Is It Safe to Travel to Gabon in 2026?
Gabon - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Gabon ( gə-BON; French pronunciation: [ɡabɔ̃] ), officially the Gabonese Republic (French: République gabonaise), is a country on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, on the equator, bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. It has an area of 270,000 square kilometres (100,000 sq mi) and a population of 2.3 million people.
Is It Safe to Travel to Gabon in 2026?
Gabon is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Gabon due to unrest, crime, and health. Demonstrations and protests may occur in Gabon without warning, particularly in Libreville and Port Gentil. Crime is common in Libreville and Port Gentil, including robbery, vehicle break-ins, and residential burglaries. Access to medical care is limited, with medical facilities often lacking basic supplies, especially outside large cities.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- civil_unrest
- crime
- health
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from street crime, particularly in urban areas like Libreville and Port Gentil, where robbery and vehicle break-ins are common.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and crime, but major hotels and business districts generally maintain security measures.
Families with children face considerable health risks due to limited medical facilities and the prevalence of diseases such as malaria and other tropical illnesses.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas, but should be cautious of health risks and limited healthcare access.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Gabon.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Gabon has an overall threat severity of 4.3 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 20/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Central African CFA Franc (XAF)
Language
French
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥9 months old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Gabon
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Gabon?
▶Is it safe to travel to Gabon right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Gabon?
▶What vaccines do I need for Gabon?
▶Is Gabon safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Gabon?
More Gabon Data
Not Free — 20/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.