2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.2% (male 3,614,430/female 3,531,047) 15-64 years: 55.5% (male 4,835,453/female 4,796,276) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 260,342/female 303,154) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

47 (2006)

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 (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)

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 a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by President Paul BIYA. Geography Cameroon

Birth rate

33.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3.157 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$3.339 billion

Cameroon Armed Forces

Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2006)

Capital

geographic coordinates

3 52 N, 11 31 E

name

Yaounde

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

local long form

Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon

local short form

Cameroun/Cameroon

Currency (code)

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

Currency code

XAF

Current account balance

$419 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$3.657 billion (2006 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA

telephone

[1] (202) 265-8790

Disputes - international

ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime boundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission, which continues to meet regularly to resolve differences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of the boundary, starting in Lake Chad in the north; implementation of the ICJ ruling on the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea is impeded by imprecisely defined coordinates and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; Nigeria initially rejected cession of the Bakassi Peninsula, then agreed, but much of the indigenous population opposes cession; 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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.6 (2001)

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

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.

Electricity - consumption

3.649 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

3.924 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

2.7%

hydro

97.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

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 - 522.592 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

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 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.7%

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

head of government

Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 December 2004)

Exports

$4.318 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Spain 17.4%, Italy 13.8%, France 9.5%, South Korea 8.1%, UK 8.1%, Netherlands 7.9%, Belgium 4.9%, US 4.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 387-3826

[237] 220 16 20; Consular FAX: [237] 220 17 52

branch office(s)

Douala

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

45.2%

industry

16.1%

services

38.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.1% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.37 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$42.2 billion (2006 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

republic; multiparty presidential regime

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

49,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

560,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

36.6% (1996)

lowest 10%

1.9%

Imports

$3.083 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners

France 24%, Nigeria 12%, Belgium 6.3%, China 5.6%, US 5.1%, Thailand 4.5%, Germany 4.2% (2005)

Independence

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Industrial production growth rate

4.2% (1999 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

59.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

67.38 deaths/1,000 live births

total

63.52 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.cm

Internet hosts

39 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

167,000 (2005) Transportation Cameroon

Investment (gross fixed)

16.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

260 sq km (2003)

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)

Labor force

6.394 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

70%

industry

13%

services

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

12.54%

other

84.94% (2005)

permanent crops

2.52%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on French civil law system, with common law influence; accepts 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 in June 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

51.34 years (2006 est.)

male

50.98 years

total population

51.16 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

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

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)

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

3,461,406 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

3,525,307

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

1,834,600 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,946,767

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

187,082 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

191,619

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

19 years (2006 est.)

male

18.7 years

total

18.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned

1 (France 1) (2006)

total

1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 38,613 GRT/68,820 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$230.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.5% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Cameroon

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (1999)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Cameroonian

noun

Cameroonian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

110.4 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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 (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

82,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

90 million bbl (2006 est.)

Pipelines

gas 70 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,107 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [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]

Population

17,340,702

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 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

48% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.04% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Douala, Limboh Terminal Military Cameroon

Public debt

28.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)

Radios

2.27 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

987 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

total

987 km

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) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.336 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

5,000 km

total

50,000 km

unpaved

45,000 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 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

country code - 237; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Telephones - main lines in use

99,400 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.259 million (2005)

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

4.39 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (2001 est.)

Waterways

navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2005)