Gabon’s fiscal health took a notable turn for the worse in 2025, with the national budget deficit ballooning to 5.3% of gross domestic product (GDP), up from 3.8% the previous year. This sharp deterioration stems from an aggressive expansionary fiscal policy that coincided with a mounting public debt burden. As a result, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio surged to 78.9%, a key factor behind the sovereign credit rating downgrade announced in December 2025.