{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. 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. Nonetheless, unrest and violence in the country's two western, English-speaking regions have persisted since 2016. Movement toward democratic reform is slow, and political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "6 00 N, 12 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Africa" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "475,440 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "472,710 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "2,730 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "5,018 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Central African Republic 901 km; Chad 1,116 km; Republic of the Congo 494 km; Equatorial Guinea 183 km; Gabon 349 km; Nigeria 1975 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "402 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" } }, "Climate": { "text": "varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north" }, "Terrain": { "text": "diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "667 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "20.6% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 13.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 3.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 4.2% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "41.7% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "37.7% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "290 sq km (2012)" }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) - 10,360-25,900 sq km
note - area varies by season and year to year" } }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Lake Chad Basin" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "

volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

volcanism: 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

" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea; 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": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "30,966,105" }, "male": { "text": "15,429,588" }, "female": { "text": "15,536,517 (2024 est.)" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Cameroonian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Cameroonian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Bamileke-Bamu 22.2%, Biu-Mandara 16.4%, Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri 13.5%, Beti/Bassa, Mbam 13.1%, Grassfields 9.9%, Adamawa-Ubangi, 9.8%, Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko 4.6%, Southwestern Bantu 4.3%, Kako/Meka 2.3%, foreign/other ethnic group 3.8% (2022 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)" } }, "Religions": { "text": "Roman Catholic 33.1%, Muslim 30.6%, Protestant 27.1% other Christian 6.1%, animist 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 1.2% (2022 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

Cameroon has a large youth population, with more than 60% of the populace under the age of 25 as of 2020. Fertility is falling but remains at a high level, especially among poor, rural, and uneducated women, in part because of inadequate access to contraception. Life expectancy remains low at about 55 years due to the prevalence of HIV and AIDs and an elevated maternal mortality rate, which has remained high since 1990. Cameroon, particularly the northern region, is vulnerable to food insecurity largely because of government mismanagement, corruption, high production costs, inadequate infrastructure, and natural disasters. Despite economic growth in some regions, poverty is on the rise, and is most prevalent in rural areas, which are especially affected by a shortage of jobs, declining incomes, poor school and health care infrastructure, and a lack of clean water and sanitation. Underinvestment in social safety nets and ineffective public financial management also contribute to Cameroon’s high rate of poverty.  The activities of Boko Haram, other armed groups, and counterinsurgency operations have worsened food insecurity in the Far North region.  

International migration has been driven by unemployment (including fewer government jobs), poverty, the search for educational opportunities, and corruption. The US and Europe are preferred destinations, but, with tighter immigration restrictions in these countries, young Cameroonians are increasingly turning to neighboring states, such as Gabon and Nigeria, South Africa, other parts of Africa, and the Near and Far East. Cameroon’s limited resources make it dependent on UN support to host more than 480,000 refugees and asylum seekers as of December 2022. These refugees and asylum seekers are primarily from the Central African Republic and Nigeria.  Internal and external displacement have grown dramatically in recent years.  Boko Haram's attacks and counterattacks by government forces in the Far North since 2014 have increased the number of internally displaced people.  Armed conflict between separatists and Cameroon's military in the Northwest and Southwest since 2016 have displaced hundreds of thousands of the country's Anglophone minority.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "41.5% (male 6,477,438/female 6,364,987)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "55.3% (male 8,488,522/female 8,638,519)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "3.2% (2024 est.) (male 463,628/female 533,011)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "82.3" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "77.3" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "4.9" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "20.3 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "18.9 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "18.6 years" }, "female": { "text": "19.2 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "2.71% (2024 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "34.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "59.3% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "4.509 million YAOUNDE (capital), 4.063 million Douala (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.02 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.98 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.87 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "20.1 years (2018 est.)", "note": "note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "438 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "46.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "50.8 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "41.3 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "64.2 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "62.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "66.1 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "4.44 children born/woman (2024 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "2.19 (2024 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "19.3% (2018)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 95.1% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 56.2% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 78.6% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 4.9% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 43.8% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 21.4% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "3.8% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physician density": { "text": "0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2019)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "1.3 beds/1,000 population" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 83.2% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 27.7% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 59.7% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 16.8% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 72.3% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 40.3% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "11.4% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "2.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "1.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "7.3% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "13.2% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "1.4% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "11% (2018/19)" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "54.2% (2023 est.)" }, "Child marriage": { "women married by age 15": { "text": "10.7%" }, "women married by age 18": { "text": "29.8%" }, "men married by age 18": { "text": "2.9% (2018 est.)" } }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "77.1%" }, "male": { "text": "82.6%" }, "female": { "text": "71.6% (2018)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "12 years" }, "male": { "text": "13 years" }, "female": { "text": "11 years (2016)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation and overgrazing result in erosion, desertification, and reduced quality of pastureland; poaching; overfishing; overhunting" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "Nuclear Test Ban" } }, "Climate": { "text": "varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "20.6% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 13.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 3.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 4.2% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "41.7% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "37.7% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "59.3% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Food insecurity": { "severe localized food insecurity": { "text": "due to civil insecurity and high food prices - according to a March 2023 analysis, about 3 million people were estimated to be acutely food insecure between March and August 2023, as a result of conflict, sociopolitical unrest and high food prices, as well as floods that caused population displacements and damaged standing crops (2023)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "2.5% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "56.37 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "8.29 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "30.71 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "3,270,617 tons (2013 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "13,082 tons (2009 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "0.4% (2009 est.)" } }, "Major lakes (area sq km)": { "fresh water lake(s)": { "text": "Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) - 10,360-25,900 sq km
note - area varies by season and year to year" } }, "Major watersheds (area sq km)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Lake Chad Basin" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "250 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "740 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "283.15 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Republic of Cameroon" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Cameroon" }, "local long form": { "text": "République du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)" }, "local short form": { "text": "Cameroun/Cameroon" }, "former": { "text": "Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon" }, "etymology": { "text": "in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers named the area near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; over time the designation became Cameroon in English; this is the only instance where a country is named after a crustacean" } }, "Government type": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Yaounde" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "3 52 N, 11 31 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "Germans founded the city in 1888, but the name comes from the native Ewondo people; the meaning of the name is unclear" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "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": { "text": "1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)" }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended; amended 2008" } }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "20 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president" }, "election results": { "text": "
2018: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2%

