Editing Demographics of Gabon (section)

==Language and religion==
{{Main|Religion in Gabon}}
'''Religions''' include Roman Catholic 43.5%, Protestant and other Christian 36%, Muslim 10%, animist 3.3%, other 6%, and none 1.2% (2020 figures).<ref>[https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=86c&u=95c The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-03]</ref>

'''[[Language]]s''' include [[French language|French]] (official since colonial rule), [[Fang language|Fang]], [[Myene language|Myene]], the [[Teke languages|Teke]] group, [[Punu language|Punu]], and [[Njebi language|Njebi]].

''According to research conducted in 2011 at the University of Western Cape:''

''"It has been noted that French is increasingly be-coming the mother tongue and the initial language of the younger generations in urban Gabon (Pambou, 1998:147; Ndinga-Koumba-Binza, 2005a:72 & 2005b:141; Idiata, 2008:85; cf. Blanchon, 1994). In fact, studies by Ntong Amvame (1984), Bouché (1998), Mbondzi (1998), Ompoussa (1998), Itembo (1999) and Mouloungui Nguimbyt (2002) have shown that pupils of various ages and grades at schools learn French more efficiently than any other Gabonese language. Idiata (2008:200 & 2009:126) has also noted that some pupils do not speak any of the Gabonese native languages at all. One of the reasons for this phenomenon (i.e. French being the mother tongue of younger generations) is cross-ethnic marriages.''

''"In fact, many couples of mixed ethnicity prefer French rather than Gabonese native languages as the code for better communication within the family. Children from a family of this kind have no choice but to acquire French as their first language. The children learn the language at home from the parents before they even get to school, therefore lessening the chances of learning any of the Gabonese native languages.''

''"This urbanisation is also to be considered as a cause for French being the initial language of Gabonese younger generations. In fact, “in certain urban contexts there is a large degree of learning by contact at an early age” (Lafage, 1993:216)."''<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ndinga-Koumba-Binza |first=Hugues Steve |title=From foreign to national: a review of the status of French in Gabon |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267327159 |journal=University of the Western Cape}}</ref>