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.

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N, 12 00 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 475,440 km²
Land: 469,440 km²
Water: 6,000 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries
Total: 4,591 km
Border countries: (6) 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

Coastline: 402 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea:50 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
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Fako 4,095 m

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

Land use
Arable land: 13%
Permanent crops: 2%
Permanent pastures: 4%
Forests and woodland: 78%
Other: 3% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 210 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases

Geography
Note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

Population: 14,677,510 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 2.86% (1997 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Cameroonian(s)
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: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%

Age structure
0-14 years: 46% (male 3,387,450; female 3,356,237)
15-64 years: 51% (male 3,712,809; female 3,736,245)
65 years and over: 3% (male 219,975; female 264,894) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.86% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 42.22 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 13.64 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Environment
Current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 77.6 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 52.27 years
Male: 51.22 years
Female: 53.35 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.93 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 63.4%
Male: 75%
Female: 52.1% (1995 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
Conventional short form: Cameroon
Former: French Cameroon

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

Capital: Yaounde

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

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

National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)

Constitution: 20 May 1972

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

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
Head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGA (since 19 September 1996)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 40%, SDF candidate John FRU NDI 36%, UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI 19%; note - election held amid widespread allegations of fraud

Legislative branch: 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)
Elections: last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDPM 109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC I; note - 7 contested seats will be filled in an election at a time to be set by the Supreme Court

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
In the us chancery: 2,349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 265-8,790 through 8,794
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
From the us embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
From the us mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde; Pouch American Embassy DOS, Washington, DC 20,521-2,520
From the us telephone: [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12
From the us FAX: [237] 23-07-53

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

Economy overview: Because of its offshore 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 political instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector led to 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. 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. Political instability, following suspect elections in 1992, has limited the effectiveness of aid programs. Currently, Cameroon receives only minimal assistance from the IMF and the World Bank. Although the 50% devaluation of the currency of 12 January 1994 improved the potential for export growth, mismanagement remains and is the main barrier to economic improvement. The devaluation led to a spurt in inflation to 48% in 1994, but it moderated in 1995-96. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry remains slow.

Real gdp growth rate: 3.4% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,230 (1996 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 29%
Industry: 25%
Services: 46% (1996 est.)

Agriculture products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $2.23 billion
Expenditures: $2.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (FY96/97 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Exports
Total value: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
Commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, aluminum, cocoa beans, coffee, cotton
Partners: EU (particularly France) about 50%, African countries

Imports
Total value: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
Commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer goods, transport equipment, petroleum products
Partners: EU (France 42%, Germany), African countries, US 4%

Debt external: $8.2 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 541.69 (January 1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)
Note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Electricity
Capacity: 630,000 kW (1994)
Production: 2.71 billion kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 186 kWh (1995 est.)

Telephones: 36,737 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: available only to business and government
Domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
International: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $102 million (FY93/94)
Percent of gdp: NA%

Airports: 44 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 22
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 12 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 22
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 7
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 15 (1996 est.)

Railways
Total: 1,104 km
Narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

Waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance

Merchant marine: total:2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509 DWT (1996 est.)

Disputes international: demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the International Court of Justice