Statistical information Cameroon 2016

Cameroon in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Central Africa bordering the Bight of Biafra between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N 12 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 475,440 km²
Land: 472,710 km²
Water: 2,730 km²
Rank: 54
Comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundariesTotal: 5,018 km
Border countries: (6) Central African Republic 901 km;
Chad 1116 km;
Republic of the Congo 494 km;
Equatorial Guinea 183 km;
Gabon 349 km;
Nigeria 1975 kmCoastline: 402 km
Maritime claimsTerritorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
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
ElevationMean elevation: 667 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m: highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Cameroon Mountain)
Natural resources: petroleum bauxite iron ore timber hydropower
Land useAgricultural land: 20.6%
arable land: 13.1%
permanent crops: 3.3%
permanent pasture: 4.2%
Forest: 41.7%
Other: 37.7%
Irrigated land: 290 km² (2012)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Volcanism: Mt. Cameroon 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 1700 people in 1986
GeographyNote: 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
top of pagePopulation: 24,360,803
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
Rank: 53
Growth rate: 2.58% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 18
Below poverty line: 48% (2000 est.)
NationalityNoun: Cameroonian
Adjective: Cameroonian
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%
Languages: 24 major African language groups English (official) French (official)
Religions: Catholic 38.4% Protestant 26.3% other Christian 4.5% Muslim 20.9% animist 5.6% other 1% non-believer 3.2% (2005 est.)
Demographic profile:
Cameroon has a large youth population with more than 60% of the populace under the age of 25. Fertility is falling but remains at a high level especially among poor rural and uneducated women in part because of inadequate access to contraception. Life expectancy remains low at about 55 years due to the prevalence of HIV and AIDs and an elevated maternal mortality rate which has remained high since 1990. Cameroon particularly the northern region is vulnerable to food insecurity largely because of government mismanagement corruption high production costs inadequate infrastructure and natural disasters. Despite economic growth in some regions poverty is on the rise and is most prevalent in rural areas which are especially affected by a shortage of jobs declining incomes poor school and health care infrastructure and a lack of clean water and sanitation. Underinvestment in social safety nets and ineffective public financial management also contribute to Cameroon’s high rate of poverty.
International migration has been driven by unemployment (including fewer government jobs) poverty the search for educational opportunities and corruption. The US and Europe are preferred destinations but with tighter immigration restrictions in these countries young Cameroonians are increasingly turning to neighboring states such as Gabon and Nigeria South Africa other parts of Africa and the Near and Far East. Cameroon’s limited resources make it dependent on UN support to host more than 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers. These refugees and asylum seekers are primarily from the Central African Republic and more recently Nigeria.
Age structure0-14 years: 42.6%
15-24 years: 19.55%
25-54 years: 30.71%
55-64 years: 3.97%
65 years and over: 3.18% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratiosTotal dependency ratio: 84.3%
Youth dependency ratio: 78.4%
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.9%
Potential support ratio: 16.9%
Median ageTotal: 18.5 years
Male: 18.4 years
Female: 18.6 years
Rank: 209
Population growth rate: 2.58% (2016 est.)
Rank: 18
Birth rate: 35.8 births/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 18
Death rate: 9.8 deaths/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 46
Net migration rate: -0.1 migrant(s)/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 108
Population distributionUrbanizationUrban population: 54.4% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change
Major urban areasPopulation: YAOUNDE (capital) 3.066 million; Douala 2.943 million (2015)
EnvironmentCurrent issues: waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male/female
Total population: 1.01 male/female
Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.7
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateTotal: 52.2 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 55.8 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 48.5 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 29
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 58.5 years
Male: 57.1 years
Female: 59.9 years
Rank: 204
Total fertility rate: 4.7 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Rank: 20
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 23.4% (2011)
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.)
Current health expenditurePhysicians density: 0.08 physicians/1000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1000 population (2010)
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.)
Hiv/AidsAdult prevalence rate: 4.46% (2015 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 14
People living with hivaids: 619,200 (2015 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 15
Deaths: 33,100 (2015 est.)
