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Africa :: Cameroon

- ## Introduction :: CAMEROON

- 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.

- ## Geography :: CAMEROON

- Location:
  Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
  Geographic coordinates:
  6 00 N, 12 00 E
  Map references:
  Africa
  Area:
  total: 475,440 sq km
  land: 472,710 sq km
  water: 2,730 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than California
  Land boundaries:
  total: 5,018 km
  border countries (6): Central African Republic 901 km, Chad 1,116 km, Republic of the Congo 494 km, Equatorial Guinea 183 km, Gabon 349 km, Nigeria 1,975 km
  Coastline:
  402 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Cameroon Mountain)
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 20.6%
  arable land 13.1%; permanent crops 3.3%; permanent pasture 4.2%
  forest: 41.7%
  other: 37.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  256.5 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  285.5 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.97 cu km/yr (23%/10%/68%)
  per capita: 58.9 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  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:
  waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
  Environment - international agreements:
  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:
  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 :: CAMEROON

- Nationality:
  noun: Cameroonian(s)
  adjective: Cameroonian
  Ethnic groups:
  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:
  24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
  Religions:
  indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
  Population:
  23,739,218
  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 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42.78% (male 5,115,958/female 5,039,122)
  15-24 years: 19.58% (male 2,337,061/female 2,310,178)
  25-54 years: 30.53% (male 3,644,779/female 3,603,610)
  55-64 years: 3.96% (male 458,001/female 481,717)
  65 years and over: 3.15% (male 348,754/female 400,038) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 84.3%
  youth dependency ratio: 78.4%
  elderly dependency ratio: 5.9%
  potential support ratio: 16.9% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 18.4 years
  male: 18.3 years
  female: 18.5 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.59% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Birth rate:
  36.17 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Death rate:
  10.11 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Net migration rate:
  -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 54.4% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  YAOUNDE (capital) 3.066 million; Douala 2.943 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 53.63 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 57.28 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 49.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 57.93 years
  male: 56.62 years
  female: 59.28 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Total fertility rate:
  4.76 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  23.4% (2011)
  Health expenditures:
  5.1% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Physicians density:
  0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 94.8% of population
  rural: 52.7% of population
  total: 75.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 5.2% of population
  rural: 47.3% of population
  total: 24.4% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 61.8% of population
  rural: 26.8% of population
  total: 45.8% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 38.2% of population
  rural: 73.2% of population
  total: 54.2% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  4.77% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  657,500 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  34,200 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Major infectious diseases:
  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:
  9.6% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  15.1% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Education expenditures:
  3% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 75%
  male: 81.2%
  female: 68.9% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 10 years
  male: 11 years
  female: 10 years (2011)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 1,396,281
  percentage: 31% (2006 est.)

- ## Government :: CAMEROON

- Country name:
  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:
  republic; multiparty presidential regime
  Capital:
  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:
  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:
  1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
  National holiday:
  State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996; amended 2008 (2008)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
  Suffrage:
  20 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
  head of government: Prime Minister Philemon YANG (since 30 June 2009)
  cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
  elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 9 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: 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%
  Legislative branch:
  description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (100 seats; 70 members indirectly elected by regional councils and 30 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the 100-member Senate was formed at the time of the April 2013 election
  elections: Senate last held on 14 April 2013 (next to be held in 2018); 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 Assembly percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 148, SDF 18, UNDP 5, UDC 4, UPC 3, other 2
  Judicial branch:
  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:
  Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA]
  Cameroon People's Party or CPP [Edith Kah WALLA]
  Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]
  Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]
  Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO]
  National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]
  Progressive Movement or MP [Jean-Jacques EKINDI]
  Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]
  Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Provisionary Management Bureau]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa or REDHAC [Maximilliene Ngo MBE]
  Tribunal 53 [Patrice NGANANG]
  International organization participation:
  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), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  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:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Stephen HOZA (since 19 September 2014)
  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] 22220 15 00; Consular: [237] 22220 16 03
  FAX: [237] 22220 15 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX: [237] 22220 17 52
  branch office(s): Douala
  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"
  note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
  National symbol(s):
  lion; national colors: green, red, yellow
  National anthem:
  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 :: CAMEROON

