Cameroon: Africa in miniature
The country is called "Africa in miniature" for its high diversity of climate, culture, and geography.

Overview
Flag | ![]() |
Anthem | Ô Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancêtres (French) |
Capital | Yaoundé |
Largest city | Douala |
Official language(s) | French, English |
Cameroonian | |
Government | Republic |
Area | 475,442 km2, 183,568 sq mi |
Population | ~ 19 million |
Currency | Central African CFA franc (XAF) |
Internet TLD | .cm |
Geography


Society and culture
The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team. Each of Cameroon's ethnic groups has its own unique cultural forms. Typical celebrations include births, deaths, plantings, harvests , and religious rituals .Population
In 2009, Cameroon's estimated population was 19,522,000. The population is young: an estimated 40.9% are under 15, and 96.7% are under 65. Population density is highest in the large urban centres, the western highlands, and the northeastern plain . There are more than 230 different ethnic and linguistic groups in Cameroon, for example Sudanese, Fulani, Shuwa Arabs, Pygmies and Nigerians.Languages
Both English and French are official languages due to the introduction of these languages during colonialism . A fifth of Cameroon's population in the Northwest and Southwest regions speak English. The rest of the population speaks French. Cameroonian Pidgin English is the most common lingua franca , especially in the formerly British-administered territories. A mixture of English, French, and Pidgin called Camfranglais has been gaining popularity in urban centres.Religion
Cameroon has a high level of religious freedom and diversity. Christians are concentrated in the southern and western regions, and Muslims reside in large numbers in every region but are concentrated in the north. Large cities have significant populations of both groups. People widely believe in witchcraft .Government and politics
Cameroon is a unitary republic . The President of Cameroon has broad, unilateral powers to create policy, administer government agencies, command the armed forces and much more. The current president is Paul Biya. Cameroon's legal system is largely based on French civil law with common law influences. Main political parties are the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement and the Social Democratic Front.Economy
Cameroon's per-capita GDP was estimated at US $2,300 in 2008. Major export markets include France, Italy, South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Unemployment was estimated at 30% in 2001, and about a third of the population was living below the international poverty threshold of US$1.25 a day in 2009. Since the late 1980s, Cameroon has been following programmes to reduce poverty, privatise industries, and increase economic growth. Tourism is a growing sector, particularly in the coastal area of the country. Cameroon's natural resources are very well suited to agriculture. Bananas, cocoa, oil palms, rubber, and tea are mostly cultivated .Entnommen von und bearbeitet:
Definition entnommen von wiktionary.org
- en.wikipedia.org - Cameroon (15. Juni 2010)
- en.wikipedia.org - Yaoundé (15. Juni 2010)
- en.wikipedia.org - Garoua (15. Juni 2010)
- The World Factbook - Cameroon (15. Juni 2010)