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Western Africa, with 402 kilometers of coastline, just west and south of Nigeria. Slightly larger than California.
Republic of Cameroon has a president elected by popular vote for seven years, and a unicameral assembly with 180 seats. The president chooses the prime minister, who submits the names of people for the cabinet, chosen by the president.
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
Estimated per capita GDP:
2007 $2,300 (Ranks 171st)
GDP annual growth rate estimated for 2007: 3.2 percent. (Ranks 157th)
According to the CIA Factbook in 2004:
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.
The labor force remains 70 percent in agriculture.
Products are coffee, cocoa, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches, livestock and timber.
In 2001 Cameroon had 30 percent unemployment.
Camerron in 2001 produced 76,650 barrels per day and consumed 22,000 barrels per day. For 2004 was up to an estimated 94,000 barrels per day.
Political stability has allowed agricultural development, the building of roads and railways and development of its oil industry.
Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP: 1.3 (estimated for 2006).
2008: Deaths: 12.41, down from 15.4 in 2005. Births: 34.59, down from 34.67 in 2005
For July 2008, 18.468 million, up from 16.38 million in 2005. Growth rate estimated for 2008: 2.218 percent per year.
Density estimated for 2005: Nearly 35 persons per square kilometer. Persons per square kilometer of arable land: 269.
Viruses from non-human primates have spread among people in Cameroon. The hunting and butchering of these non-human primates has exposed people to the blood and body fluids of these animals, through which people have acquired viruses of the same family as HIV.
Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 64.57, down from 68.26 in 2005 (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)
Average life expectancy estimated for 2008: 53.3, up from 48 in 2005
Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 6.9 percent. (2003)
Males 84.7 percent
Females 73.4 percent
Water-borne diseases prevail. Cameroon suffers from deforestation, overgrazing, desertification, poaching and over-fishing.
Traditional 40 percent, Christian 40 percent, Muslim 20 percent.
In 2002, approximately 60,000 users.
Paul Biya has been president since 1982. He won his 1997 election with 92 percent of the vote. The result of this year's election is announced, and he has won another seven years in office, by 75 percent of the vote. Opposition to him was split among 16 candidates. His closest challenger won 17 percent of the vote. Cameroon's Cardinal Tumi has questioned the results of the election. He speaks of people having lost confidence in the government's ability to conduct polling. There have been calls for the courts to annul the election.
Abortion is legal only when medically necessary or as a response to rape, but many young urban women have abortions anyway. Homosexuality is illegal and can bring up to five years in prison.
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Copyright © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.