Gabon civics quiz: questions and answers
All 15 general civics quiz questions about Gabon with answers and explanations, grouped by topic. This is a learning quiz, not an official exam. Select a question to see the answer.
Government and law 5 questions
The capital, official language, currency, national motto and independence day.
Practise only: Government and law →
What is the capital of Gabon?
Libreville
Libreville, on the Komo estuary, is Gabon's capital and largest city.
What is the official language of Gabon?
French
French is the official language of Gabon. Fang and many other local languages are also spoken.
Which currency does Gabon use?
Central African CFA franc
Gabon uses the Central African CFA franc (XAF), shared with other Central African states.
What is Gabon’s national motto?
Union, Travail, Justice
Gabon's motto means "Union, Work, Justice". The others are the mottos of Chad, Cameroon and Togo.
On what date did Gabon gain independence from France?
17 August 1960
Gabon became fully independent from France on 17 August 1960.
History 5 questions
The origin of the name, the founding of Libreville, French Equatorial Africa, Albert Schweitzer and the first president.
Where does the name Gabon come from?
A Portuguese word meaning hooded cloak
Portuguese navigators in the 1470s used "gabão", meaning a hooded cloak, for the Komo estuary, and the name spread to the whole region.
Libreville was founded in 1849 as a settlement for whom?
Freed slaves
Libreville, meaning "free town", was founded in 1849 by the French as a settlement for people freed from a captured slave ship.
Who was Gabon’s first president?
Léon M'ba
Léon M'ba, elected in 1961, was the first President of Gabon.
Which doctor founded a famous hospital at Lambaréné in 1913?
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer established his hospital at Lambaréné in 1913. He later received the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1910, Gabon became part of which French colonial federation?
French Equatorial Africa
Gabon became part of French Equatorial Africa in 1910, alongside Middle Congo, Ubangi-Shari and Chad.
Geography, culture and symbols 5 questions
The Ogooué river, the equator, Lopé-Okanda, the flag and the national anthem.
Practise only: Geography, culture and symbols →
What is the largest river in Gabon?
The Ogooué
The Ogooué, about 1,200 km long, is Gabon's largest river and drains most of the country.
Which important line of latitude passes through Gabon?
The equator
Gabon lies on the equator, between about 3°N and 4°S.
Which Gabonese World Heritage Site is listed for both its nature and its ancient culture?
Lopé-Okanda
The Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda, inscribed in 2007, is a mixed natural and cultural site.
What colours are on the flag of Gabon?
Green, yellow and blue horizontal stripes
Gabon's flag has three horizontal bands: green at the top, yellow in the middle and blue at the bottom.
What is the name of Gabon’s national anthem?
La Concorde
Gabon's national anthem is "La Concorde" ("The Concord"). The others are the anthems of Chad, Benin and Togo.
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Take a timed mock exam in the real Gabon Civics format.