Gabon's economic system is a mixed economy, blending a private sector with a public sector where the state controls certain production. What type of economic system does Gabon have? It is heavily state-influenced. The 2026 Index of Economic Freedom gives Gabon about 56 out of 100, mostly unfree, while Freedom House scores it 25, Not Free after the 2023 coup.
What is the economic system of Gabon? The economy of Gabon is based on a mixed economy. The country’s economic system combines elements of a market economy and a planned economy.
In Gabon, the economy comprises a private sector, consisting of individuals and businesses that make autonomous decisions based on self-interest, and a public sector, where the state determines the production and distribution of specific goods and services. No country is purely capitalist or purely communist.
What do the freedom indexes tell about the economic system of Gabon?
To determine if a country is mostly a market economy or a planned economy, it is useful to examine some economic indexes. For instance, according to the 2026 Index of Economic Freedom, which measures the ability of every human to control his own labor and property, Gabon scores approximately 56 out of 100, indicating that the country has a mostly unfree economy.
In a similar way, the 2026 Freedom House index evaluates the state of political rights and civil liberties globally. Generally, market economies tend to align more with democracy and freedom, while command economies tend to be characterized by greater state control and fewer democratic and civil liberty protections.
Gabon gets a score of 25/100 (As of 2026), which qualifies it as Not Free. Following the August 2023 military coup that ended decades of Bongo family rule, the country has shown modest improvements in political rights and civil liberties under the transitional government, though it remains Not Free. People continue to have limited freedom in economic and political choices.
What does the biggest company in Gabon say about the country’s economic system?
The biggest company in Gabon should also be looked at, as well as whether it is a state-owned or private company. In this case, TotalEnergies EP Gabon (formerly Total Gabon) is a mixed private-public company operating in Gabon. It is a subsidiary of the French energy company TotalEnergies SE, with the Gabonese government and private shareholders also holding stakes. As of 2024, TotalEnergies EP Gabon reported revenues of approximately $465 million, making it one of the country’s largest companies (TotalEnergies EP Gabon 2024 Revenues). Its mixed ownership structure reflects Gabon’s hybrid economy, where the state partners with foreign capital in extractive industries.
The historical factors that have influenced the economic system of Gabon
Gabon’s mixed economy system has been shaped by its colonial history, its natural resources, and its strategic location. Colonial rule left Gabon with a legacy of state-controlled industries, while its oil and mineral wealth enabled the government to invest in infrastructure and social services.
Its strategic location has also allowed it to benefit from regional trade and investment. These factors have all contributed to the development of its mixed economy system.
Sources
- List of countries by the public sector size
- ILOSTAT – Gabon
- 2026 Index of Economic Freedom – Gabon
- Freedom in the World 2026 – Gabon
- TotalEnergies EP Gabon
Last updated: June 20, 2026.
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