Deaths rank: 7
Major infectious diseasesDegree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria dengue fever and yellow fever
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis
Respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
Animal contact disease: rabies
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 9.6% (2014)
Rank: 130
Alcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweight: 14.8% (2014)
Rank: 47
Education expenditures: 3% of GDP (2013)
Rank: 133
LiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 75%
Male: 81.2%
Female: 68.9%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationTotal: 10 years
Male: 11 years
Female: 10 years
Youth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
Conventional short form: Cameroon
Local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon
Local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
Former: French Cameroon British Cameroon Federal Republic of Cameroon United Republic of Cameroon
Etymology: in the 15th century Portuguese explorers named the area near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes after the abundant shrimp in the water; over time the designation became Cameroon in English; this is the only instance where a country is named afer a crustacean
Government type: presidential republic
CapitalName: YaoundeGeographic coordinates: 3 52 N 11 31 E
Time difference: UTC+1
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)
Dependent areasIndependence: 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: State Unification Day (National Day) 20 May (1972)
Constitution: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996; amended 2008 (2016)
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law French civil law and customary law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
CitizenshipCitizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Paul BIYA
Head of government: Prime Minister Philemon YANG
Cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term ; election last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 78.0% John FRU NDI (SDF) 10.7% Garga Haman ADJI 3.2% other 8.1%
Legislative branchDescription: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat 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
Elections: Senate last held on 14 April 2013 ; National Assembly last held on 30 September 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 56 SDF 14; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPDM 73.1% SDF 17.6% UNDP 6.1% UDC 2.5% other 0.7%; seats by party - CPDM 148 SDF 18 UNDP 5 UDC 4 UPC 3 other 2
Judicial branchHighest court: Supreme Court of Cameroon ; 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 ; appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]
Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Provisionary Management Bureau]
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
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Essomba ETOUNDI
In the us chancery: 2,349 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008; current temporary address - 3,400 International Drive NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 265-8,790
In the us FAX: [1] 387-3,826
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Stephen HOZA
From the us embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks Yaounde
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 817 Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy US Department of State Washington DC 20,521-2,520
From the us telephone: [237] 22,220 1500; Consular: [237] 22,220 1603
From the us FAX: [237] 22,220 1500 Ext. 4,531; Consular FAX: [237] 22,220 1752
From the us branch office: Douala
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
National symbols: lion; national colors: green red yellow
National anthemName: 'O Cameroun Berceau de nos Ancetres'
Lyrics and music: Rene Djam AFAME Samuel Minkio BAMBA Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French] Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME
Note: adopted 1957; Cameroon's anthem also known as 'Chant de Ralliement' has been used unofficially since 1948 and officially adopted in 1957; the anthem has French and English versions whose lyrics differ
National heritagetop of pageEconomy overview:
Modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions provide Cameroon with one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity and despite falling global oil prices still accounts for nearly 40% of export earnings. Cameroon’s economy suffers from 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 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 and diverted funds from education healthcare and infrastructure projects especially in 2015 as low oil prices have led to lower revenues.
Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects currently 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. 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$72.64 billion (2015 est.)
$68.61 billion (2014 est.)
$64.78 billion (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 97
Real gdp growth rate:
5.9% (2015 est.)
5.9% (2014 est.)
5.6% (2013 est.)
Rank: 33
Real gdp per capita:
$3,100 (2015 est.)
$3,000 (2014 est.)
$2,900 (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 189
Gross national saving:
22.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
19.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 103
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useHousehold consumption: 77.6%
Government consumption: 12.1%
Investment in fixed capital: 21.9%
Investment in inventories: 0.1%
Exports of goods and services: 22%
Imports of goods and services: -33.7%
Gdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 21.6%
Industry: 30.6%
Services: 47.7%
Agriculture products: coffee cocoa cotton rubber bananas oilseed grains cassava (manioc tapioca); livestock; timber
Industries: petroleum production and refining aluminum production food processing light consumer goods textiles lumber ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (2015 est.)
Rank: 25
Labor force: 9.379 million (2015 est.)
Rank: 53
By occupation agriculture: 70%
By occupation industry: 13%
By occupation services: 17%
Unemployment rate: 30% (2001 est.)
