Cameroon, State of Central Africa; 475,000 km2, 25.2 million residents (2019).Cameroon borders Nigeria in the northwest, Chad in the northeast and east, the Central African Republic in the east and Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in the south. The capital is Yaoundé (2.8 million residents, 2015).
Country facts
- Republic of Cameroon / Republic of Cameroon
- Country abbreviation: CM
- Area: 475 000 km2
- Population (2019): 25.2 million residents
- Capital: Yaoundé
- Main languages: English, French, pidgin language
- State: Republic
- Head of State and Head of Government: Paul Biya (President)
- Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 1,527
- GNI per capita (2018): US $ 1,440
- Currency unit: 1 CFA franc = 100 centimes
- Currency code: XAF
- Country number (telephony): 237
- Internet domain name: cm
- Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
- National Day: May 20 (Republic gets joint constitution, 1972)
Nature
- Land use: forest (57%), agricultural land (15%), other (28%)
- Highest mountain: Cameroon mountain (4 070 m above sea level)
Population
- Population density (2019): 53 residents per km2
- Natural population growth (2019): 2.7%; birth rate 37 ‰, death rate 10 ‰
- Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (43%), 15-64 (54%), 65- (3%)
- Life expectancy (2019): men 57 years, women 60 years
- Infant mortality (2019): 48 per 1,000 live births
- Population forecast 2050: 55 million residents
- HDI (2017): 0.556 (place 151 of 189)
- Urbanization rate (2019): 56%
- Most populous cities (2015): Douala (2.8 million residents), Yaoundé (2.8 million)
Business
- Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (17%), industry (26%), service (57%)
- Exports (2017): US $ 4,732 million
- Main export products: oil, timber, cocoa
- Main exporting countries: Netherlands, France, China
- Imports (2017): US $ 4,812 million
- Main import products: machinery, transport, food
- Main importing countries: China, France, Thailand
- Railway network (2014): 1,000 km
With the exception of the coastal plains within the Atlantic coast and the area of Lake Chad, Cameroon is largely uplifted. It has a tropical climate with annual average temperatures from 23 °C to 28 °C, depending on the altitude.
Under the Constitution, the country is a multi-party state with English and French as official languages. The president is elected by universal suffrage for seven years. The president appoints the ministers and is the commander-in-chief of the army. The National Assembly, which enacts laws, has 180 members elected in general elections for five years. Cameroon became independent in 1960.
In addition to oil extraction and agricultural production, the country also has a well-developed industry. Until the mid-1980s, Cameroon had strong growth in the economy. Price falls on the country’s most important export products (oil, cocoa and coffee) led to a dramatically deteriorating economy, and the country was forced to take large loans. Thanks to rising oil prices and state measures, the country managed to reverse the negative economic development during the 1990s.