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

top of page


Background: Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. 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. Nonetheless, unrest and violence in the country's two western, English-speaking regions have persisted since 2016. Movement toward democratic reform is slow, and political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.


top of page


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

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N, 12 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 475,440 km²
Land: 472,710 km²
Water: 2,730 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania
Country comparison total: 5,018 km
Country comparison 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 1975 km

Land boundaries
Total: 5,018 km
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 1975 km

Coastline: 402 km

Maritime claims
Territorial 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

Elevation
Highest point: Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 667 m

Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 20.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 13.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 3.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 4.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 41.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 37.7% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 290 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 km²), Niger (2,261,741 km²); Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 250 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 740 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 283.15 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (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

Geography
Note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea; 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 page


Population
Distribution: population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map
Total: 30,966,105
Male: 15,429,588
Female: 15,536,517 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.71% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 37.5% (2014 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Cameroonian(s)
Adjective: Cameroonian

Ethnic groups: Bamileke-Bamu 22.2%, Biu-Mandara 16.4%, Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri 13.5%, Beti/Bassa, Mbam 13.1%, Grassfields 9.9%, Adamawa-Ubangi, 9.8%, Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko 4.6%, Southwestern Bantu 4.3%, Kako/Meka 2.3%, foreign/other ethnic group 3.8% (2022 est.)

Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Major-language samples: Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information. (English); Gheos World Guide une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

Religions: Roman Catholic 33.1%, Muslim 30.6%, Protestant 27.1% other Christian 6.1%, animist 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 1.2% (2022 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 41.5% (male 6,477,438/female 6,364,987)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 8,488,522/female 8,638,519)
65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 463,628/female 533,011)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 82.3
Youth dependency ratio: 77.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 4.9
Potential support ratio: 20.3 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 18.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 18.6 years
Female: 19.2 years

Population growth rate: 2.71% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 34.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 59.3% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 4.509 million YAOUNDE (capital), 4.063 million Douala (2023)

Environment
Current issues: waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation and overgrazing result in erosion, desertification, and reduced quality of pastureland; poaching; overfishing; overhunting
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 56.37 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.29 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 30.71 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 20.1 years (2018 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 438 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 46.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 50.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 41.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 64.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 62.3 years
Female: 66.1 years

Total fertility rate: 4.44 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 19.3% (2018)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 95.1% of population
Unimproved rural: 43.8% of population
Unimproved total: 21.4% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 4.9% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 83.2% of population
Improved rural: 27.7% of population
Improved total: 59.7% of population
Unimproved urban: 16.8% of population
Unimproved rural: 72.3% of population
Unimproved total: 40.3% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 11.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 2.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 1.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 7.3% (2020 est.)
Male: 13.2% (2020 est.)
Female: 1.4% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11% (2018/19)

Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 77.1%
Male: 82.6%
Female: 71.6% (2018)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 11 years (2016)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
Conventional short form: Cameroon
Local long form: République du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)
Local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
Former: Kamerun, 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 (River of Prawns) 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 after a crustacean

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Yaounde
Geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: founded as a German colonial settlement of Jaunde in 1888 and named after the local Yaunde (Ewondo) people

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 areas

Independence: 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

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

Constitution
History: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996
Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended; amended 2008

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

Citizenship
Citizenship 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 branch
Chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
Head of government: Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019)
Cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: 2018: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2%; 2011: 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% (2018)

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Senat (100 seats; 70 members indirectly elected by regional councils and 30 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms), National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members directly elected in 49 single and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held on 12 March 2023 (next to be held in 2,028), National Assembly - last held on 9 February 2020 (next to be held 28 February 2025)
Elections results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDPM 100%; seats by party - CDPM 100; composition - men 69, women 31, percentage women 31%, National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 152, UNDP 7, SDF 5, PCRN 5, UDC 4, FSNC 3, MDR 2, UMS 2; composition - men 119, women 61, percentage women 33.9%; total Parliament percentage women 51.1%
Note: 13 National Assembly seats were vacant after the 9 February 2020 election due to violence in northwest and southwest regions; CDPM won those seats in a 22 March 2020 election

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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 renewable 6-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 magistrates' courts

