If you lived in Gabon instead of Burundi, you would:

Health

live 4.7 years longer

In Burundi, the average life expectancy is 64 years (62 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 69 years (66 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 6.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Burundi spends $100 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gabon spends $673 as of 2023.

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have 6.7 times more doctors per person

Burundi has 0.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Gabon has 5.2 as of 2022.

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have 19.5% more access to essential health services

Burundi scores 41 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Gabon scores 49 as of 2021.

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be 3.5 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Burundi, 0.8% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 2.8% of people as of 2024.

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be 4.4 times more likely to be obese

In Burundi, 5.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 22.7% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 34.5% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Burundi, 51.0% live below the poverty line as of 2020. In Gabon, however, that number is 33.4% as of 2017.

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make 35.3 times more money

Burundi has a GDP per capita of $234 as of 2025, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $8,263 as of 2025.

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be 21.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In Burundi, 0.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gabon, that number is 20.1% as of 2025.

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Life

be 40.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In Burundi, approximately 392.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Gabon, 233.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 19.0% more likely to be literate

In Burundi, the literacy rate is 74.7% as of 2021. In Gabon, it is 88.9% as of 2021.

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be 15.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Burundi, approximately 30.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Gabon, on the other hand, 25.9 children do as of 2024.

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have 18.3% fewer children

In Burundi, there are approximately 33.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gabon, there are 27.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 8.1 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Burundi, approximately 12% of people have electricity access (65% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 94% of people on average (99% in urban areas, and 29% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 8.0 times more likely to have internet access

In Burundi, approximately 8.6% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gabon, about 68.7% do as of 2024.

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be 34.4% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Burundi, approximately 66% of people have access to drinking water (91% in urban areas, and 61% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 89% of people on average (92% in urban areas, and 49% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 48.4% less on education

Burundi spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2025. Gabon spends 2.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 65.6% less on healthcare

Burundi spends 9.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 3.1% of GDP as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 234.5 times more home broadband

Burundi has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Gabon has 4.7 as of 2024.

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live with 95.1% less strain on fresh water

Burundi withdraws 10% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gabon withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 25.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Burundi, air pollution causes 71.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gabon, it causes 53.0 as of 2019.

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emit 29.3 times more CO2

Burundi emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gabon emits 2.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
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How big is Gabon compared to Burundi? See an in-depth size comparison.

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