Cameroon factbook
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 slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.
Known affectionately as “Africa in miniature” for its geological and cultural diversity. Cameroon, the first of the 17 African countries to gain independence in 196, celebrated 50 years of independence on 20 May with a parade of military and civilian participation that lasted almost five hours!-Excerpt from “After all, at 50,we are mature, says Biya” by Baffour Ankomah, editor of New Africa magazine Volume no. 497 July 2010.
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic Coordinates:
6 00 N, 12 00 E
Reference Map:
Africa
Area:
total: 475,440 sq km
Land Boundaries:
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
Climate:
Current weather 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
highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)
Natural Resources:
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Natural Hazards:
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Environment-Current Issues:
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Geography note:
sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; 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
The People of Cameroon
Population: 19,294,149
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 40.7%
15-64 years: 56%
65 years and over: 3.3%
Median Age:
total: 19.3 years
Population Growth rate:
2.157% (2010 est.)
Birth Rate:
33.58 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
Death Rate:
12.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
Sex Ratio:
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate:
total: 62.15 deaths/1,000 live births
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate:
5.1% (2007 estimate)
HIV/AIDS People Living with HIV/AIDS:
540 000 (2007 estimate)
Major Infectious Diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
Languages:
24 major African language groups, English (official) and French (official)
Literacy:
Definition: at age 15 and over who can read and write
Total Population: 67.9%
Male: 77%
Female: 59.8% (2001 estimate)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Total: 9 years
Male: 10 years
Female: 8 years (2006 estimate)
Education Expenditures:
3.3% of GDP
The Government of Cameroon
Country Name: The Republic of Cameroon
Government Type:
republic, multiparty presidential regime
Capital: Yaounde
Independence:
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
Approved by referendum 20 May 1972; adopted 2 June 1972; revised January 1996
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive Branch:
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 October 2004 (next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
The Economy of Cameroon
Overview:
Because of its modest 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 stagnating per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy. 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 IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$24.76* (2009 estimation)
GDP per capita:
$2 300.00
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 20.3%
Labour Force:
7.283 million (2009 estimation)
Labour force by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
30% (2001 estimation)
48% (2000 estimation)
Budget:
revenues: $4.014 billion
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Industries:
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
-3.5% (2009 est.)
Exports:
$3.587 billion (2009 est.)
$5.942 billion (2008 est.)
Export Commodities:
Netherlands 13.99%, Spain 12.25%, Italy 11.84%, China 9.14%, US 6.16%, France 5.51%, South Korea 4.66%, Belgium 4.33%, UK 4% (2009)
Imports:
$4.449 billion (2009 est.)
$5.4 billion (2008 est.)
Import Commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Import Partners:
France 21.03%, Nigeria 10.79%, China 10.25%, Belgium 6.62%, US 4.31% (2009)
Debt External:
$2.929 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Project of Great Hope 
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