View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1998 CSV Excel Print All Years

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.23 billion expenditures: $2.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$10 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

France signed two loan agreements totaling $55 million in September 1997 and the Paris Club agreed in October 1997 to reduce the official debt by 50% and to reschedule it on favorable terms with a consolidation of payments due through 2000

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

Because of its 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 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: petroleum, coffee, and cocoa. 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. The government, however, failed to press forward vigorously with these programs. The latest enhanced structural adjustment agreement was signed in October 1997; the parties hope this will prove more successful, yet government mismanagement remains a problem. Inflation, which rose to 48% after the devaluation of 1994, has been brought back under control. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry remains slow. President BIYA's new government of December 1997 has replaced old hands in the government economic control structure with promising technocrats.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

627,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

201 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

2.715 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) 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]

total value: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton partners: EU (particularly France, Italy, and Spain) about 60%, African countries, Korea, Taiwan, and China

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July-30 June Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$30.9 billion (1997 est.)

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

agriculture: 32% industry: 27% services: 41% (1995 est.)

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

purchasing power parity-$2,100 (1997 est.)

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

5% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer goods, transport equipment, petroleum products partners: EU (France 40%), African countries, US 7%

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) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

3% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 475,440 sq km land: 469,440 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 00 N, 12 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

Irrigated land [time series]

210 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 4,591 km 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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 50 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

20 May 1972

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the 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) head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19 September 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote-Paul BIYA 93%; note - supporters of the opposition candidates boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares relatively meaningless

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

[237] 23-07-53

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

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 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 1; note-7 contested seats will be filled in an election at a time to be set by the Supreme Court note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called Senate, which the government says will be established in 1998

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Yaounde

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 20 May (1972)

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

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]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MLJC [ Marcel YANDO, 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 [Augustin Frederick KODOG, leader]; Union of Cameroonian Democratic Forces or UFOC [Victorin Hameni BIELEU]

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

Alliance for Change or FAC; Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM [Vishe FAI, secretary general]

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$102 million (FY93/94)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,287,626 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 1,663,852 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 160,640 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 46% (male 3,468,861; female 3,436,814) 15-64 years: 51% (male 3,795,748; female 3,829,824) 65 years and over: 3% (male 224,881; female 273,305) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

42.06 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.96 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [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]

76.88 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 51.44 years male: 49.9 years female: 53.03 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

15,029,433 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.81% (1998 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 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.86 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

demarcation of international boundaries in the 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 ICJ with a ruling expected in 1998 CANADA

Transportation

Airports [time series]

52 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 11 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 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 14 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

2,090 km; of decreasing importance