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PEOPLE

Language
French and English are the two official languages. About 200 African languages are also spoken (Beti and Bulu are the most prominent).
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	19.5 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	18.2 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	18.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	17.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	17.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	17.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	16.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	16.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	15.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
36.7 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Some 200 ethnic groups, with the Doualas, Bamilekes, Tikars and Baumauns prominent in the south, the Euondos and Fulbes in the west and the Fulanis in the north. There is also a Baka pygmy minority in the southeast.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Christian majority in the south and Muslim in the north. Half of the population practises traditional African religions.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	56.4 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	55.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	54.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	53.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	52.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	51.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	50.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	50.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1946
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available

Percentage of population under 15

2005	41.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	41.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	41.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	42.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	42.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +1

Climate description
Wet season in north between April-September, rest of year dry; rainfall in south throughout year with pattern of two wet and two dry seasons.

Currency
Franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 237

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	49.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	45.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	45.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	48.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	50.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	49.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	45.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	45.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	45.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	46.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	49.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	50.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	46.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	46.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	48.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	49.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	50.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	87 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	87 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	87 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	87 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	95 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	95 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	96 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	95 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	148 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	149 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	149 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	149 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	166 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	166 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	62 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	60 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	60 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	56 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	56 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	1000 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	730 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	144	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	144	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	148	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	141	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	142	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	135	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	19 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	19 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	18 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	18 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2000	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	23 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	26 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	25 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	70 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	66 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	63 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	58 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	51 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	51 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	48 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	79 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	67.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	67.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	67.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	72.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	75.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	77.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	82.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	59.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	59.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	59.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	65.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	69.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	6 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	6 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	6 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	6 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	323 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	243 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	172 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	126 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	88 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	63 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	42 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	26 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	30 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	22 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	15 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	6 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	141 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	138 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	138 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	137 (joint )	Transparency International
2004	129 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	124 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	89 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	84 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	84	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	17.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	17.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	17.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	17.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	33.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	1050 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	980 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	920 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	810 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	670 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	590 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	610 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	620 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	20.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	18.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	16.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	15.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	13.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	10.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	9.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	10.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	3.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	3.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	4.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	4.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	2.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	3.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	0.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	2.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.3 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
35.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	19 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	19 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	7 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	5.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	5.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	5.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	5.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	5.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	192 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	197 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	202 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	204 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	202 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	194 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	181 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	168 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	13870	UNHCR
2007	11508	UNHCR
2006	10384	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	9016	UNHCR
2004	7629	UNHCR
2003	6206	UNHCR
2002	5225	UNHCR
2001	2724	UNHCR
2000	2062	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	81037	UNHCR
2007	60137	UNHCR
2006	35083	UNHCR
2005	52042	UNHCR
2004	58861	UNHCR
2003	58583	UNHCR
2002	58288	UNHCR
2001	41186	UNHCR
2000	43680	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	1.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	5.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	1.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

PEOPLE

USEFUL INFORMATION

STANDARD OF LIVING

ECONOMY & AID

HEALTH

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Countries

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