Cameroon

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 permitted 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.

Capital: Yaounde

Government: Republic; Multiparty Presidential Regime

Economy:

• Modest oil reserves and favorable agricultural conditions lend Cameroon one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Commercial and economic leader in the sub-region.
• Highly dependent on commodity exports.
• Despite this, the economy in Cameroon suffers from economic mismanagement, pervasive corruption, and a challenging business environment (for local and foreign investors).

Population: 20 million (UN 2011)

Land Size: 475,442 sq km (183,568 sq miles)

Major Ethic Groups:

• Cameroon Highlanders: 31%
• Equatorial Bantu: 19%
• Kirdi: 11%
• Fulani: 10%
• Northwestern Bantu: 8%
• Eastern Nigritic: 7%
• Other African: 13%
• Non-African: < 1%

Religions:

• Indigenous beliefs: 40%
• Christian: 40%
• Muslim: 20%

Language(s):

• 24 major African language groups
• English (official)
• French (official)

 

For more information about Cameroon, please visit:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cm.html