- Economy - overview:
  Modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions provide Cameroon with one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Cameroon’s economy suffers from political and economic factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, the continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, 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 continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget diverting funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects. Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects under construction, including a deep sea port in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project. Cameroon’s energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas powered electricity generating plant. Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity accounting for nearly 40% of export earnings despite falling global oil prices. Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs and improve its economic footprint but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $67.2 billion (2014 est.)
  $63.92 billion (2013 est.)
  $60.54 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 96
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $31.67 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  5.1% (2014 est.)
  5.6% (2013 est.)
  4.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $3,000 (2014 est.)
  $2,800 (2013 est.)
  $2,700 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Gross national saving:
  17.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  17.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  17.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 68.9%
  government consumption: 14%
  investment in fixed capital: 21%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 28.6%
  imports of goods and services: -32.5%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 19.9%
  industry: 27.6%
  services: 52.5% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, cassava (manioc, tapioca); livestock; timber
  Industries:
  petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
  Industrial production growth rate:
  4.9% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Labor force:
  9.105 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 70%
  industry: 13%
  services: 17% (2001 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  30% (2001 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Population below poverty line:
  48% (2000 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2.3%
  highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  44.6 (2001)
  47.7 (1996)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Budget:
  revenues: $5.503 billion
  expenditures: $6.92 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  17.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Public debt:
  22.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
  19.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.9% (2014 est.)
  1.9% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Central bank discount rate:
  4.25% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  13.8% (31 December 2014 est.)
  14% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Stock of narrow money:
  $3.861 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.988 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Stock of broad money:
  $6.439 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $6.633 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $3.318 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.114 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $230 million (31 December 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Current account balance:
  -$1.333 billion (2014 est.)
  -$1.332 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Exports:
  $6.376 billion (2014 est.)
  $5.819 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Exports - commodities:
  crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
  Exports - partners:
  Spain 13.9%, China 12%, India 10.1%, Italy 8.1%, Netherlands 8%, Belgium 5.1%, France 4.6%, Norway 4.5%, UK 4.3% (2014)
  Imports:
  $6.937 billion (2014 est.)
  $6.484 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
  Imports - partners:
  China 26.2%, Nigeria 12%, France 11.8%, Belgium 4.9%, US 4.2% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $3.503 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.384 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Debt - external:
  $5.006 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $4.217 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Exchange rates:
  Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per dollar -
  491.2 (2014 est.)
  494.04 (2013 est.)
  510.53 (2012 est.)
  471.87 (2011 est.)
  495.28 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: CAMEROON

- Electricity - production:
  5.857 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Electricity - consumption:
  5.267 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  1.007 million kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  28.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  71.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Crude oil - production:
  62,760 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Crude oil - exports:
  55,680 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Crude oil - imports:
  34,220 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  200 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  43,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  29,680 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 115
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  13,370 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  6,018 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Natural gas - production:
  165 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Natural gas - consumption:
  165 million cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  6.224 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122

- ## Communications :: CAMEROON

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.05 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 17.3 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Telephone system:
  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:
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (2001)
  Internet country code:
  .cm
  Internet users:
  total: 1.5 million
  percent of population: 6.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108

- ## Transportation :: CAMEROON

- Airports:
  33 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Airports - with paved runways:
  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:
  total: 22
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
  914 to 1,523 m: 10
  under 914 m:
  8 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 53 km; liquid petroleum gas 5 km; oil 1,107 km; water 35 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 987 km
  narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge
  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 (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Roadways:
  total: 51,350 km
  paved: 4,108 km
  unpaved: 47,242 km
  note: there are 28,857 km of national roads (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Waterways:
  (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:
  river port(s): Douala (Wouri); Garoua (Benoue)
  oil terminal(s): Limboh Terminal

- ## Military :: CAMEROON

- Military branches:
  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:
  18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years; periodic government calls for volunteers (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 4,667,251
  females age 16-49: 4,548,909 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 2,794,998
  females age 16-49: 2,718,110 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 215,248
  female: 211,636 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.42% of GDP (2012)
  1.37% of GDP (2011)
  1.42% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 70

- ## Transnational Issues :: CAMEROON

- Disputes - international:
  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
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 253,042 (Central African Republic); 58,220 (Nigeria) (2015)
  IDPs: 81,693 (2015)

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