Chief
of State: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November
1982)
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Ephraim INONI (since 8 December 2004)
Government Type: unitary republic;
multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized
in 1990)
note: preponderance of power remains with the president
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Population:
17,340,702
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
and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and
changes in the distribution of population by age and sex
than would otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.)
Languages: 24 major African language
groups, English (official), French (official)
Religion: indigenous beliefs
40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Life Expectancy: 51.16 |
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note -
responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African
States
GDP(per capita): $2,400 (2005
est.)
Overview: 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. 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. International oil and cocoa prices
have considerable impact on the economy.
Exports: crude oil and petroleum
products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
Import: machinery, electrical
equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food |
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Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between
Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Area: total: 475,440 sq km
land: 469,440 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km |
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 an ethnic oligarchy headed by President
Paul BIYA.
Independence Day: 1 January
1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Capital City: Yaounde
Administrative divisions: 10
provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral,
Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest |
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