The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by President Paul BIYA.
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates
6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total
475,440 sq km
land
469,440 sq km
water
6,000 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries
total
4,591 km
border countries
Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline
402 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
contiguous zone
24 nm
Climate
varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Terrain
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)
Natural resources
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use
arable land
12.54%
permanent crops
2.52%
other
84.94% (2005)
Irrigated land
260 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Environment - current issues
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
Population
18,060,382
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
41.3% (male 3,763,332/female 3,695,053)
15-64 years
55.5% (male 5,029,658/female 4,994,786)
65 years and over
3.2% (male 266,616/female 310,937) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
18.9 years
male
18.7 years
female
19 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.241% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
35.07 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
12.66 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.018 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.007 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.857 male(s)/female
total population
1.007 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
65.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male
70.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female
60.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
52.86 years
male
52.15 years
female
53.59 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.49 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
6.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
560,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
49,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk
very high
food or waterborne diseases
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases
malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease
meningococcal meningitis
note
highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)
Nationality
noun
Cameroonian(s)
adjective
Cameroonian
Ethnic groups
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Religions
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages
24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
67.9%
male
77%
female
59.8% (2001 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form
Cameroon
local long form
Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon
local short form
Cameroun/Cameroon
former
French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
Government type
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital
name
Yaounde
geographic coordinates
3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution
20 May 1972 approved by referendum, adopted 2 June 1972; revised January 1996
Legal system
based on French civil law system, with common law influence; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government
Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 December 2004)
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister
elections
president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 11 October 2004 (next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results
President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.7%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature
elections: last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held in 22 July 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of nine judges and six substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Southern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]; Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 265-8790
FAX
[1] (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Niels MARQUARDT
embassy
Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address
P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone
[237] 220 15 00; Consular: [237] 220 16 03
FAX
[237] 220 16 20; Consular FAX: [237] 220 17 52
branch office(s)
Douala
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy - overview
Because of its modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$42.48 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$16.27 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,400 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
45.2%
industry
16.1%
services
38.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force
6.394 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
70%
industry
13%
services
17%
Unemployment rate
30% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
1.9%
highest 10%
36.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
44.6 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
16.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$3.339 billion
expenditures
$3.157 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Spain 20.9%, Italy 15.2%, France 11.4%, South Korea 7.6%, Netherlands 7.1%, US 5.6%, Belgium 4.2% (2006)
Imports
$3.083 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners
France 23.5%, Nigeria 13.2%, China 7.2%, Belgium 6.2%, US 4.5%, Brazil 4.1% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.336 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$3.657 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
in January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion
Currency (code)
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code
XAF
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Telephones - main lines in use
99,400 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular
2.259 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
available only to business and government
domestic
cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international
country code - 237; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios
2.27 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (2001)
Televisions
450,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.cm
Internet hosts
39 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2002)
Internet users
167,000 (2005)
Airports
47 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
11
over 3,047 m
2
2,438 to 3,047 m
4
1,524 to 2,437 m
3
914 to 1,523 m
1
under 914 m
1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
36
1,524 to 2,437 m
7
914 to 1,523 m
20
under 914 m
9 (2006)
Pipelines
gas 70 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,107 km (2006)
Railways
total
987 km
narrow gauge
987 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways
total
50,000 km
paved
5,000 km
unpaved
45,000 km (2004)
Waterways
navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2005)
Merchant marine
total
1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 38,613 GRT/68,820 DWT
by type
petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned
1 (France 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Douala, Limboh Terminal
Military branches
Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2006)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers (2006)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
3,525,307
females age 18-49
3,461,406 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
1,946,767
females age 18-49
1,834,600 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
191,619
females age 18-49
187,082 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.3% (2006)
Disputes - international
Joint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phase-out of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; implementation of the ICJ ruling on the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea is pending due to imprecisely defined coordinates and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 39,303 (Chad), 9,711 (Nigeria), 13,000 (Central African Republic); note - there are an additional 10,000 Central African refugees unregistered with UNHCR as of December 2006 (2006)
