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

Health

be 35.0% less likely to be obese

In Nicaragua, 34.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 22.7% of people as of 2024.

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live 6.6 years less

In Nicaragua, the average life expectancy is 75 years (72 years for men, 78 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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have 30.0% less access to essential health services

Nicaragua scores 70 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Gabon scores 49 as of 2021.

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be 72.2% more likely to die by suicide

Nicaragua has a suicide rate of 4.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gabon, it is 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 2.6 times more money

Nicaragua has a GDP per capita of $3,173 as of 2025, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $8,263 as of 2025.

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be 4.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Nicaragua, 5.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gabon, that number is 20.1% as of 2025.

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be 34.1% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Nicaragua, 24.9% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Gabon, however, that number is 33.4% as of 2017.

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Life

have 41.7% more children

In Nicaragua, there are approximately 19.1 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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be 3.9 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Nicaragua, approximately 60.0 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 2.8 times more likely to die during infancy

In Nicaragua, approximately 9.4 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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Basic Needs

be 11.9% more likely to have internet access

In Nicaragua, approximately 61.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gabon, about 68.7% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 19.2% less on education

Nicaragua spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Gabon spends 2.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 62.3% less on healthcare

Nicaragua spends 8.3% 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

live with 77.5% less strain on fresh water

Nicaragua withdraws 2% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gabon withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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use 59.8% more electricity

Nicaragua uses 641 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Gabon uses 1,023 kWh as of 2023.

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find 18.9% less home broadband

Nicaragua has 5.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Gabon has 4.7 as of 2024.

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Environment

be 39.5% more likely to die from air pollution

In Nicaragua, air pollution causes 38.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gabon, it causes 53.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.5 times more CO2

Nicaragua emits 0.8 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 (2016–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). 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 Nicaragua? See an in-depth size comparison.

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