Country Guide • Cameroon

Flag of 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. Its rainforests, wildlife parks and isolated beaches make Cameroon one of Africa's most naturally and culturally diverse countries. In addition to its French and British colonial past, there are over 130 ethnic groups in the country speaking dozens of languages.

Official NameRepublic of Cameroon
Area475,440km² (183,567mile²)
Population15,746,000
ContinentAfrica
Population per mile²86
Capital CityYaoundé
ReligionsChristians 53%, Local native tribal beliefs 25%, Muslims 22%
LanguageBoth French and English are the official languages, although there are a further 24 major African language groups
GovernmentUnitary Republic
CurrencyCfa Franc
GDP$27 billion
GDP per Head$1,700
Natural ResourcesBauxite, Iron Ore, Petroleum and Timber
Land UseArable Land 13%
AgricultureCoffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock and timber
IndustryPetroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles and lumber/wood products
TourismVisitors should still be vary when visiting Cameroon. There are still areas that are described as 'particularly dangerous'. That being said Cameroon does have some of Africa's best wildlife parks
Natural HazardsVolcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Health RisksCholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, fungal infections, giardia, hepatitis, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, typhoid, yellow fever
ClimateCameroon has a tropical climate which varies from equatorial in the south to sahelian in the north. The sahelian climate in the north has a wet season between April and September while the rest of the year is dry. Average annual precipitation for this region is between 39 to 69 inches. The equatorial south has two wet seasons and two dry seasons with one wet season between March and June and the great wet season between August and November while one dry season is between June and August and the great dry season is between November to March. Average temperature ranges in Yaounde are from 18 to 29°C with an average annual rainfall of 159 inches
TimeGMT/UTC+1 hours
National DaysMay 20
VisasAll visitors to Cameroon need visas, which are valid for 90 days, plus an International Health Certificate showing proof of a yellow fever vaccination within the past 10 years
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

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