2015 Edition

Background

French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Area

land

472,710 sq km

total

475,440 sq km

water

2,730 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California

Climate

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

Coastline

402 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Fako 4,095 m (on Cameroon Mountain)

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

58.9 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.97 cu km/yr (23%/10%/68%)

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

Irrigated land

256.5 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (6)

Central African Republic 901 km, Chad 1,116 km, Republic of the Congo 494 km, Equatorial Guinea 183 km, Gabon 349 km, Nigeria 1,975 km

total

5,018 km

Land use

arable land 13.1%; permanent crops 3.3%; permanent pasture 4.2%

agricultural land

20.6%

forest

41.7%

other

37.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

volcanism

Mt. Cameroon (elev. 4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986

Natural resources

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

285.5 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

42.78% (male 5,115,958/female 5,039,122)

15-24 years

19.58% (male 2,337,061/female 2,310,178)

25-54 years

30.53% (male 3,644,779/female 3,603,610)

55-64 years

3.96% (male 458,001/female 481,717)

65 years and over

3.15% (male 348,754/female 400,038) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

36.17 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

31% (2006 est.)

total number

1,396,281

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.1% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

23.4% (2011)

Death rate

10.11 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.9%

potential support ratio

16.9% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

84.3%

youth dependency ratio

78.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 94.8% of population

rural: 52.7% of population

total: 75.6% of population

urban: 5.2% of population

rural: 47.3% of population

total: 24.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3% of GDP (2012)

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%

Health expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

4.77% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

34,200 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

657,500 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

49.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

57.28 deaths/1,000 live births

total

53.63 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

59.28 years (2015 est.)

male

56.62 years

total population

57.93 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

68.9% (2015 est.)

male

81.2%

total population

75%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

YAOUNDE (capital) 3.066 million; Douala 2.943 million (2015)

Median age

female

18.5 years (2015 est.)

male

18.3 years

total

18.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Cameroonian

noun

Cameroonian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.6% (2014)

Physicians density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

23,739,218

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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.59% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 61.8% of population

rural: 26.8% of population

total: 45.8% of population

urban: 38.2% of population

rural: 73.2% of population

total: 54.2% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2011)

male

11 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.76 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

54.4% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

10 regions (regions, singular - region); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extreme-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)

Capital

geographic coordinates

3 52 N, 11 31 E

name

Yaounde

time difference

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

Constitution

several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996; amended 2008 (2008)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

branch office(s)

Douala

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael Stephen HOZA (since 19 September 2014)

embassy

Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaounde

FAX

[237] 22220 15 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX: [237] 22220 17 52

mailing address

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

telephone

[237] 22220 15 00; Consular: [237] 22220 16 03

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; current temporary address - 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph FOE-ATANGANA (since 12 September 2008)

FAX

[1] (202) 387-3826

telephone

[1] (202) 265-8790

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president

chief of state

President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)

election results

Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 78.0%, John FRU NDI (SDF) 10.7%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.2%, other 8.1%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Philemon YANG (since 30 June 2009)

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; the vertical tricolor recalls the flag of France; red symbolizes unity, yellow the sun, happiness, and the savannahs in the north, and green hope and the forests in the south; the star is referred to as the "star of unity"

note

uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type

republic; multiparty presidential regime

Independence

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for single 9-year terms

subordinate courts

Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrate's courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (100 seats; 70 members indirectly elected by regional councils and 30 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the 100-member Senate was formed at the time of the April 2013 election

election results

Senate percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 56, SDF 14; National Assembly percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 148, SDF 18, UNDP 5, UDC 4, UPC 3, other 2

elections

Senate last held on 14 April 2013 (next to be held in 2018); National Assembly last held on 30 September 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME

name

"O Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancetres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers)

note

adopted 1957; Cameroon's anthem, also known as "Chant de Ralliement" (The Rallying Song), has been used unofficially since 1948 and officially adopted in 1957; the anthem has French and English versions whose lyrics differ

National holiday

State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: green, red, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA]

Cameroon People's Party or CPP [Edith Kah WALLA]

Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]

Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]

Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO]

National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]

Progressive Movement or MP [Jean-Jacques EKINDI]

Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]

Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Provisionary Management Bureau]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa or REDHAC [Maximilliene Ngo MBE]

Tribunal 53 [Patrice NGANANG]

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, cassava (manioc, tapioca); livestock; timber

Budget

expenditures

$6.92 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$5.503 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.8% (31 December 2014 est.)

14% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.333 billion (2014 est.)

-$1.332 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$5.006 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.217 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

44.6 (2001)

47.7 (1996)

Economy - overview

Modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions provide Cameroon with one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Cameroon’s economy suffers from political and economic factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, the continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, 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. The IMF continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget diverting funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects. Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects under construction, including a deep sea port in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project. Cameroon’s energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas powered electricity generating plant. Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity accounting for nearly 40% of export earnings despite falling global oil prices. Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs and improve its economic footprint but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per dollar -

491.2 (2014 est.)

494.04 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports

$6.376 billion (2014 est.)

$5.819 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Spain 13.9%, China 12%, India 10.1%, Italy 8.1%, Netherlands 8%, Belgium 5.1%, France 4.6%, Norway 4.5%, UK 4.3% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

28.6%

government consumption

14%

household consumption

68.9%

imports of goods and services

-32.5%

investment in fixed capital

21%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

19.9%

industry

27.6%

services

52.5% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,000 (2014 est.)

$2,800 (2013 est.)

$2,700 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.1% (2014 est.)

5.6% (2013 est.)

4.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$31.67 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$67.2 billion (2014 est.)

$63.92 billion (2013 est.)

$60.54 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

17.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

17.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

17.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.4% (2001)

lowest 10%

2.3%

Imports

$6.937 billion (2014 est.)

$6.484 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners

China 26.2%, Nigeria 12%, France 11.8%, Belgium 4.9%, US 4.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4.9% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (2014 est.)

1.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

9.105 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

70%

industry

13%

services

17% (2001 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$230 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

48% (2000 est.)

Public debt

22.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

19.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.503 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.384 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$6.439 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.633 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.318 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.114 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.861 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.988 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

30% (2001 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

6.224 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

55,680 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

34,220 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

62,760 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

200 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

5.267 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

28.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

71.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.007 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

5.857 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

165 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

165 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

29,680 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

13,370 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,018 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

43,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), broadcasting on both a TV and radio network, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until August 2007, when the government finally issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operating but are subject to closure at any time; foreign news services required to partner with state-owned national station (2007)

Internet country code

.cm

Internet users

percent of population

6.5% (2014 est.)

total

1.5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

mobile-cellular usage, in part a reflection of the poor condition and general inadequacy of the fixed-line network, has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of 50 per 100 persons

general assessment

system includes cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter; Camtel, the monopoly provider of fixed-line service, provides connections for only about 3 per 100 persons; equipment is old and outdated, and connections with many parts of the country are unreliable

international

country code - 237; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.05 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

75 (2014 est.)

total

17.3 million

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Airports

33 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

2

total

11

Airports - with unpaved runways

8 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

10

total

22

Pipelines

gas 53 km; liquid petroleum gas 5 km; oil 1,107 km; water 35 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

oil terminal(s)

Limboh Terminal

river port(s)

Douala (Wouri); Garoua (Benoue)

Railways

narrow gauge

987 km 1.000-m gauge

note

railway connections generally efficient but limited; rail lines connect major cities of Douala, Yaounde, Ngaoundere, and Garoua; passenger and freight service provided by CAMRAIL (2014)

total

987 km

Roadways

note

there are 28,857 km of national roads (2011)

paved

4,108 km

total

51,350 km

unpaved

47,242 km

Waterways

(major rivers in the south, such as the Wouri and the Sanaga, are largely non-navigable; in the north, the Benue, which connects through Nigeria to the Niger River, is navigable in the rainy season only to the port of Garoua) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

4,548,909 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

4,667,251

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

2,718,110 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,794,998

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

211,636 (2010 est.)

male

215,248

Military branches

Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC), Army (L'Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale Republique (MNR), includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), Fire Fighter Corps, Gendarmerie (2013)

Military expenditures

1.42% of GDP (2012)

1.37% of GDP (2011)

1.42% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years; periodic government calls for volunteers (2012)

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 ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full phase-out of Nigerian control and patriation of residents in 2008; Cameroon and Nigeria agreed on maritime delimitation in March 2008; 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

IDPs

81,693 (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

253,042 (Central African Republic); 58,220 (Nigeria) (2015)