Cameroon

Republic of Cameroon

unitary republicIndependence 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French

Cameroon as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 97 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalYaounde

Position6 00 N, 12 00 E

Area475,440 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between

Populationas each edition published it

14.68 million July 1997 est. · 11.09m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.86% 1997 est. · 2.9% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

52.27 years 1997 est. · 56.66 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.93 children per woman 1997 est. · 5.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

77.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 120 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,230 1996 est. · $1,040 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.4% 1996 est. · 3% in 1993

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between | Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

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Land useshare of 475,440 sq km

arable land 13%permanent crops 2%permanent pastures 4%forests and woodland 78%other 3% (1993 est.)irrigated 210 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

475,440sq km

land: 469,440 sq kmwater: 6,000 sq kmslightly larger than California

Coastline

402km

territorial sea: 50 nm

Highest point

4,095m

Fakolowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

4,591km

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

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

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

Natural resources

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower potential

Natural hazards

recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases

Environment - current issues

water-borne diseases are prevalent;
deforestation;
overgrazing;
desertification;
poaching;
overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to :: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:: Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

People

15 fields

Population

14,677,510

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 2.86% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

42.22Death

13.64Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1997 est.)52.27

51.22 · 53.35

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)63.4%

75% · 52.1%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition : age 15 and over can read and write

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%

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.)

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/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Cameroonian(s)
adjective:: Cameroonian

Languages

24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)

Government

Unitary republic; President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982); Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGA (since 19 September 1996)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

40%

Paul BIYA 40%SDF candidate John FRU NDI 36%UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI 19%

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)

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)

Legal system

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

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

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

Political parties and leaders

Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM (government-controlled and the only party until legalization of opposition parties in 1990) [Paul BIYA, president]

major opposition parties:: Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA];
Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA, leader];
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA, chairman];
Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI, leader];
Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC [Ndeh NTUMAZAH, leader]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Alliance for Change or FAC; Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM

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
chancery :: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
embassy:: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address :: B. P. 817, Yaounde; Pouch American Embassy DOS, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone:: [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12

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

Because of its offshore oil resources and | favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the | best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Real growth rate

3.4%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

(FY96/97 est.)

Debt - external

$8.2billion

(1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 29%industry 25%services 46% (1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$2.23 billionExpenditures

$2.23 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)

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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $17.5 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,230 (1996 est.)

Labor force

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

630,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - production

2.71 billion kWh (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

186 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

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%

Economic aid

$NA

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

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

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 11, FM 11, shortwave 0

Radios

2 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1995)

Televisions

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m : 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Networkskm

Highways

34,300Railways

1,104Waterways

2,090

Highways: paved : 4,288 km · unpaved: 30,012 km (1995) · Railways: narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.) · Waterways: ; of decreasing importance

Railways

total:: 1,104 km
narrow gauge:: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

Highways

total:: 34,300 km
paved :: 4,288 km
unpaved:: 30,012 km (1995)

Military

Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force, | National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

7 fields

Transnational Issues

1 field

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 CANADA

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cameroon.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cameroon/1997.

How to cite ← 1996 edition 1998 edition →