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Cameroon
Cameroon
Population
29.1M
Rank #52Source: World Bank
Capital
Yaounde
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$53.30B
Rank #91Source: World Bank
Land Area
475.4K km²
Rank #54Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
63.7 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 475,442 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
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: mean elevation: 667 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m
Natural Hazards: volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoesvolcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active...
Environmental Issues: waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation and overgrazing result in erosion, desertification, and reduced quality of pastureland; poaching; overfishing; overhunting
Land Use: agricultural land: 20.6% (2011 est.) forest: 41.7% (2011 est.) other: 37.7% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: 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...
Natural Resources
petroleumbauxiteiron oretimberhydropower
People & Society
Fertility Rate
4.32
Population
29.1M
Ethnic Groups
Bamileke-Bamu (24.3%)Mbam (21.6%)Biu-Mandara (14.6%)Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri (11%)Grassfields (7.7%)Meka/Pygmy (3.3%)Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko (2.7%)Southwestern Bantu (0.7%)foreign/other ethnic group (4.5%)
Religions
Roman Catholic (38.3%)Protestant (25.5%)other Christian (6.9%)Muslim (24.4%)animist (2.2%)other (0.5%)none (2.2%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$1,830.008
GDP per Capita PPP
5,588.986
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
1,700
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
42.2
(2021)
(2021)
Unemployment
3.603%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
4.533%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
72%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
79.2%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
10.293 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
4.23 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
53.876%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
42.674% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
41.909%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
96.482%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
2.129%
(2022)
(2022)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
0.018 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
366,667 TEU
(2020)
(2020)
Airports
6,200
Rail Lines
884 km
Roads Total
127,956 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
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),...
Personnel Strength
size assessments for the Cameroon Armed Forces (FAC) vary widely; approximately 40,000 active duty troops; (25,000 Army, including the Presidential Guard; 2,000 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 12,000...
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.53B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
1.01%
Military Expenditure History
1.1% of GDP (2019) 1.1% of GDP (2018) 1.3% of GDP (2017) 1.3% of GDP (2016) 1.3% of GDP (2015)
Deployments
750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); MNJTF (approximately 2,000-2,500 troops committed; note - the national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although...
Equipment & Inventories
the FAC inventory includes a mix of mostly older or second-hand Chinese, Russian, and Western equipment, with a limited quantity of more modern weapons; since 2010, the top suppliers to the FAC are...
Service Age & 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
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
35.618%
(2019)
(2019)
Primary Enrollment
114.407%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
44.841%
(2023)
(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
16.661%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
2.839% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
72.55%
(2018)
(2018)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
44.834:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.136
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
71.41%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
67.2 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
15.03 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
63.724
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
48
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
77%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
26.7%
(2021)
(2021)
Food Insecurity
4.8%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
6.428%
(2021)
(2021)
Governance
Women in Government
33.889%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-1.07
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Political Stability
-1.40
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.91
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.91
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-1.04
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.16
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Joseph Dion NGUTE (since 4 January 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Amadou ALI (since 2014) cabinet: Cabinet...
Legislative Branch
description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of:Senate or Senat (100 seats; 70 members indirectly elected by regional councils and 30 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: 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...
National Symbols
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,...
National Symbols
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...
Safety
Homicide Rate
6.76 per 100,000
(2022)
(2022)
Travel Information
Language(s): English, French
Currency: XAF (Fr)
Timezone(s): UTC+01:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +237
Car Sign: CAM
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Lake Nyos is a crater lake on the flank of an inactive volcano. Magma beneath the lake leaks carbon dioxide into the waters. In 1986, the lake emitted a large cloud of carbon dioxide that suffocated nearly 1,800 people and some 3,500 livestock in nearby villages.
Lake Nyos is a crater lake on the flank of an inactive volcano. Magma beneath the lake leaks carbon dioxide into the waters. In 1986, the lake emitted a large cloud of carbon dioxide that suffocated nearly 1,800 people and some 3,500 livestock in nearby villages. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
2 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data