Cameroon
Economic Overview
Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Because of its modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various structural adjustment programs by IMF and World Bank to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and re-capitalize the nation's banks. However, the country has to further reforms in the areas of budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy.
GDP Growth rate: 3.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Agriculture: 45.2%
Industry: 16.1%
Services: 38.7% (2006 est.)Trade per capita (US$, 2003-2005): 423
Trade to GDP ratio (2003-2005): 43.8
Exports: $4.318 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) | Imports: $3.083 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
Exports - commodities: Crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton | Imports - commodities: Machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food |
Exports - partners: Spain 20.9%, Italy 15.2%, France 11.4%, South Korea 7.6%, Netherlands 7.1%, US 5.6%, Belgium 4.2% (2006) | Imports - partners: France 23.5%, Nigeria 13.2%, China 7.2%, Belgium 6.2%, US 4.5%, Brazil 4.1% (2006) |
Share in world total merchandise exports: 0.03
Share in world total merchandise imports: 0.03
Share in world total commercial services exports: 0.02
Share in world total commercial services imports: 0.04
Indicators
HEALTH | EDUCATIONAL | ECONOMIC | POLITICAL
GENERAL INDICATORS | ||
| HDI Rank | 144 | |
| GDP (US $ Bill.) | 2004 | 14.4 |
| GDP (PPP US $ Bill.) | 2004 | 34.9 |
| GDP Per Capita (PPP US $) | 2004 | 2174 |
| GDI Rank | 109 | |
| GDI Value | 0.497 | |
| GEM Rank | .. | |
| GEM Value | .. | |
| Total Population (Mill.) | 1975 | 7.6 |
| 2004 | 16 | |
| 2015a | 19 | |
| Total Female Population (in '000) | 2006 | 8339 |
| Population living below $ 1 a day in Percentage | 1990-2004 | 17.1 |
| Population living below the national poverty line in Percentage | 1990-2003 | 40.2 |
| Total Fertility Rate (Births per Woman) | 1970-75 | 6.3 |
| 2000-05 | 4.6 | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (Adjusted per 100000 live births) | 2000 | 730 |
| Probability of Female Survival at birth to 65 yrs | 2000-05 | 36.1 |
| Probability of Male Survival at birth to 65 yrs | 2000-05 | 33.1 |
| Life Expectancy at Birth (years) | 2004 | 45.7 |
| Female Life Expectancy at Birth (Yrs) | 46.2 | |
| Male Life Expectancy at Birth (Yrs) | 45.1 | |
| Population without sustainable access to safe water in Percentage | 2004 | 34 |
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| Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio* in Percentage | 2004 | 62 |
| Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio* (F) in Percentage | 56 | |
| Combined Gross Enrolment Ratio* (M) in Percentage | 69 | |
| Female Legislators, Officials & Managers (% of Total) | .. | |
| Female Professionals & Technical Workers (% of Total) | .. | |
| Adult Literacy Rate (% ages 15 and older) | 2004b | 67.9 |
| Female Adult Literacy Rate ( % ages 15 and older) | 59.8 | |
| Female Adult Literacy Rate (as % of Male Rate) | 78 | |
| Female Youth Literacy Rate (% ages 15-24) | .. | |
| Female Youth Literacy Rate (as % of Male Rate) | .. | |
| Net Primary Enrolment Female Ratio (in %) | .. | |
| Net Primary Enrolment Ratio of Female to Male | .. | |
| Net Secondary Enrolement Female Ratio (in %) | .. | |
| Net Secondary Enrolment Ratio of Female to Male | .. | |
| Gross Tertiary Enrolment Female Ratio (in %) | 4 | |
| Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio Female to Male | 0.63 | |
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| Estimated Female Earned Income( PPP US$) | 1435 | |
| Estimated Male Earned Income (PPP US $) | 2921 | |
| Ratio of Female to Male Estimated Earned Income | 0.49 | |
| Female Economic Activity Rate (% ages 15 and older) | 51.8 | |
| Female Economic Activity ( index, 1990=100, ages 15 and older) | 93 | |
| Female Economic Activity ( as % of male rates, ages 15 and older) | 64 | |
| Female Employment Agriculture (%) | .. | |
| Male Employment Agriculture (%) | .. | |
| Female Employment Industry (%) | .. | |
| Male Employment Industry (%) | .. | |
| Female Employment Services (%) | .. | |
| Male Employment in Services (%) | .. | |
| Women Contributing Family Workers (%) | 73 | |
| Men Contributing Family Workers (%) | 27 | |
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| Seats in Parliament (Women as % of Total) | 8.9 | |
| Female Suffrage Granted (Year) | 1946 | |
| Elections Contesting Rights (Year) | 1946 | |
| Year of First Woman Elected (A=Appointed, E= Elected) | 1960 E | |
| Women Ministers (as % of total) | 11.1 | |
| Seats held in Lower/Single House by Women (as % of Total) | 8.9 | |
| Seats held in Upper House/Senate by Women (as % of Total) | — | |
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Source : UNDP HDR 2006
Notes:
.. Data Not Available
a.Data refer to medium-variant projections.
* For Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Schools
