Today, Gabon is a relatively wealthy country, benefiting from the exports of its off-shore oil fields and is in 123rd place out of 191 countries and territories in 2021 when ranked in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards of a country.

However oil output is declining and, despite attempts to diversify the economy, poverty remains widespread standing at around 33% especially in rural areas where children also suffer from a lack of educational provision. For others, whilst education is free, other school expenses put it beyond the reach of many poor families. This rural poverty has seen a rise in children moving to urban conurbations such as Libreville where they can be seen begging on the streets in front of bus stops and department stores. Many of these children end up in domestic servitude or in agricultural labour working alongside other children who have been brought into Gabon through trafficking.

HIV is also an issue in Gabon with thousands of its children orphaned through the virus. In total there are 64,000 orphans in Gabon, just over one in ten of all children. The video (left) explores more about Gabon itself, particularly its forest industry.