country comparison to the world: 38
Death rate:
12.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 79
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 62.15 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 32
male: 66.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 57.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.04 years
country comparison to the world: 202
male: 53.21 years
female: 54.9 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.25 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
5.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
540,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
39,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
24 major African language groups, English (official), French
(official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 77%
female: 59.8% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 9 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 150
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, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, North-West (Nord-Ouest), Ouest, Sud,
South-West (Sud-Ouest)
Independence:
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:
approved by referendum 20 May 1972; adopted 2 June 1972; revised
January 1996
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with common law influence; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 appointed by the president from proposals submitted
by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 October 2004
(next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote -
Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga
Haman ADJI 3.7%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms); note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term
of the legislature
elections: last held on 22 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CPDM 140, SDF 14, UDC 4, UNDP 4, MP 1, vacant 17
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the
legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of
Justice (consists of nine judges and six substitute judges; elected
by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA];
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; Social Democratic Front or
SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Augustin
Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]; Southern
Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM,
OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph FOE-ATANGANA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Janet E. GARVEY
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] 2220 15 00; Consular: [237] 2220 16 03
FAX: [237] 2220 16 00 Ext. 4531; Consular FAX: [237] 2220 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 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 although officially adopted in 1957; the anthem has French and
English versions whose lyrics differ
Economy ::Cameroon
Economy - overview:
Because of its modest 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 stagnate per
capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, 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. The IMF is pressing for more
reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and
poverty reduction programs. Weak prices for oil and cocoa led to the
significant slowdown in growth in 2009. The government is under
pressure to reduce its budget deficit, which by the government's own
forecast will hit 2.8% of GDP, but the presidential election in 2011
may make fiscal austerity difficult.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$44.65 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$43.44 billion (2009 est.)
$43.05 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.88 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
0.9% (2009 est.)
3.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
$2,300 (2009 est.)
$2,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 30.9%
services: 49.1% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
7.836 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
industry: 13%
services: 17% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
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)
country comparison to the world: 43
47.7 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Public debt:
16.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
16.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 104
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$2.888 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 111
$3.074 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$4.831 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$4.921 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$848.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$1.523 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root
starches; livestock; timber
Industries:
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food
processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Electricity - production:
5.601 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Electricity - consumption:
4.801 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
77,310 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - consumption:
26,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Oil - exports:
107,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Oil - imports:
45,520 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Oil - proved reserves:
200 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - production:
20 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - consumption:
20 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - proved reserves:
135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Current account balance:
-$826 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
-$1.137 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$4.371 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.079 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,
coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:
Netherlands 13.99%, Spain 12.25%, Italy 11.84%, China 9.14%, US
6.16%, France 5.51%, South Korea 4.66%, Belgium 4.33%, UK 4% (2009)
Imports:
$4.869 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$4.405 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:
France 21.03%, Nigeria 10.79%, China 10.25%, Belgium 6.62%, US 4.31%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.023 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$3.676 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.344 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$3.231 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs 506.04 (2010),
472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006)
Communications ::Cameroon
Telephones - main lines in use:
323,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.397 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
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 1 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 40 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) (2009)
Broadcast media:
government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned
Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), broadcasting on both a television
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)
Internet country code:
.cm
Internet hosts:
90 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 204
Internet users:
749,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 106
Transportation ::Cameroon
Airports:
34 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 111
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 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 6 (2010)
Pipelines:
oil 889 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 987 km
country comparison to the world: 90
narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 50,000 km
country comparison to the world: 81
paved: 5,000 km
unpaved: 45,000 km (2004)
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:
Douala, Garoua, Limboh Terminal
Military ::Cameroon
Military branches:
Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army
(L'Armee de Terre), Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee
de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), Fire Fighter Corps, Gendarmerie (2010)
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; the government makes periodic calls for volunteers (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,553,576
females age 16-49: 4,443,217 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,721,307
females age 16-49: 2,647,640 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 213,538
female: 209,549 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 113
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
agree 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): 20,000-30,000 (Chad); 3,000 (Nigeria);
24,000 (Central African Republic) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cameroon is a source, transit, and destination
country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced
labor and commercial sexual exploitation; most victims are children
trafficked within country, with girls primarily trafficked for
domestic servitude and sexual exploitation; both boys and girls are
also trafficked within Cameroon for forced labor in sweatshops,
bars, restaurants, and on tea and cocoa plantations; children are
trafficked into Cameroon from neighboring states for forced labor in
agriculture, fishing, street vending, and spare-parts shops;
Cameroon is a transit country for children trafficked between Gabon
and Nigeria, and from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia; it is a source
country for women transported by sex-trafficking rings to Europe
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cameroon is on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat human trafficking in 2007, particularly in terms of efforts
to prosecute and convict trafficking offenders; while Cameroon
reported some arrests of traffickers, none of them were prosecuted
or punished; the government does not identify trafficking victims
among vulnerable populations nor does it monitor the number of
victims it intercepts (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Canada (North America)
Introduction ::Canada
Background:
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a
self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British
crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in
parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an
unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting
public demands for quality improvements in health care and education
services, as well as responding to the particular concerns of
predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its
diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the
environment.
Geography ::Canada
Location:
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the
east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the
north, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 9,984,670 sq km
country comparison to the world: 2
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline:
202,080 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain:
mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, rare earth elements,
molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal,
petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 4.57%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 94.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:
7,850 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
3,300 cu km (1985)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 44.72 cu km/yr (20%/69%/12%)
per capita: 1,386 cu m/yr (1996)
Natural hazards:
continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development;
cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the
mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American
interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of
the mountains
volcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast
Mountains remain dormant
Environment - current issues:
air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and
damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and
vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity;
ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial,
mining, and forestry activities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location
between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of
the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border
People ::Canada
Population:
33,759,742 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 2,761,711/female 2,626,836)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 11,633,950/female 11,381,735)
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 2,220,189/female 2,862,787) (2010
est.)
Median age:
total: 40.7 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 41.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.804% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Birth rate:
10.28 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Death rate:
7.87 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Net migration rate:
5.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Urbanization:
urban population: 80% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.056 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 186
male: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.29 years
country comparison to the world: 10
male: 78.72 years
female: 84 years (2010 est.)