World Facts Index
 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 of Cameroon
|
Location:
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Western Africa, bordering
the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria |
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Coordinates:
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6 00 N, 12 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 475,440 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
land: 469,440 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly larger than
California |
|
Land boundaries:
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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 |
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Coastline:
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402 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 50
NM |
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Climate:
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varies with terrain, from
tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north |
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Terrain:
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diverse, with coastal plain
in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in
north |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako (on Cameroon Mountain) 4,095 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, bauxite, iron
ore, timber, hydropower |
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Natural hazards:
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volcanic activity with
periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun
volcanoes |
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Environment - current issues:
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water-borne diseases are
prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching;
overfishing |
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Geography - note:
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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 of Cameroon
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Population:
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18,467,692 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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18.9 years |
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Infant mortality:
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63.52 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 51.16 years
male: 50.98 years
female: 51.34 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.39 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian |
|
Ethnic groups:
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Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu
19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%,
non-African less than 1% |
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%,
Muslim 20% |
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Languages:
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24 major African language groups, English
(official), French (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 79%
male: 84.7%
female: 73.4%
|
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
Cameroon
former: French Cameroon |
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Government type:
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unitary republic; multiparty presidential
regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)
note: preponderance of power remains with the president |
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Capital:
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Yaounde |
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Administrative divisions:
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10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest |
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Independence:
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1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN
trusteeship) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972) |
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Constitution:
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20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June
1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996 |
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Legal system:
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based on French civil law system, with
common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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20 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 |
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Judicial branch:
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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). |
Economy
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. 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. International oil and cocoa prices have a
significant impact on the economy.
|
GDP:
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$40.24 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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2.8% |
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GDP per capita:
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$2,400 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 44.8%
industry: 17%
services: 38.2% |
|
Inflation rate:
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2% |
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Labor force:
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6.86 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 70%
industry: 13%
services: 17% |
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Unemployment:
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30% |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 2.7%
hydro: 97.3%
other: 0% |
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Industries:
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petroleum production and refining, food
processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber |
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Agriculture:
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coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas,
oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber |
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Exports:
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crude oil and petroleum products, lumber,
cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton |
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Export partners:
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Spain 16.7%, Italy 13.2%, France 9.2%, UK 8.8%, South
Korea 7.8%, Netherlands 6.5%, Belgium 4.5%, US 4.1% |
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Imports:
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machinery, electrical equipment, transport
equipment, fuel, food |
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Import partners:
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France 24.5%, Nigeria 11.3%, Belgium 6.6%, China 5.8%, US
5.2%, Thailand 4.6%, Germany 4.4% |
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Currency:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc
(XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |