| Info about Cameroon | |
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.
| | Diseases | | degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepat | | Languages | | 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) | | Ethnic division | | Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1% | | HIV/AIDS prevalence rate | | 6.9% (2003 est.) | | Climate info | | varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north | | Natural Resources | | petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower | | Economic data | | 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 a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy. 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. | | Environmental issues | | waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
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