• Gabon insurance turnover rebounds 72.3% in second quarter 2025

• Recovery driven by construction, mining, life and non-life growth

• Claims surge after delays, sector challenges persist

The Gabonese insurance sector rebounded in the second quarter of 2025 after a difficult start to the year. According to the latest sector data from the Ministry of Economy, insurance company turnover rose by 72.3%, reversing the decline seen in the previous quarter, when activity fell by 54.6%. The ministry did not disclose the absolute financial amounts behind these changes.

The recovery of some construction projects and renewed momentum in the mining sector, two insurance-intensive sectors, help explain the rebound. Growth was recorded in both the non-life segment and the life and savings business.

Breaking it down, non-life premiums increased by 67.2% in the second quarter, compared with a contraction of 60.8% in the previous quarter. This performance was driven by growth in several product lines, including motor insurance, up 5%, general civil liability, up 43%, and health coverage, up 2%.

The life segment posted a sharper increase, with turnover rising by 90.2% during the period, following a modest increase of 2.8% in the previous quarter. This growth reflects stronger performance in life products and the renewal of certain policies, particularly savings and retirement products, up 31%, mixed products, up 71%, and death benefit coverage, up 7%.

Along the same lines, claims paid surged by 103.8% in the second quarter after payment delays in the previous quarter had led to a 67.8% drop. Claims rose by 121.5% in the non-life segment and by 73.5% in the life segment. On a year-on-year basis, total claims declined by 3.7%. Commissions paid to intermediaries increased by 6.6% during the quarter, following a drop of 29.5% in the previous quarter. On an annual basis, commissions were down 8.6%.

Despite this rebound, Gabon’s insurance sector continues to face several challenges, including limited product penetration, low public awareness, and difficulties in the enforcement of regulations.

Sandrine Gaingne