Cameroon

B

Principal Cities

Yaoundé, with a population of 1,616,000 (2003 estimate), is the main commercial centre, as well as the capital. Douala, on the Bight of Bonny, with a population of 1,494,700 (2001), is the chief port. Other important towns include Maroua, population 140,000 (1992 estimate), Bafoussam, 120,000 (1992 estimate), and Garoua, 160,000 (1992 estimate).

C

Religion

Over one half of the population adheres to traditional religions; about 16 per cent of the population is Muslim; the remaining 33 per cent is Christian. Muslims predominate in the north and Christians in the south.

D

Language

Around 280 languages are spoken in Cameroon. English and French are the official languages; French dominates, while English is confined mainly to the west. The country contains a great number of ethnic groups, who speak 24 major languages. Among the major ethnic groups are the Bamileke, a Bantu-speaking people of the central area, and the northern Fulani, a Muslim people. Beti is spoken by 2 million people, primarily in the Centre and South provinces, and also in the East province. Cameroon Pidgin is spoken by about 2 million people, chiefly as a second language. It is mainly spoken in the South-West and North-West provinces and is mutually intelligible with some other West African pidgins.

E

Education

French principles of education predominate in Cameroon’s secondary and technical schools. Mission schools play an important role in education and are partly subsidized by the government. In 1993–1994 the total enrolment in primary schools was about 1.89 million, and 546,400 in secondary schools. The University of Yaoundé, which was established in 1962, has faculties of law, arts, and science. More than 31,000 students are enrolled in institutions of higher education. Adult literacy is estimated at 81.1 per cent of adults (2005). In 2005, 3.1 per cent of the country’s gross national product (GNP) was spent on education.

IV

Economy

In 2004 Cameroon had a GNP (World Bank estimate) of US$12,993 million, equivalent to US$1,050 per capita. Cameroon has one of the most diversified economies in sub-Saharan Africa. However, it faces many of the serious problems facing other developing countries, such as political instability and a generally unfavourable climate for business enterprise. In 1990-1993, the government began to introduce reforms designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and privatize the nation’s banks, with support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. Political instability following suspect elections in 1992 brought IMF/World Bank structural adjustment to a halt, and progress toward privatization of remaining state industry remains slow.

Oil is the most important export, accounting for more than two thirds of earnings. The development of the oil sector led to rapid economic growth between 1970 and 1985, after which growth came to a halt in 1986, precipitated by steep declines in the prices of coffee, cocoa, and petroleum, the country’s main exports.

Agricultural activities are the main occupation of the vast majority of the population of Cameroon. Agricultural and forestry products are also important exports. In 1999 the estimated national budget showed revenues of US$1,203 million and expenditure of US$1,409 million. The average deficit is about 5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).