Cameroon
Country Guide

Explore Cameroon

Cameroon with its capital Yaounde is located in Africa (Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra). It covers some 475,441 square kilometers (slightly larger than California) with a population of 24,994,900. English and French are the languages spoken by people in Cameroon. Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria and Republic of the Congo are bordering countries.

Cameroon is in West Africa. Cameroon is a diverse and multi ethnic country. While it is not the largest country in Africa, in some ways it's as large as Africa itself. Known as Africa in miniature it features French and English speaking portions, Muslim and Christian dominated regions, the tallest mountain in West Africa and terrain that includes rain forest, desert plains, mountains and high plateau. If you are going during the summer, plan on lots of rain every day. It might be cold up in the mountains, especially at nights. Most people will need a visa and it is very advisable to obtain it before arriving. French and English are the official languages in Cameroon although there are over 276 recognized languages in Cameroon. The Northwest and Southwest provinces are anglophone although in some areas pidgin English is more common. The rest of the country is predominantly francophone although almost all areas will also have local languages.

Popular Destinations in Cameroon

Administrative regions of Cameroon

• Adamaoua Region
• Centre Region
• East Region
• Far North
• Littoral Region
• North Region
• North-West Region
• South Region
• South-West Region
• West Region

About the country

The topography is diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north. The average density of population is about 53 per km². The climate in Cameroon can be described as varying with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north. Potential natural disasters are Mt. Cameroon (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 volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

To reach someone Cameroon dial +237 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".cm". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E). The sign for the locally used currency Franc is XAF.

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".

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 enabled 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

Area
Total (World Rank: 55)	475,440	sq km
Land (World Rank: 52)	472,710	sq km
Water (World Rank: 82)	2,730	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 166)	4.20	%
Comparative	slightly larger than California
Coastline
402
Landborder
5018
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 44)	4,045	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 162)	20.60	%
Arable (World Rank: 88)	13.10	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 72)	3.30	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 166)	4.20	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 126)	290	sq km
Map reference
Africa
Environment
Issues	- deforestation - desertification - overfishing - overgrazing - poaching - waterborne diseases are prevalent
Agreement party	- 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
Hazzards	- Mt. Cameroon (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 - volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Location
Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Climate
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 53)	24,994,900
Deathrate (World Rank: 49)	0.96	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 19)	3.54	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 17)	2.56	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 72)	-0.01	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 21)	4.64	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 201)	18.40
Female (World Rank: 209)	18.70
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 36)	5,337,880
0 14 female (World Rank: 36)	5,257,030
15 24 male (World Rank: 49)	2,456,060
15 24 female (World Rank: 49)	2,432,500
25 54 male (World Rank: 57)	3,880,910
25 54 female (World Rank: 59)	3,835,110
55 64 male (World Rank: 73)	485,059
55 64 female (World Rank: 75)	509,649
65 x male (World Rank: 77)	372,415
65 x female (World Rank: 82)	428,283
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 28)	5.10	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 205)	59	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 205)	60	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 205)	58	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 165)	0.08
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 136)	1.30
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 164)	45.80	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 135)	11.40	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 172)	75.60	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 113)	6,800,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 114)	6,100,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 186)	28.50	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 19)	71.50	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 44)	95,960	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 41)	50,830	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 58)	37,600	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 57)	200,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 81)	51,670	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 108)	43,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 74)	14,590	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 168)	4,134	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 71)	469,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 107)	469,000,000	m³
Carbon footprint
6500000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 136)	3	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 68)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 164)	4	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 174)	-7	% of GDP
National symbol
lion
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Cameroonian
Noun
Cameroonian(s)
Background
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 enabled 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.
Flag description
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"

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 93)	77,100,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 45)	4.70	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 187)	3,300	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 37)	23.00	%
Source industry (World Rank: 92)	28.20	%
Source service (World Rank: 180)	48.80	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 52)	9,659,000
In poverty (World Rank: 61)	30.00	%
Products
Industries	- aluminum production - food processing - light consumer goods - lumber - petroleum production - refining - ship repair - textiles
Agriculture	- bananas - cassava - cocoa - coffee - cotton - grains - livestock - manioc - oilseed - rubber - tapioca - timber
Exports	- aluminum - cocoa beans - coffee - cotton - crude oil - lumber - petroleum products
Imports	- electrical equipment - food - fuel - machinery - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 76)	1,051,070
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 162)	4.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 187)	67.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 67)	6,090,200
Population (World Rank: 174)	25.00	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 112)	11.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 98)	22.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 90)	987
Road
Total length (World Rank: 78)	51,350
Paved length (World Rank: 106)	4,108
Unpaved length (World Rank: 34)	47,242

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