Safest cities in Gabon
4 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in GabonAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Gabon, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Detention of touristsPolitical and security tensions following the August 2023 military coup resulted in some tourists being held and questioned about their reasons for travelling to Gabon. Some individuals had their passports taken and were briefly prevented from leaving the country. While the situation has stabilised, current political and security sensitivities…
- ProtestsProtests in Gabon are not common but happen on occasion and may turn violent without warning. You should avoid all demonstrations and rallies and remain vigilant during periods of unrest.
Crime
- TaxisTaxis in Gabonese cities operate like buses, picking up more passengers if there is room in the car. They often take indirect routes. There have been reports of violent assaults and robberies on taxi passengers. Use licensed taxis, and ask to book the taxi exclusively so it does not pick up other passengers. Check with your tour operator or travel…
- CarjackingThere have been reports of carjackings in Libreville. If you’re a victim of an attack, stay calm and surrender your valuables and your vehicle if asked. Do not resist.
- Money and credit card fraudCredit cards are not widely accepted except at hotels. Credit card fraud is common outside the major hotel chains. Be alert when paying by card and withdrawing cash from ATMs.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal IDBy law, you need to be able to show proof of your identity to the authorities if asked. Carry your passport and visa, or a certified copy of the photo and visa pages of your passport.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesPossession of drugs is a serious offence and punishment can be severe, including a prison sentence.
- Using cameras in secure areasPhotography of government and military buildings and airports is illegal and may lead to arrest.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is not illegal. There are no laws against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Gabon remains a conservative society and discrimination can be a problem for those open about their sexual identity. Same-sex marriage is not recognised in Gabon.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Gabon, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving conditions in GabonRoad conditions in the centre of Libreville are generally good. Conditions in local inland areas are poor and driving can be hazardous. During the rainy season from October to mid-December and mid-February to May, many roads are passable only with a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Avoid travelling by road at night as many roads are unlit.
- Air travelBritish government employees do not use domestic flights run by Gabonese airline companies unless this is unavoidable.
- Sea travelPirates have carried out armed attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Gulf of Guinea. Take extreme care when travelling in coastal waters.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Gabon, updated 2025-12-10 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- no data
- Income inequality
- Gini 38.02017
- Human development
- HDI 0.7332023
- Income
- $21,660/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 23.9 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 61/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 37/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 29/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 3.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.68GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 31.3 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.5 doctors /1k2.0 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 187 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 5.5/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Gabon (as of 2025).
How Gabon compares
| Measure | Gabon | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 2.4 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 38.0 | 35.2 | +2.8 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.733 | 0.763 | −0.030 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 23.9 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +8.5 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 37/100 | 52/100 | −15/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 29/100 | 39/100 | −10/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 31.3 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +11.6 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.5/10 | 3.8/10 | −0.3/10 — better for Gabon |
| Measure | Gabon | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | no data | 4.5 /100k | — |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 38.0 | 38.5 | −0.5 — better for Gabon |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.733 | 0.560 | +0.173 — better for Gabon |
| Road deaths | 23.9 /100k | 28.2 /100k | −4.3 /100k — better for Gabon |
| Rule of law | 37/100 | 42/100 | −5/100 — better for Africa median |
| Corruption perceptions | 29/100 | 31/100 | −2/100 — better for Africa median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 31.3 µg/m³ | 27.3 µg/m³ | +4.0 µg/m³ — better for Africa median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 3.5/10 | 5.3/10 | −1.8/10 — better for Gabon |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 4 cities, safest first
- Libreville78.9 · #1994 worldwide
- Franceville78.9 · #1995 worldwide
- Moanda78.9 · #1996 worldwide
- Port-Gentil78.9 · #1997 worldwide