Map of Cameroon | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 475,440 km²
Land: 469,440 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries: 4,591 km; Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km

Coastline: 402 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 50 nm
Disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; boundary commission created with Nigeria to discuss unresolved land and maritime boundaries - has not yet convened

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

Natural resources: crude oil, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower potential

Land use: arable land: 13%; permanent crops: 2%; meadows and pastures 18%; forest and woodland 54%; other 13%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population: 12,658,439 (July 1992), growth rate 3.3% (1992)

Nationality: noun - Cameroonian(s; adjective - Cameroonian

Ethnic groups:

Languages: English and French (official), 24 major African language groups

Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 44 births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: 11 deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1992)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification
Current issues note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 81 deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 60 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1992)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 54% (male 66%, female 43%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon

Government type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

Capital: Yaounde

Administrative divisions:

Dependent areas

Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration; formerly French Cameroon)

National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)

Constitution: 20 May 1972

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 20
National Assembly: next to be held 1 March 1992
President: last held 24 April 1988 (next to be held April 1993); results - President Paul BIYA reelected without opposition

Executive branch: president, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation:
US: Ambassador Frances D. COOK; Embassy at Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde (mailing address is B. P. 817, Yaounde); telephone 237 234,014; FAX 237 230,753; there is a US Consulate General in Douala

Diplomatic representation

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview
Because of its offshore oil resources Cameroon has one of the highest incomes per capita in tropical Africa. Still it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries such as political instability a topheavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector led rapid economic growth between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to an abrupt halt in 1986 precipitated by steep declines in the prices of major exports: coffee, cocoa, and petroleum. Export earnings were cut by almost one-third, and inefficiencies in fiscal management were exposed. In 1990-92, with support from the IMF and World Bank, the government has begun to introduce reforms designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and recapitalize the nation's banks. Nationwide strikes organized by opposition parties in 1991, however, undermined these efforts.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $11.5 billion, per capita $1,040; real growth rate 0.7% (1990 est.)

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: the agriculture and forestry sectors provide employment for the majority of the population, contributing nearly 25% to GDP and providing a high degree of self-sufficiency in staple foods; commercial and food crops include coffee, cocoa, timber, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, livestock, root starches

Industries: crude oil products, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, sawmills

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate - 6.4% (FY87; accounts for 30% of GDP

Labor force: NA; agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%, other services 14.2% (1983); 50% of population of working age (15-64 years) (1985)
Organized labor: under 45% of wage labor force