2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.3% (male 3,372,129; female 3,291,295) 15-64 years: 54.5% (male 4,315,672; female 4,265,286) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 227,444; female 274,353) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber

Airports

49 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

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

total

11

under 914 m

1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

38 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 20

under 914 m

11 (2002) Military Cameroon

Area

land

469,440 sq km

total

475,440 sq km

water

6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Background

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 movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy. Geography Cameroon

Birth rate

35.49 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 00/01 est.)

revenues

$2.2 billion

Capital

Yaounde

Climate

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Coastline

402 km

Constitution

20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cameroon

conventional short form

Cameroon

former

French Cameroon

Currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code

XAF

Death rate

15.3 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$8.6 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador George McDade STAPLES

embassy

Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde

mailing address

P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520

telephone

[237] 223-05-12, 222-25-89, 222-17-94, 223-40-14

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA

Disputes - international

ICJ ruled in 2002 on the Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime boundary by awarding the potentially petroleum-rich Bakassi Peninsula and offshore region to Cameroon; Nigeria rejected cession of the peninsula, but the parties have formed a Joint Border Commission to resolve differences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of the boundary; Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over the lake region, which remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and militias; Nigeria agreed to ratify the treaty and relinquish sovereignty of disputed lands to Cameroon by December 2003 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47.7 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; total debt relief now amounts to $1.26 billion

Economy - overview

Because of its 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 considerable impact on the economy.

Electricity - consumption

3.36 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

3.613 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

2.7%

hydro

97.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Fako (on Cameroon Mountain) 4,095 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified

Nuclear Test Ban

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%

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister

chief of state

President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)

election results

President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidates boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares relatively meaningless

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19 September 1996)

Exports

$1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners

Italy 16.7%, Spain 16%, France 12.8%, US 8.3%, Netherlands 8.2%, Taiwan 7.7%, China 5.2%, UK 4.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 387-3826

[237] 223-07-53

branch office(s)

Douala

telephone

[1] (202) 265-8790

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Cameroon

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 Cameroon

GDP

purchasing power parity - $26.84 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

46%

industry

21%

services

33% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

6 00 N, 12 00 E

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 People Cameroon

Government type

unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)

note

preponderance of power remains with the president

Highways

paved

4,288 km

total

34,300 km

unpaved

30,012 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

11.8% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

53,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

920,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

36.6% (1996)

lowest 10%

1.9%

Imports

$1.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners

France 28.2%, Nigeria 12.8%, US 8%, Belgium 5.7%, Germany 5.3%, Italy 4.3% (2002)

Independence

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (1999 est.)

Industries

petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber

Infant mortality rate

female

65.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

74.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

70.12 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.cm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

45,000

note

Cameroon also had more than 100 cyber-cafes in 2001 (December 2001) Transportation Cameroon

Irrigated land

330 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 judges and 6 substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly)

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%

Land boundaries

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

total

4,591 km

Land use

arable land

12.81%

other

84.61% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

2.58%

Languages

24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)

Legal system

based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21

elections

last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)

note

the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established

Life expectancy at birth

female

48.97 years (2003 est.)

male

47.15 years

total population

48.05 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

73.4% (2003 est.) Government Cameroon

male

84.7%

total population

79%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

50 NM

Median age

female

18.5 years (2002)

male

18.2 years

total

18.4 years

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$118.6 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (FY98) Transnational Issues Cameroon

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

3,799,841 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,928,285 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

179,586 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

Nationality

adjective

Cameroonian

noun

Cameroonian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

55.22 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

Natural resources

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

22,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

76,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

200 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 90 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,124 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People 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 [leader 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 Cameroonian Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Southern Cameroon National Council [Frederick Ebong ALOBWEDE]; Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]

Population

15,746,179

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 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

48% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.02% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)

Radios

2.27 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

1,008 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

total

1,008 km

Religions

indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter

general assessment

available only to business and government

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

95,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

300,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2002)

Televisions

450,000 (1997)

Terrain

diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Total fertility rate

4.63 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (2001 est.)

Waterways

2,090 km (of decreasing importance) (2002)