Location & Landscape
Cameroon is located on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Nigeria, Gabon, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. It has a 400km coastline to the Atlantic Ocean.
The climate ranges from tropical rainforest to open savanna, with high mountain ranges on the north-west border with Nigeria. Mount Cameroon, located at Buea near the port of Limbe, rises to 4,100 metres and is an active volcano. From the main commercial port city of Douala, the land rises to 700 metres at Yaoundé, the national capital. The mountain range bordering Nigeria climbs to over 2,000 metres. Throughout Cameroon there are areas of thermal springs, and indications of current or prior volcanic activity.
Mount Cameroon
Active volcano near Buea, rising to 4,100 metres — the highest peak in West Africa.
Atlantic Coastline
A 400km coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, with the major port city of Douala.
Land Area
475,440 km² (183,638 sq miles) — comparable in size to Spain or California.
Climate
Ranges from equatorial tropical rainforest in the south to dry open savanna in the north.
The Name & History
The country owes its name to Cameroes — meaning prawns, shrimps, or crayfish — which Portuguese explorers found in abundance on the Wouri estuary in 1472, naming it 'Rio Dos Cameroes', the River of Prawns.
Portuguese explorers name the Wouri estuary 'Rio Dos Cameroes' — River of Prawns.
Cameroon becomes a German Protectorate, remaining under German administration until 1916.
Administered jointly by Britain and France as Mandates of the League of Nations, then as UN trust territories from 1945.
The French trust territory gains independence in 1960; the British portion follows in 1961, forming the Federal Republic of Cameroon.
The name is officially changed to The Republic of Cameroon.
The first multiparty elections are held, marking a significant democratic milestone.
Cameroon becomes a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations, reflecting its unique bilingual British-French heritage.
People, Language & Government
The population of approximately 20 million is comprised of over 240 tribal groups. No single tribe or religion holds dominance, and the country has maintained a typically peaceful coexistence throughout its history.
The system of government follows the French presidential model, with a powerful office of President elected for seven-year terms. The Prime Minister and Ministers are appointed by the President, while the Chamber of Deputies is elected by popular vote every four years. His Excellency Paul Biya is the Head of State.
The official languages are French and English, with French being dominant. English is most strongly represented in the former British Cameroon region. Bilingual schools are common throughout the country, and growing numbers of Cameroonians recognise the importance of English in the global economy.
Official Languages
French & English — one of only a handful of officially bilingual nations in Africa.
Currency
The CFA Franc, linked to the Euro through a French parity guarantee, fluctuating with global Euro values.
Government
Presidential republic. President elected for seven-year terms. Chamber of Deputies elected every four years.
Commonwealth
Full member since 1995, reflecting the former British Cameroon (South Nigeria) heritage.
Major Cities
Cameroon's cities span its diverse geographic regions. Douala, the principal seaport and commercial capital, has a population of over 2.5 million; Yaoundé, the national capital, 1.2 million. A large proportion of the population (47%) lives in non-urban areas, reflecting Cameroon's strong agricultural tradition.
Agriculture, Industry & Resources
Cameroonians are productive farmers, producing a surplus of diverse crops for export and domestic use. Unrefined oil is the country's prime export, shipped from Limbe, where the country's oil refinery operates at a production level of 100,000 barrels per day.
Ports beyond Douala include Kribi — a developing port, holiday resort, and the shipping terminal for the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline — and Limbe, the export point for locally produced oil.
The country possesses an extraordinary range of mineral and forestry resources, most of which remain to be fully exploited. Timber production is a major industry. Other mineral-based enterprises include a large cement plant at Douala and a 39-year-old aluminium smelter at Edéa, despite known bauxite deposits in the billions of tonnes.
Universities & Energy
Government schools follow the Western curriculum with primary and secondary levels. While French is the dominant language, parents may specify English-speaking schools for their children. There is also a wide range of church schools and colleges throughout the country.
Cameroon has eight State universities, supplemented by a growing number of private institutions.
Hydroelectric Power
Over 90% of Cameroon's electricity is generated by hydroelectric plants, with further sites identified for future development.
National Day
Cameroon's National Day is celebrated on 20 May each year, marking national unity and the 1972 constitutional referendum.