Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country 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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Africa
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 475,440 sq km
country comparison to the world: 54
land: 472,710 sq km
water: 2,730 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
402 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 84.01% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
256.5 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
285.5 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.97 cu km/yr (23%/10%/68%)
per capita: 58.9 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (elev. 4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22,534,532 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
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
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 40% (male 4,151,140/female 4,076,797)
15-24 years: 20.3% (male 2,107,067/female 2,066,718)
25-54 years: 31.9% (male 3,317,740/female 3,240,609)
55-64 years: 4.3% (male 419,751/female 468,077)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 319,597/female 381,725) (2013 est.)
Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 85.8 %
youth dependency ratio: 79.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6 %
potential support ratio: 16.7 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 19.7 years
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.8 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.04% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31.93 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.51 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 52.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
YAOUNDE (capital) 2.432 million; Douala 2.053 million (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.7
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
690 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 58.51 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 28
male: 62.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 55.02 years
country comparison to the world: 202
male: 54.1 years
female: 55.95 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23.4% (2011)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 137
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
610,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
37,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.3% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 130
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.6% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 45
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 137
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.3%
male: 78.3%
female: 64.8% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2011)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 1,396,281
percentage: 31 % (2006 est.)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Yaounde
geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10 regions (regions, singular - region); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extreme-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996; amended 2008 (2008)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Philemon YANG (since 30 June 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (with no term limits per 2008 constitutional amendment); election last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 78.0%, John FRU NDI 10.7%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.2%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 1.7%, Paul Abine AYAH 1.3%, other 5.1%
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bicameral legislature consisting of an upper house or Senate (100 seats; 70 indirectly elected by municipal councils, 30 appointed by the President) and a 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; a senate was initially designated in 1996 by constitutional amendment but was only convened following a presidential decree in 2013
elections: Senate last held on 14 April 2013 (next to be held NA); National Assembly last held on 30 September 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: Senate percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 56, SDF 14; National Assembley percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 148, SDF 18, UNDP 5, UDC 4, UPC 3, other 2
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon (a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly); judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for single 9-year terms
subordinate courts: Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrate's courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph FOE-ATANGANA (since 12 September 2008)
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; current temporary address - 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Gregory THOME
embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 2220 15 00; Consular: [237] 2220 16 03
FAX: [237] 2220 15 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX: [237] 2220 17 52
branch office(s): Douala
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; the vertical tricolor recalls the flag of France; red symbolizes unity, yellow the sun, happiness, and the savannahs in the north, and green hope and the forests in the south; the star is referred to as the "star of unity"
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lion
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "O Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancetres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers)
lyrics/music: Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME
note: adopted 1957; Cameroon's anthem, also known as "Chant de Ralliement" (The Rallying Song), has been used unofficially since 1948 and officially adopted in 1957; the anthem has French and English versions whose lyrics differ
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 confronting other underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, 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. The IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. Subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel have strained the budget. Cameroon recently began several large infrastructure projects, including a deep sea port in Kribi, a natural gas powered electricity generating plant, and several hydroelectric dams. Cameroon must attract more investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, but its business environment is a deterrent to foreign investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$50.16 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$25.01 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 67.4%
government consumption: 16.3%
investment in fixed capital: 21%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 30.7%
imports of goods and services: -34.8%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 20.8%
industry: 27.5%
services: 51.6% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, cassava (manioc); livestock; timber
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.246 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 70%
industry: 13%
services: 17% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
44.6 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 43
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $4.819 billion
expenditures: $5.726 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-3.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.482 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.279 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.772 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$230 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-956.2 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.015 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 15.2%, Netherlands 9.7%, Spain 9.1%, India 8.6%, Portugal 8.1%, Italy 6%, US 5.5%, France 4% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.321 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 18.7%, France 14.9%, Nigeria 12.3%, Belgium 5.2%, US 4.4%, India 4.2% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.431 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.207 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.761 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.181 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.115 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
72.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
63,520 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
55,680 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34,220 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
200 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 59
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
43,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29,410 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13,370 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6,018 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
150 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
210 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 50
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.126 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
737,400 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 88
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.1 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 64
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: system includes cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter; Camtel, the monopoly provider of fixed-line service, provides connections for only about 3 per 100 persons; equipment is old and outdated, and connections with many parts of the country are unreliable
domestic: mobile-cellular usage, in part a reflection of the poor condition and general inadequacy of the fixed-line network, has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of 50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 237; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), broadcasting on both a TV and radio network, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until August 2007 when the government finally issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operating but are subject to closure at any time; foreign news services required to partner with state-owned national station (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.cm
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10,207 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 134
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
749,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
33 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 112
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m:
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 53 km; liquid petroleum gas 5 km; oil 1,107 km; water 35 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,245 km
country comparison to the world: 82
narrow gauge: 1,245 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 51,350 km
country comparison to the world: 77
paved: 4,108 km
unpaved: 47,242 km
note: there are 28,857 km of national roads (2011)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
(major rivers in the south, such as the Wouri and the Sanaga, are largely non-navigable; in the north, the Benue, which connects through Nigeria to the Niger River, is navigable in the rainy season only to the port of Garoua) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
river port(s): Douala (Wouri); Garoua (Benoue)
oil/gas terminal(s): Limboh Terminal
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC), Army (L'Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale Republique (MNR), includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), Fire Fighter Corps, Gendarmerie (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 4,667,251
females age 16-49: 4,548,909 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 2,794,998
females age 16-49: 2,718,110 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 215,248
female: 211,636 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.42% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 215
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Joint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full phase-out of Nigerian control and patriation of residents in 2008; Cameroon and Nigeria agreed on maritime delimitation in March 2008; sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries