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Cameroon

Cameroon

The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central and western Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. The country is called "Africa in miniature" for its geological and cultural diversity.

Country Name

  • conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
  • conventional short form: Cameroon
  • local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon
  • local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
  • former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Nationality

  • noun: Cameroonian(s)
  • adjective: Cameroonian

capital

  • name: Yaounde
  • geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
  • time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Independence

  • 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Population

  • 18,467,692
  • 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 2008 est.)

Growth Rate

  • 2.218% (2008 est.)

HIV adult Pervealance

  • 6.9% (2003 est.)

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%

Religion

  • indigenous beliefs 40%
  • Christian 40%
  • Muslim 20%

Language

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

Literacy

  • definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  • total population: 67.9%
  • male: 77%
  • female: 59.8% (2001 est.)

Government type

  • republic
  • multiparty presidential regime

Area Comperative

  • slightly larger than California

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

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

Natural resourses

  • petroleum
  • bauxite
  • iron ore
  • timber
  • hydropower

Ecomony over view

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 a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. 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. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. In January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy.

GDP real GrowthRate

  • 3.3% (2007 est.)

GDP per Capita

  • $2,100 (2007 est.)

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 a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA

Location

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

Enviorment current issue

  • waterborne diseases are prevalent
  • deforestation
  • overgrazing
  • desertification
  • poaching
  • overfishing

For more info please contact:
African Studies
(310) 825-3686
africa@international.ucla.edu