Provinces of Gabon

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Updates: 

Previously, I added the provisional results of the 1993 census, according to the Europa World Year Book 2001 and the Statesman's Year-Book 1997-98. More recently, I found a table of census results in an online document titled "Étude du Milieu Physique et Humain" (Study of the Physical and Human Environment). I believe these figures are the final results of the census, so I've used them in the table below.

Country overview: 

Gabon began the 20th century as part of French Kongo (Congo). On 1910-01-15, it became one of four colonies making up Afrique Équatoriale Française (French Equatorial Africa). When the four gained their independence in a single week, Gabon was the last one, on 1960-08-17.

Other names of country: 

1. Danish: Gabon
2. Dutch: Gabon, Gabonese Republiek (formal)
3. English: Gabonese Republic (formal), Gaboon (obsolete)
4. Finnish: Gabon
5. French: Gabon m, République f Gabonaise (formal)
6. German: Gabun n
7. Italian: Gabon m
8. Norwegian: Gabon, Republikken Gabon (formal)
9. Portuguese: Gabão m, República f Gabonesa (formal)
10. Spanish: Gabón, República f Gabonesa (formal)
11. Swedish: Gabon

Origin of name: 

Portuguese gabão: hooded cloak, named for the shape of the Gabon estuary

Primary subdivisions: 

Gabon is divided into nine provinces.

Further subdivisions:

See the Departments of Gabon page.

The provinces are further subdivided into 37 départements.

Origins of names: 

The provinces are predominantly named for rivers which flow through them: the Ivindo, Lolo, N'Gounié, Ntem, Nyanga, Ogooué, and Woleu. Haut, Maritime, and Moyen are French for upper, coastal, and middle, respectively.

Estuaire: Named for the Gabon Estuary.

Change history: 

1. 1915: Capital of Ogooué-Maritime renamed from Mandji to Port-Gentil.
2. ~1975: Gabon had previously been divided into nine prefectures and subdivided into 28 sub-prefectures. The status of the prefectures was now changed to that of provinces, and the sub-prefectures were reorganized into 37 departments.
3. ~1985: Capital of Haut-Ogooué renamed from Franceville to Masuku.

Other names of subdivisions: 

1. Ngounié: N'Gounié (variant)
2. Ogooué-Maritime: Ogooué Marittimo (Italian)