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Gabon — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

ChartThe estimated total number of guns (both licit and illicit) held by civilians in Gabon is

2017: 61,0001
2005: 190,0002

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

ChartThe estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) per 100 people in Gabon is

2017: 3.401
2005: 14.02

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 206 countries, Gabon ranked at No. 1563

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of privately owned guns in 206 countries, Gabon ranked at No.1273

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Gabon are reported to have 5,6404 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Gabon are reported to have 4,0005 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual homicides by any means total

2015: 1556
2012: 1487 8
2010: 142
2008: 2009

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2015: 8.016
2012: 9.17 8
2010: 8.78
2008: 13.89
2004: 17.1010
2002: 9.30

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Male Homicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual male homicides by any means total

2015: 12511
2010: 12011

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Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

In Gabon, the annual rate of male homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2015: 12.6511

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Female Homicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual female homicides by any means total

2015: 3011
2010: 23

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Rate of Female Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

In Gabon, the annual rate of female homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2015: 3.1811

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Suicides (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual suicides by any means total

2016: 14012
2015: 141
2010: 114
2000: 83

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Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, the annual rate of suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2016: 712
2015: 7.28
2010: 7
2000: 6.92

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Male Suicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual male suicides by any means total

2016: 10912
2015: 110
2010: 88
2000: 61

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Rate of Male Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, the annual rate of male suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2016: 10.4912
2015: 10.94
2010: 10.60
2000: 10.32

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Female Suicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual female suicides by any means total

2016: 3112
2015: 31
2010: 25
2000: 22

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Rate of Female Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, the annual rate of female suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2016: 3.2312
2015: 3.32
2010: 3.13
2000: 3.62

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Firearm Exports

In Gabon, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law13

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Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

ChartThe annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Gabon is reported by Customs to be US$

2020: 21,00014
2018: 3,000
2011: 68,000
2009: 7,000
2008: 498,000
2007: 1,639,000
2006: 1,018,000
2005: 82,000
2004: 1,210,000

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Firearm Imports

In Gabon, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law15 13

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

ChartThe annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Gabon is reported by Customs to be US$

2021: 115,00016
2020: 2,000
2019: 5,000
2018: 2,000
2016: 602,000
2015: 191,000
2014: 482,000
2013: 420,000
2012: 507,000
2011: 397,000
2010: 2,927,000
2009: 2,712,000
2008: 3,271,000
2007: 4,580,000
2006: 2,896,000
2005: 3,918,000
2004: 2,025,000
2003: 681,000
2002: 208,000

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Smuggling Guns and Ammunition

Reports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in Gabon is moderate17

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Gabon, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law13

MeasuresGun Regulation

Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

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Law Regulates Civilian Access to Firearms

In Gabon, civilian possession of guns is regulated by law8

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Gabon includes the Law No. 15/82 of 24 January 1983 governing the system for arms and ammunition in the Republic of Gabon13

Firearm Regulation Authority

Guns in Gabon are regulated by the Ministry for Territorial Administration, the Local Authorities, the Head of State and the Government13

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Right to Possess Firearms

In Gabon, the right to private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law18 19

Restricted Firearms and Ammunition

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Law Regulates Automatic Weapons

In Gabon, civilian possession of automatic weapons is regulated by law8

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Law Regulates Handguns

In Gabon, civilian possession of handguns is regulated by law8

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Law Regulates Long Guns

In Gabon, civilian possession of rifles and shotguns is regulated by law8

Gun Ownership and Possession

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Gabon must pass a background check which considers undefined8 records

Carrying Guns

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Law Regulates Firearms in Public

In Gabon, carrying a gun in a public place is regulated by law8

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

African Union

In June 2006, as a member of the African Union, Gabon adopted an African Common Position to take to the Conference to Review the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA), held in June 200620 21

United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa

In November 2010, as a member of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC), Gabon adopted the Central Africa Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition, Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly, known as the ‘Kinshasa Convention. A legally binding multilateral treaty for which UNSAC is depository, the Kinshasa Convention has since been signed and ratified22 23 by Gabon

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Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development

The Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, a diplomatic initiative aimed at addressing the interrelations between armed violence and development, was not signed24 by Gabon.

