institutions & safety and science & innovation.
As a nation, Gabon is the older of the two (statehood since 1960, 66 years), compared with Rwanda (since 1962). Over the last five years Rwanda improved faster (direction score 78 vs 47 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Gabon and Rwanda.
Gabon
61%
183rd of 193
Rwandabetter
98%
20th of 193
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Gabonbetter
67,469
8th of 183
Rwanda
696
146th of 183
GDP growthEconomy
Gabon
2.5%
132nd of 210
Rwandabetter
9.4%
7th of 210
InflationEconomy
Gabonbetter
1.8%
54th of 180
Rwanda
5.9%
144th of 180
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Gabon
32.4
154th of 207
Rwandabetter
60.9
55th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Rwanda overtook Gabon in GDP (PPP) in 2025, the latest year with data.
Rwanda overtook Gabon in the NationsTree Index in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Gabon has been ahead of Rwanda in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Rwanda has been ahead of Gabon in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
GabonRwanda All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Gabon | Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 267,67076th/216 · 2024 | 26,340145th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 257,67076th/216 · 2024 | 23,763146th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.6 m142nd/217 · 2025 | 14.6 m76th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.11%42nd/217 · 2025 | 2.17%40th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 9.9202nd/216 · 2024 | 599.917th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 92.1%28th/217 · 2025 | 30.9%195th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 36.2%48th/217 · 2025 | 37.0%42nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 4.1%163rd/217 · 2025 | 4.0%166th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $21.43 bn132nd/210 · 2025 | $16.37 bn141st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $57.62 bn130th/199 · 2025 | $60.67 bn128th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $49.23 bn130th/199 · 2025 | $51.85 bn128th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $8,263111th/210 · 2025 | $1,124194th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $22,218100th/199 · 2025 | $4,164175th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $8,090101st/201 · 2025 | $1,150181st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 2.5%132nd/210 · 2025 | 9.4%7th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.8%54th/180 · 2025 | 5.9%144th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 20.2%182nd/187 · 2025 | 11.4%157th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 48.4%1992 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 84.2%152nd/189 · 2025 | 64.7%123rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -12.1%185th/192 · 2025 | -4.4%140th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 6.8%94th/197 · 2025 | 20.3%35th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 47.2%7th/200 · 2025 | 22.0%113th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 19.1%25th/192 · 2025 | 8.3%120th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 42.3%177th/200 · 2025 | 52.3%133rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $11.89 bn104th/182 · 2025 | $3.53 bn143rd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $6.30 bn135th/182 · 2025 | $5.75 bn137th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 55.5%40th/183 · 2025 | 21.6%139th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 29.4%135th/183 · 2025 | 35.1%114th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 84.9%86th/183 · 2025 | 56.7%134th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 54.0%23rd/170 · 2023 | 0.1%137th/170 · 2022 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 17.8%110th/171 · 2023 | 10.4%130th/171 · 2022 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.9%163rd/171 · 2023 | 27.2%54th/171 · 2022 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 23.3%24th/171 · 2023 | 20.9%25th/171 · 2022 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.8%134th/168 · 2023 | 4.8%104th/168 · 2022 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -6.0%150th/191 · 2025 | -9.8%170th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.8%113th/196 · 2025 | 5.9%36th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 18.5%26th/209 · 2021 | 4.0%81st/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 15.56%13th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.27%49th/197 · 2021 | 0.05%66th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.02%79th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.65%28th/209 · 2021 | 3.97%20th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 1.3%179th/206 · 2024 | 48.9%7th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 67,4698th/183 · 2022 | 696146th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 526,0002005 | 1.6 m77th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $28.7 m2015 | $212.0 m124th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.5%2015 | 11.0%53rd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 236,0002003 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 68.5165th/217 · 2024 | 68.0167th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 32.6141st/196 · 2024 | 37.7151st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.52124th/174 · 2022 | 0.09164th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.02011 | 0.8126th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 61%183rd/193 · 2024 | 98%20th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | — | 18.0%143rd/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 70.3%2019 | 48.8%157th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 49.4%2017 | 28.4%2013 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.9%162nd/217 · 2025 | 6.8%163rd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.1%175th/193 · 2023 | 5.1%123rd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 88.9%54th/98 · 2021 | 78.8%67th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 7.7%2003 | 9.4%142nd/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.733108th/193 · 2023 | 0.578159th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 38.02017 | 39.483rd/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 3.8%2017 | 38.6%96th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 95.1%154th/215 · 2024 | 72.0%176th/215 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 68.7%125th/186 · 2024 | 31.7%167th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12576th/210 · 2024 | 93154th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 4.7141st/208 · 2024 | 0.6177th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 | 2.9058th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 64874th/82 · 2021 | — |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 77,3202016 | 1.5 m87th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.0591st/203 · 2024 | 0.1620th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 91.3%4th/212 · 2021 | 79.9%17th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 31.3157th/200 · 2023 | 36.0171st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 91.4%3rd/214 · 2024 | 26.1%116th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,93260th/149 · 2024 | 359135th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 41.1146th/205 · 2025 | 59.774th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 32.4154th/207 · 2025 | 60.955th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 41.8165th/207 · 2025 | 60.294th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 67.7107th/207 · 2025 | 67.7105th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 42.9154th/205 · 2025 | 59.976th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 42.6144th/205 · 2025 | 43.7141st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 3.686th/145 · 2020 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $356.1 m114th/156 · 2025 | $191.2 m129th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.7%80th/156 · 2025 | 1.3%101st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 6.4%54th/154 · 2025 | 4.7%87th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 7,000142nd/170 · 2020 | 35,00084th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 1.00%70th/168 · 2020 | 0.70%94th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 6.0 m125th/163 · 2024 | 37.0 m70th/163 · 2023 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.58%2009 | 0.78%49th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 8109th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 91142nd/197 · 2023 | 434107th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Gabon or Rwanda?
Rwanda has the larger population: 14.6 m (2025) compared with 2.6 m for Gabon (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Gabon or Rwanda?
Gabon is larger: 267,670 km² (2024) compared with 26,340 km² for Rwanda (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Gabon or Rwanda?
Rwanda has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $60.67 bn intl. (2025) compared with $57.62 bn intl. for Gabon (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Gabon or Rwanda?
Gabon has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $22,218 intl. (2025) compared with $4,164 intl. for Rwanda (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Gabon or Rwanda?
Gabon has the higher life expectancy at birth: 68.5 years (2024) compared with 68.0 years for Rwanda (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Gabon or Rwanda?
Gabon spends more on the military: $356.1 m (2025) compared with $191.2 m for Rwanda (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Gabon or Rwanda?
Rwanda: 34.3 points (149th in the world); Gabon: 34.0 points (150th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Botswana
Chad
Mozambique
Niger
MadagascarSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Gabon vs Rwanda — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/gabon-vs-rwanda. Data as of 26 October 2026.