2011: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 78.0%, John FRU NDI (SDF) 10.7%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.2%, other 8.1% (2018)" } }, "Legislative branch": { "legislature name": { "text": "Parlement - Parliament" }, "legislative structure": { "text": "bicameral" } }, "Legislative branch - lower chamber": { "chamber name": { "text": "National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly)" }, "number of seats": { "text": "180 (all directly elected)" }, "electoral system": { "text": "proportional representation" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "5 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020" }, "parties elected and seats per party": { "text": "Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC/CPDM) (152); Other (28)" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "33.9%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "February 2025" } }, "Legislative branch - upper chamber": { "chamber name": { "text": "Senate (Sénat - Senate)" }, "number of seats": { "text": "100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed)" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "5 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "3/12/2023" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "33%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "March 2027" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "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": { "text": "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 renewable 6-year terms" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts" } }, "Political parties": { "text": "Alliance for Democracy and Development 
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM 
Cameroon People's Party or CPP 
Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC 
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC 
Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN 
Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC 
Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR 
Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC 
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP 
Progressive Movement or MP 
Social Democratic Front or SDF 
Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC 
Union of Socialist Movements " }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 265-8790" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 387-3826" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
mail@cameroonembassyusa

Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org)" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé" }, "mailing address": { "text": "2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC  20521-2520" }, "telephone": { "text": "[237] 22251-4000" }, "FAX": { "text": "[237] 22251-4000, Ext. 4531" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
YaoundeACS@state.gov

