Gabon’s 2025 budget deficit soars to 5.3% amid economic slowdown

Gabon’s budget deficit deepened sharply in 2025, ballooning to 5.3% of GDP from 3.8% the previous year, according to the African Economic Outlook 2026. The deterioration stems from an aggressive fiscal strategy and a mounting public debt burden, which now stands at 78.9% of GDP. This financial strain contributed to the country’s sovereign credit rating downgrade in December 2025.

By Kadi Alhassane — Senior correspondent