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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $102 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,112,339 males fit for military service: 1,572,150 males reach military age (18) annually: 151,300 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 11, FM 11, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

2 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

36,737 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1995)

Televisions [time series]

NA Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $226 million (FY92/93 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $449 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

Because of its offshore oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed, most diversified 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. In 1990-93, with support from the IMF and World Bank, the government began to introduce reforms designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and recapitalize the nation's banks. Political instability, following suspect elections in 1992, brought IMF/WB structural adjustment to a halt; currently Cameroon receives only minimal assistance from those Bretton Woods institutions. Although the 50% devaluation of the currency of 12 January 1994 improved the potential for export growth, mismanagement remains the main barrier to economic improvement. The devaluation led to a spurt in inflation, to 48% in 1994, but inflation moderated in 1995. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry remains slow.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 630,000 kW production: 2.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 196 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 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

Exports [time series]

$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, aluminum, cocoa beans, coffee, cotton partners: EU (particularly France) about 50%, African countries, US

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$6.6 billion (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $16.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 29% industry: 24% services: 47% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$1,200 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

1.8% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$810 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer goods, transport equipment, petroleum products partners: EU (France 38%, Germany), African countries, Japan 5%, US 5%

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

48% (1994)

Labor force [time series]

NA by occupation: agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%, other services 14.2% (1983)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 475,440 sq km land area: 469,440 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than California

Climate [time series]

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Coastline [time series]

402 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 00 N, 12 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

280 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 4,591 km border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 13% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 54% other: 13%

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 50 nm

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower potential

Terrain [time series]

diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Yaounde

Constitution [time series]

20 May 1972

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); results - President Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread allegations of fraud; SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got 19% of the vote head of government: Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April 1992) appointed by the president cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[237] 23-07-53

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, 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, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon former: French Cameroon

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)) [time series]

elections last held 1 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (180 total) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 20 May (1972)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Alliance for Change (FAC), Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) (government-controlled and the only party until legalization of opposition parties in 1990), Paul BIYA, president major opposition parties: National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC); Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR)

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde telephone: [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 3,295,924; female 3,266,429) 15-64 years: 51% (male 3,602,037; female 3,627,625) 65 years and over: 3% (male 213,176; female 256,366) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

42.49 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

78.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 52.6 years male: 51.55 years female: 53.68 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 63.4% male: 75% female: 52.1%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

14,261,557 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.89% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 45 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 13 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 15 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 64,626 km paved: 2,666 km unpaved: 61,960 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509 DWT (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

2,090 km; of decreasing importance