https://cm.usembassy.gov/" }, "branch office(s)": { "text": "Douala" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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": "note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "lion; national colors: green, red, yellow" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"O Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancetres\" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME" }, "note": "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" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "2 (both natural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Dja Faunal Reserve; Sangha Trinational Forest" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "largest CEMAC economy with many natural resources; recent political instability and terrorism reducing economic output; systemic corruption; poor property rights enforcement; increasing poverty in northern regions" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$138.191 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$133.843 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$129.022 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "3.25% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "3.74% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "3.34% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$4,900 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$4,800 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$4,800 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$49.279 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "7.38% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "6.25% (2022 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "2.27% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "B (2006)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "B2 (2016)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "B- (2020)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "17.3% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "25.5% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "50.2% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "73.9% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "10.6% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "19.1% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.4% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "16.6% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-20.6% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, maize, taro, tomatoes, sorghum, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables (2022)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "-0.41% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "11.89 million (2023 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "3.65% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "3.69% (2022 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "3.95% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "6.4% (2023 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "6% (2023 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "7% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "37.5% (2014 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021": { "text": "42.2 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "45.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "2.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "2.1% (2021 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "31.1% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "1.18% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "1.27% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.96% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$6.385 billion (2021 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$5.592 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "36.9% of GDP (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "11.34% (of GDP) (2021 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "-$1.505 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$1.794 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "-$1.512 billion (2020 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2022": { "text": "$8.641 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Exports 2021": { "text": "$7.447 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Exports 2020": { "text": "$6.124 billion (2020 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Netherlands 19%, France 15%, India 14%, Spain 10%, China 8% (2022)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "crude petroleum, natural gas, wood, cocoa beans, gold (2022)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2022": { "text": "$9.759 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Imports 2021": { "text": "$9.025 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Imports 2020": { "text": "$7.212 billion (2020 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 39%, France 8%, India 6%, Belgium 4%, UAE 4% (2022)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, wheat, garments, rice, plastic products (2022)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$5.133 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": { "text": "$4.3 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020": { "text": "$3.962 billion (2020 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2023": { "text": "$11.811 billion (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: present value of external debt in current US dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "606.57 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "623.76 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "554.531 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "575.586 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "585.911 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "71% (2022 est.)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "94%" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "25%" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "1.763 million kW (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "6.311 billion kWh (2022 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "58.1 million kWh (2020 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "1.811 billion kWh (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "37.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "61.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "imports": { "text": "90.9 metric tons (2022 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "54,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "40,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "200 million barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "2.595 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "877.058 million cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "1.768 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "135.071 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "7.239 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "5.518 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "1.721 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": { "text": "4.656 million Btu/person (2022 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "896,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "3 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "26.2 million (2023 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "83 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "Cameroon was for many years one of the few countries in Africa with only two competing mobile operators; the investment programs among operators over the next few years aims to considerably boost mobile broadband services in rural areas of the country, many of which are under served by fixed-line infrastructure; the government has also been supportive, having launched its ‘Cameroon Digital 2020’ program, aimed at improving connectivity nationally; improved submarine and terrestrial cable connectivity has substantially increased international bandwidth, in turn leading to reductions in access prices for consumers; other projects such as Acceleration of the Digital Transformation of Cameroon are aimed at developing the digital economy (2022)" }, "domestic": { "text": "only a little above 3 per 100 persons for fixed-line subscriptions; mobile-cellular usage has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of roughly 83 per 100 persons (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 237; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, SAIL, ACE, NCSCS, Ceiba-2, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, South America, and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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 issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operate under “administrative tolerance,” meaning the stations could be subject to closure at any time (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".cm" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "44% (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "603,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "2 (2022 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "1 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "3" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "265,136 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "70,000 (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "TJ" }, "Airports": { "text": "37 (2024)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2024)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "53 km gas, 5 km liquid petroleum gas, 1,107 km oil, 35 km water (2013)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "987 km (2014)" }, "narrow gauge": { "text": "987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge" }, "note": "note: railway connections generally efficient but limited; rail lines connect major cities of Douala, Yaounde, Ngaoundere, and Garoua; passenger and freight service provided by CAMRAIL" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "77,589 km" }, "paved": { "text": "5,133 km" }, "unpaved": { "text": "72,456 km (2019)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "(2010) (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)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "198 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 2, general cargo 91, oil tanker 42, other 63" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "7 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "0" }, "medium": { "text": "1" }, "small": { "text": "0" }, "very small": { "text": "5" }, "size unknown": { "text": "1" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "5" }, "key ports": { "text": "Douala, Ebome Marine Terminal, Kole Oil Terminal, Kome Kribi 1 Marine Terminal, Kribi Deep Sea Port, Limboh Terminal, Moudi Marine Terminal" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army (L'Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale Republique, MNR, includes naval infantry or fusiliers marin), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), National Gendarmerie (Gendamerie Nationale, GN), National Firefighting Corps (Corps National de Sapeurs-Pompiers, CNSP), Presidential Guard (Garde Présidentielle du Cameroun, GP)

General Delegation for National Security (Délégation Générale à la Sûreté Nationale or DGSN): Cameroon Police (2024)", "note": "note 1: the Police and the National Gendarmerie are responsible for internal security; the Gendarmerie conducts administrative, criminal, and military investigative functions; other missions include customs, air and maritime surveillance, and road traffic control; in times of conflict, it participates in internal defense

note 2: the Army includes the Rapid Intervention Brigade (Brigade d’Intervention Rapide or BIR), which maintains its own command and control structure and reports directly to the Chief of Defense staff and the Presidency; the BIR includes airborne/airmobile, amphibious, armored reconnaissance, artillery, and counterterrorism forces, as well as support elements, such as intelligence" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "1% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "1% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "1% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.4% of GDP (2019 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "information varies; approximately 40-45,000 active-duty FAC troops, including about 10-12,000 BIR; approximately 10,000 Gendarmerie (2023)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the FAC inventory is comprised of weapons and equipment from a variety of countries, including China, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, the US, and some Western European countries, particularly France (2024)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years (2024)" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "750 (plus about 350 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)", "note": "note: Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations occur occasionally" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the FAC ground forces (Army and the Rapid Intervention Battalion) are largely focused on internal security, particularly the threat from the terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and, since 2016, an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions; in addition, the FAC often deploys ground units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits; the Navy’s missions include protecting Cameroon’s oil installations, combatting crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and patrolling the country’s lakes and rivers; the FAC's small Air Force supports both the ground and naval forces (2024)" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa", "note": "note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { "text": "354,725 (Central African Republic), 121,172 (Nigeria) (2024)" }, "IDPs": { "text": "1.066 million (2023) (includes far north, northwest, and southwest)" } } } }