Rank: 187
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 48% (2000 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10: 2.3%
Highest 10: 35.4%
Distribution of family income gini index:
44.6 (2001)
47.7 (1996)
Rank: 44
BudgetRevenues: $4.788 billion
Expenditures: $6.292 billion
Surplus or deficit: -5.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 171
Taxes and other revenues: 16.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 182
Public debt:
28.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
22.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 144
RevenueFiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer prices:
2.7% (2015 est.)
1.9% (2014 est.)
Rank: 138
Central bank discount rate: 4.25% (31 December 2009)
Rank: 88
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2015 est.)
13% (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 57
Stock of narrow money:
$3.691 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.877 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 110
Stock of broad money:
$5.53 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$6.217 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 128
Stock of domestic credit:
$4.448 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$4.769 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 128
Market value of publicly traded shares: $230 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 116
Current account balance:
-$1.647 billion (2015 est.)
-$1.396 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 127
Exports:
$5.756 billion (2015 est.)
$6.679 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 105
Commodities: crude oil and petroleum products lumber cocoa beans aluminum coffee cotton
Partners: China 16.7% India 15.7% Spain 6.2% Belgium 6.1% France 6.1% Portugal 5.6% Netherlands 5% Italy 5% (2015)
Imports:
$6.5 billion (2015 est.)
$6.915 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 116
Commodities: machinery electrical equipment transport equipment fuel food
Partners: China 27.9% Nigeria 13.9% France 10.9% Belgium 4.1% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.714 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.204 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 108
Debt external:
$6.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$5.289 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 121
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per dollar -
591.45 (2015 est.)
494.42 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
471.87 (2011 est.)
top of pageElectricityAccess population without electricity: 10,100,000
Access electrification total population: 55%
Access electrification urban areas: 88%
Access electrification rural areas: 17%
Production: 6.8 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 114
Consumption: 6.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 112
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 123
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 133
Installed generating capacity: 1.1 million kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 123
Generation sources fossil fuels: 28.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 184
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 69
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 71.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 21
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 169
CoalPetroleumPetroleum total petroleum production: 95,960 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 49
Crude oil exports: 50,830 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 45
Crude oil imports: 37,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 60
Crude oil proven reserves: 200 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 59
Crude oilRefined petroleumProducts production: 51,670 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products production rank: 82
Products consumption: 43,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products consumption rank: 107
Products exports: 14,590 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products exports rank: 88
Products imports: 4,134 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 152
Natural gasProduction: 469 million m³ (2014 est.)
Production rank: 74
Consumption: 469 million m³ (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 102
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 80
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 179
Proven reserves: 135.1 billion m³ (1 January 2016 es)
Proven reserves rank: 50
Carbon dioxide emissionsFrom consumption of energy: 6.5 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 122
Energy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesFixed lines total subscriptions: 1,054,978
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4
Fixed lines rank: 76
Mobile cellular total: 16.807 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71
Mobile cellular rank: 61
Telephone systemGeneral assessment: system includes cable microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter; Camtel the monopoly provider of fixed-line service provides connections for only about 4 per 100 persons; equipment is old and outdated and connections with many parts of the country are unreliable
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 70 per 100 persons
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 (2015)
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)
InternetCountry code: .cm
Users total: 4.909 million
Users percent of population: 20.7%
Users rank: 108
Broadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expenditures:
1.42% of GDP (2012)
1.37% of GDP (2011)
1.42% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 70
Military and security forcesMilitary 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)
Space programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemNumber of registered air carriers: 1
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 267,208
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TJ (2016)
Airports: 33 (2013)
Rank: 112
With paved runways total: 11
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 22
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 10
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 8
HeliportsPipelines: gas 53 km; liquid petroleum gas 5 km; oil 1107 km; water 35 km (2013)
RailwaysTotal: 987 km
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
Rank: 87
RoadwaysTotal: 51,350 km
Paved: 4,108 km
Unpaved: 47,242 km
Note: there are 28,857 km of national roads
Rank: 76
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)
Merchant marinePorts and terminalsRiver port: Douala ; Garoua (Benoue)
Oil terminal: Limboh Terminal
top of pageDisputes 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 personsRefugees: 259,145 (Central African Republic); 86,212 (Nigeria) (2016)
IDPs: 198,889
Illicit drugs