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Development , Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM , Cameroon People's Party or CPP , Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC , Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC , Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN , Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC , Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR , Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC , National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP , Progressive Movement or MP , Social Democratic Front or SDF , Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC , Union of Socialist Movements

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), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016)
In the us chancery: 2,349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 265-8,790
In the us fax: [1] (202) 387-3,826
In the us email address and website: mail@cameroonembassyusa, Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022)
From the us embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé
From the us mailing address: 2,520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20,521-2,520
From the us telephone: [237] 22,251-4,000
From the us fax: [237] 22,251-4,000, Ext. 4,531
From the us email address and website: YaoundeACS@state.gov; [link]
From the us branch offices: 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 anthem
Name: 'O Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancetres' (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers)
Lyrics/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' (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 heritage
Total world heritage sites: 2 (both natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


top of page


Economy overview: largest CEMAC economy with many natural resources; recent political instability and terrorism reducing economic output; systemic corruption; poor property rights enforcement; increasing poverty in northern regions

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $138.925 billion (2023 est.); $133.59 billion (2022 est.); $128.969 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 3.99% (2023 est.); 3.58% (2022 est.); 3.34% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $4,800 (2023 est.); $4,800 (2022 est.); $4,700 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 73.3% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 18.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -20.3% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 16.7% (2023 est.)
Industry: 25.2% (2023 est.)
Services: 51.6% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, maize, taro, tomatoes, sorghum, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 11.965 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 3.65% (2023 est.); 3.69% (2022 est.); 3.95% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 37.5% (2014 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $6.385 billion (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $5.592 billion (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 11.35% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 36.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 2.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.38% (2023 est.); 6.25% (2022 est.); 2.27% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: -$1.505 billion (2022 est.); -$1.794 billion (2021 est.); -$1.512 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $8.641 billion (2022 est.); $7.447 billion (2021 est.); $6.124 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Netherlands 19%, France 15%, India 14%, Spain 10%, China 8% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, wood, cocoa beans, gold (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $9.759 billion (2022 est.); $9.025 billion (2021 est.); $7.212 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 39%, France 8%, India 6%, Belgium 4%, UAE 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, wheat, garments, rice, plastic products (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $5.133 billion (2022 est.); $4.3 billion (2021 est.); $3.962 billion (2020 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $9.612 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification total population: 71% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 94%
Access electrification rural areas: 25%
Installed generating capacity: 1.763 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 6.311 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 58.1 million kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.811 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 37.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 61.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Imports: 90.9 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 54,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 40,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 200 million barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 2.595 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Consumption: 877.058 million m³ (2022 est.)
Exports: 1.768 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 135.071 billion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.239 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 5.518 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 1.721 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 4.656 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 929,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 23.107 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2023 est.); 1% of GDP (2022 est.); 1% of GDP (2021 est.); 1% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army (L'Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale Republique, MNR, includes naval infantry or fusiliers marin), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), National Gendarmerie (Gendamerie Nationale, GN), National Firefighting Corps (Corps National de Sapeurs-Pompiers, CNSP), Presidential Guard (Garde Présidentielle du Cameroun, GP); General Delegation for National Security (Délégation Générale à la Sûreté Nationale or DGSN): Cameroon Police (2024)
Note 1: the Police and the National Gendarmerie are responsible for internal security; the Gendarmerie conducts administrative, criminal, and military investigative functions; other missions include customs, air and maritime surveillance, and road traffic control; in times of conflict, it participates in internal defense
Note 2: the Army includes the Rapid Intervention Brigade (Brigade d’Intervention Rapide or BIR), which maintains its own command and control structure and reports directly to the Chief of Defense staff and the Presidency; the BIR includes airborne/airmobile, amphibious, armored reconnaissance, artillery, and counterterrorism forces, as well as support elements, such as intelligence

Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years (2024)

Space program

Terrorist groups: Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide


top of page


National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 265,136 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 70,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TJ

Airports: 37 (2024)

Heliports: 1 (2024)

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

Railways

Roadways
Total: 77,589 km
Paved: 5,133 km
Unpaved: 72,456 km (2019)

Waterways: (2010) (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)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 354,725 (Central African Republic), 121,172 (Nigeria) (2024)
Idps: 1.066 million (2023) (includes far north, northwest, and southwest)

Illicit drugs