Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/42.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 12KB | 322 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Camer.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Cameroon"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Cameroon, click {z,"4.255577,0.096902,22.088233,13.563718",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Equatorial Guinea and
Nigeria

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 475,440 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 469,440 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly larger than California

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 4,591 km
{3}border countries:{4} Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Congo 523 km, Equatorial
Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 402 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}territorial sea:{4} 50 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of
which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the
Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the International Court of Justice

{2}Climate:{4} varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

{2}Terrain:{4} diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west,
plains in north
{3}lowest point:{4} Atlantic Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Fako 4,095 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower potential

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 13%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 2%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 18%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 54%
{3}other:{4} 13%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 280 sq km (1989 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification;
poaching; overfishing

{2}natural hazards:{4} recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,
Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 94

{2}Geographic note:{4} sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 14,261,557 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 46% (male 3,295,924; female 3,266,429)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 51% (male 3,602,037; female 3,627,625)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 3% (male 213,176; female 256,366) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 2.89% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 42.49 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.03 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.01 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.99 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.83 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 78.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 52.6 years
{3}male:{4} 51.55 years
{3}female:{4} 53.68 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 5.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Cameroonian(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Cameroonian

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%,
Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%

{2}Religions:{4} indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%

{2}Languages:{4} 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 63.4%
{3}male:{4} 75%
{3}female:{4} 52.1%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Cameroon
{3}conventional short form:{4} Cameroon
{3}former:{4} French Cameroon

{2}Type of government:{4} unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized
1990)

{2}Capital:{4} Yaounde

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord,
Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

{2}Independence:{4} 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French administration)

{2}National holiday:{4} National Day, 20 May (1972)

{2}Constitution:{4} 20 May 1972

{2}Legal system:{4} based on French civil law system, with common law influence; does not accept
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 21 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) elected for a five-year term by
universal suffrage; election last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); results -
President Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread allegations of fraud;
SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got
19% of the vote
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April 1992) appointed by the
president
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet appointed by the president

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 1 March 1992 (next to be held NA
March 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats (180 total) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC
18, MDR 6

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) (government-
controlled and the only party until legalization of opposition parties in 1990), Paul BIYA, president
major opposition parties: National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP); Social Democratic
Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union (UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC);
Movement for the Defense of the Republic (MDR)

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} Alliance for Change (FAC), Cameroon Anglophone Movement
(CAM)

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO,
FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
{3}chancery:{4} 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone] through 8794

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
{3}embassy:{4} Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
{3}mailing address:{4} B. P. 817, Yaounde
{3}telephone:{4} [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12
{3}FAX:{4} [237] 23-07-53

{2}Flag:{4} three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed
star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Because of its offshore oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions,
Cameroon has one of the best-endowed, most diversified primary commodity economies in sub-
Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped
countries, such as political instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable
climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector led to rapid economic growth
between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to an abrupt halt in 1986, precipitated by steep declines in
the prices of major exports: coffee, cocoa, and petroleum. Export earnings were cut by almost
one-third, and inefficiencies in fiscal management were exposed. In 1990-93, with support from
the IMF and World Bank, the government began to introduce reforms designed to spur business
investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and recapitalize the nation's banks. Political
instability, following suspect elections in 1992, brought IMF/WB structural adjustment to a halt;
currently Cameroon receives only minimal assistance from those Bretton Woods institutions.
Although the 50% devaluation of the currency of 12 January 1994 improved the potential for
export growth, mismanagement remains the main barrier to economic improvement. The
devaluation led to a spurt in inflation, to 48% in 1994, but inflation moderated in 1995. Progress
toward privatization of remaining state industry remains slow.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $16.5 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 1.8% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $1,200 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 29%
{3}industry:{4} 24%
{3}services:{4} 47% (1994 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 48% (1994)

{2}Labor force:{4} NA
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%, other services 14.2% (1983)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NA%

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $1.6 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $226 million (FY92/93 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles,
lumber

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 630,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 2.7 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 196 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock;
timber

{2}Exports:{4} $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, aluminum, cocoa beans, coffee, cotton
{3}partners:{4} EU (particularly France) about 50%, African countries, US

{2}Imports:{4} $810 million (f.o.b., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer goods, transport equipment,
petroleum products
{3}partners:{4} EU (France 38%, Germany), African countries, Japan 5%, US 5%

{2}External debt:{4} $6.6 billion (1993)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $449 million (1993)

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

{2}Exchange rates:{4} CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20
(1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991)
{3}note:{4} beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from
CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 July - 30 June


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,104 km (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 64,626 km
{3}paved:{4} 2,666 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 61,960 km (1987 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} 2,090 km; of decreasing importance

{2}Ports:{4} Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509 DWT (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 45
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 4
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 13
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 7
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 15 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 36,737 (1991 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} available only to business and government
{3}domestic:{4} cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
{3}international:{4} satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 11, FM 11, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 2 million (1993 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 1 (1995)

{2}Televisions:{4} NA


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential
Guard

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 3,112,339
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 1,572,150
{3}males reach military age (18) annually:{4} 151,300 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $102 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)