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Arms Trade Treaty

The Arms Trade Treaty has been signed, but not yet ratified25 by Gabon

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has been acceded to26 by Gabon

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Gabon committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects27

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UNPoA Implementation Monitor Score

In its UN small arms Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (PoAIM Phase 1), the Small Arms Survey scored Gabon against its commitments to the PoA, then ranked it at No. 15028 29 30 31 among 159 Member States

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Gabon has submitted one or more national reports32 15 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Gabon, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated15

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Gabon submitted to the UN from 2001 to 2010, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities was not apparent15

UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated15 by Gabon to other UN Member States

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United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Gabon has not declared33 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Gabon has been a Member State of the United Nations since 196034

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list35 Gabon as a Participating State

BackgroundSustainable Development Goal Profile

Link
About SDG 16

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals set by the United Nations to be implemented by all member states by 2030. Adopted in 2015, they outline a vision of development in which peace and security are an integral part. SDG 16,36 which seeks to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” includes targets and indicators focused on reducing violence (Target 16.1) and the proliferation of illicit arms (Target 16.4). The indicators – or measurement criteria – of these targets include the number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1), the number of conflict-related deaths (Indicator 16.1.2), and the number of illicit firearms collected and traced (Indicator 16.4.2). In light of these targets and indicators, GunPolicy.org provides granular national data pertaining to homicides, gun homicides, conflict deaths, disarmament efforts, and marking and tracing.

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Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual homicides by any means total

2015: 1556
2012: 1487 8
2010: 142
2008: 2009

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2015: 8.016
2012: 9.17 8
2010: 8.78
2008: 13.89
2004: 17.1010
2002: 9.30

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Male Homicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual male homicides by any means total

2015: 12511
2010: 12011

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Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

In Gabon, the annual rate of male homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2015: 12.6511

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Female Homicide Victims (any method)

ChartIn Gabon, annual female homicides by any means total

2015: 3011
2010: 23

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Rate of Female Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

In Gabon, the annual rate of female homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2015: 3.1811

Link
Conflict Deaths

For a profile of conflict in Gabon, select the Link icon to open an external web page from the UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia at Uppsala University

Link
Global Peace Index

To see where Gabon ranks, select the Link icon to open an external web page at the Global Peace Index, and then click on Gabon on the map or in the "Select Country" menu on the right of the web page

Short References

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Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Civilian Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Civilian-Held Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13434)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms - Annexe online.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

GunPolicy.org.2022.‘Calculated Ranking.’ Estimating global civilian-held firearm numbers..Geneva:GunPolicy.org,30 June. (Q15876)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Military Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Military-Owned Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13436)Full Citation

5.

Karp, Aaron.2018.‘Law Enforcement Firearms Holdings, 2017.’ Estimating Global Law Enforcement Firearms Numbers.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,18 June. (Q13435)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2020.‘Intentional Homicide Victims.’ dataunodc.un.org (web site).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,1 January. (Q13355)Full Citation

7.

UNODC.2014.‘Homicides in Gabon.’ Global Study on Homicide 2013: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),10 April. (Q9960)Full Citation

8.

Butchart, Alexander, Christopher Mikton and Etienne Krug.2014.‘Country Profile: Gabon.’ Global Status Report on Violence Prevention 2014.Geneva:World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),10 December. (Q9492)Full Citation

9.

UNODC.2013.‘Homicide in 207 Countries - Gabon.’ Global Study on Homicide 2011: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,26 June. (Q6401)Full Citation

10.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Sub-Saharan Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington, DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3812)Full Citation

11.

UNODC.2017.‘Intentional Homicide Victims by Sex.’ Crime and Drugs Data.Vienna:UNODC,19 May. (Q13356)Full Citation

12.

WHO.2018.‘Violent Death Estimates by Country.’ Disease Burden and Mortality Estimates: Cause-Specific Mortality, 2000–2016.Geneva:World Health Organization,1 January. (Q14136)Full Citation

13.

Moreau, Virginie, Cédric Poitevin and Jihan Seniora.2010.‘Comparison of the Main Regulatory Aspects Examined - Gabon.’ Arms Transfer Controls: The Example of French-Speaking States in Sub-Saharan Africa.Brussels:Groupe de Recherche et d'Information sur la Paix et la Sécurité (GRIP),1 May. (Q4008)Full Citation

14.

International Trade Centre (ITC).2022.‘Exported values (2002-2021).’ Trade Map.Geneva:International Trade Centre (ITC),31 August. (Q16040)Full Citation

15.

UNODA.2018.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) - Implementation Support System.New York, NY:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,23 July. (Q1309)Full Citation

16.

International Trade Centre (ITC).2022.‘Imported values (2002-2021).’ Trade Map.Geneva:International Trade Centre (ITC),31 August. (Q16041)Full Citation

17.

Best, Shedrack Gaya and Dimieari Von Kemedi. In: Florquin and Berman, Eds.2005.‘Armed Groups and Conflict in Rivers and Plateau States, Nigeria - Small Arms Availability and Sources.’ Armed and Aimless: Armed Groups, Guns, and Human Security in the ECOWAS Region.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 May. (Q5100)Full Citation

18.

Sherman, Amy and Tom Ginsburg.2014.‘Gun Rights in National Constitutions.’ Marco Rubio Says Second Amendment Is Unique in Speech to NRA.Miami, FL:Miami Herald (PolitiFact Florida),29 April. (Q8507)Full Citation

19.

Zachary Elkins, Tom Ginsburg and James Melton. 2013. ‘U.S. Gun Rights Truly Are American Exceptionalism.’ Bloomberg (USA). 7 March. (N422) Full Citation

20.

African Union / UNODA.2005.‘Windhoek Common Position.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York, NY:African Union / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,14 December. (Q3216)Full Citation

21.

African Union.2015.‘Member States.’ African Union: A United and Strong Africa.Addis Ababa:African Union,10 August. (Q10548)Full Citation

22.

UNODA / UNREC.2010.‘Kinshasa Convention: Central Africa Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition, Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly.’ United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC).Kinshasa:United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC),22 November. (Q3320)Full Citation

23.

UNDPI.2010.‘United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa Adopts Convention on Small Arms Control.’ United Nations Press Release AFR/1974 DC/3237.New York, NY:UN Department of Public Information,12 May. (Q1940)Full Citation

24.

GDAV.2006.‘Geneva Declaration.’ Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development.Geneva:Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Secretariat,7 June. (Q7162)Full Citation

25.

UNODA.2013.‘Towards Entry Into Force.’ Arms Trade Treaty.New York, NY:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,2 April. (Q7226)Full Citation

26.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York, NY:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

27.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York, NY:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

28.

Parker, Sarah and Katherine Green.2012.‘Findings - Table 3: Reporting States by Rank and Score.’ The Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (Phase 1): Assessing Reported Progress.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 August. (Q8752)Full Citation

29.

Parker, Sarah and Katherine Green.2012.‘What do the PoAIM Scores Represent? How Should the PoAIM Scores Be Interpreted?.’ The Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (Phase 1): Assessing Reported Progress.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 August. (Q8753)Full Citation

30.

Parker, Sarah and Katherine Green.2012.‘Point Allocation System.’ The Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (Phase 1): Assessing Reported Progress.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 August. (Q8754)Full Citation

31.

Parker, Sarah and Katherine Green.2012.‘Introduction.’ The Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (Phase 1): Assessing Reported Progress.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva,1 August. (Q8755)Full Citation

32.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

33.

UNODA.2011.‘National Reports on Small Arms Exports.’ United Nations Register of Conventional Arms - Transparency in the Global Reported Arms Trade.New York, NY:United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,21 October. (Q14)Full Citation

34.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York, NY:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

35.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation

36.

United Nations.2017.‘Relevant Targets & Indicators.’ Sustainable Development Goal 16.New York NY:United Nations Statistics Division,6 July. (Q14093)Full Citation