Median age:total: 19.5 yearsmale: 18.8 yearsfemale: 20.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.8% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:27.13 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 73.67 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 64.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 82.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 58.41 yearsmale: 55.71 yearsfemale: 61.23 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.51 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:170,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:15,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Cambodian(s)adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Languages:Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 69.4%male: 80.8%female: 59.3% (2002)
Government Cambodia
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodiaconventional short form: Cambodialocal short form: Kampucheaformer: Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea,People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodialocal long form: Preahreacheanacha Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation)
Government type:multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established inSeptember 1993
Capital:Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions:20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities(krong, singular and plural): provinces: Banteay Mean Chey, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, KampongChhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Koh Kong,Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Chey, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, PreyVeng, Rotanakir, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takao: municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk (formerlyKompong Som)
Independence:9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Constitution:promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal system:primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from theUnited Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period,royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences ofcustomary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasinginfluence of common law in recent years
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985)and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992),Norodom SIRIVUDH, SOK AN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEKBUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004)elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council;following legislative elections, a member of the majority party ormajority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of theNational Assembly and appointed by the kingcabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; inpractice named by the prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by theNational Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies";members serve five-year terms)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73,FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seatsby party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2 (July 2003)elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to beheld in July 2008); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (scheduled to beheld in 2004 but delayed)
Judicial branch:Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitutionand formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts)exercises judicial authority
Political parties and leaders:Cambodian Pracheachon Party (Cambodian People's Party) or CPP [CHEASIM]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful,and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [Prince NORODOM Ranariddh];Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador EK SEREYWATHchancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Aaron RAY embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 216-436/438 FAX: [855] (23) 216-437/811
Flag description:three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and bluewith a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlinedin black in the center of the red band; only national flag toincorporate a building in its design
Economy Cambodia
Economy - overview:Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-1998 due to theregional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting.Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the first fullyear of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms.Growth resumed and has remained about 5.0% during 2000-2003. Tourismwas Cambodia's fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 34% in2000 and up another 40% in 2001 before the 11 September 2001terrorist attacks in the US. Cambodia expects 1 million foreigntourists in 2004. Economic growth has been largely driven byexpansion in the clothing sector and tourism. Clothing exports werefostered by the U.S.-Cambodian Bilateral Textile Agreement signed in1999. Even given Cambodia's recent growth, the long-term developmentof the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge.The population lacks education and productive skills, particularlyin the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almosttotal lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed politicalinstability and a dysfunctional legal system coupled with governmentcorruption discourage foreign investment. The Cambodian governmentcontinues to work with bilateral and multilateral donors to addressthe country's many pressing needs. The major economic challenge forCambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economicenvironment in which the private sector can create enough jobs tohandle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. About 60% of the populationis 20 years or younger; most of these citizens will seek to enterthe workforce over the course of the next 10 years.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $25.02 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 30% services: 35% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:36% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40.4 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:7 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 75% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.5% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $476.5 millionexpenditures: $734.8 million, including capital expenditures of $291million of which 75% was financed by external assistance (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
Industries:tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:22% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:119 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:110.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-218.1 million (2003)
Exports:$1.616 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:Clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Exports - partners:US 58.4%, Germany 10.3%, UK 7.2% (2003)
Imports:$2.124 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Imports - partners:Thailand 26.4%, Hong Kong 14.4%, Singapore 11.8%, China 11.3%,Vietnam 8.3%, Taiwan 8%, South Korea 4.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$861.4 million (2003)
Debt - external:$2.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$548 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2001 byinternational donors (actual disbursement in 2002 was about $500million)
Currency:riel (KHR)
Currency code:KHR
Exchange rates:riels per US dollar - 3,973.33 (2003), 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33(2001), 3,840.75 (2000), 3,807.83 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:35,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:380,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate landline and/or cellular service inPhnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile phone coverage israpidly expanding in rural areasdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 855; adequate but expensive landlineand cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh andmajor provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik(Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 17, (2003)
Radios:1.34 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7 (2003)
Televisions:94,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kh
Internet hosts:818 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:30,000 (2002)
Transportation Cambodia
Railways: total: 602 km narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 12,323 km paved: 1,996 km unpaved: 10,327 km (2000 est)
Waterways:2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2004)
Ports and harbors:Kampong Som (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh,Sre Ambol, Keo Phoh Port (privately owned) (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 467 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,913,910 GRT/2,713,967 DWTregistered in other countries: 19 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Algeria 2, Angola 1, Aruba 1, Bahamas 1, Belize 10,British Virgin Islands 7, Bulgaria 1, Canada 4, China 35, Cyprus 14,Egypt 8, Finland 1, France 1, Georgia 1, Germany 1, Gibraltar 1,Greece 9, Honduras 8, Hong Kong 12, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Italy 2,Japan 1, Jordan 1, North Korea 2, South Korea 31, Lebanon 2, Liberia7, Malaysia 1, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 11, Netherlands 2, Nigeria2, Norway 1, Panama 8, Romania 1, Russia 81, Saint Kitts and Nevis2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Samoa 2, Singapore 7, Spain1, Syria 19, Taiwan 1, Turkey 11by type: bulk 42, cargo 360, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 3,container 13, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 4, multi-functionallarge load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 16,refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5, short-sea/passenger 2
Airports:20 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 62,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 14under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)1,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 11
Heliports:2 (2003 est.)
Military Cambodia
Military branches:Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for all males; conscription law passed September 2004; service obligation is 18 months (September 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,402,703 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,899,710 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 170,072 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$112 million (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3% (FY01 est.)
Transnational Issues Cambodia
Disputes - international:land boundary disputes persist among Cambodian claims that Thailandand Vietnam moved or destroyed boundary markers; maritime boundarywith Vietnam is hampered by dispute over offshore islands; Cambodiaperiodically accuses Thailand of obstructing access to Preah Viheartemple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; 2003anti-Thai riots in Phnom Penh resulted in the destruction of theThai Embassy, damage to 17 Thai-owned businesses, and disputes overfull payment of compensation
Illicit drugs:narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in thegovernment, military, and police; possible small-scale opium,heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis forthe international market; vulnerable to money laundering due to itscash-based economy and porous borders
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Cameroon
Introduction Cameroon
Background:The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyedstability, which has permitted the development of agriculture,roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despitemovement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly inthe hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
Geography Cameroon
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between EquatorialGuinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates:6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 475,440 sq kmwater: 6,000 sq kmland: 469,440 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:total: 4,591 kmborder countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline:402 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 50 nm
Climate:varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hotin north
Terrain:diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau incenter, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Fako (on Mount Cameroon) 4,095 m
Natural resources:petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12.81% permanent crops: 2.58% other: 84.61% (2001)
Irrigated land:330 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases fromLake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Environment - current issues:water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing;desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout thecountry there are areas of thermal springs and indications ofcurrent or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highestmountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
People Cameroon
Population:16,063,678note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42% (male 3,416,086; female 3,334,904)15-64 years: 54.8% (male 4,425,246; female 4,370,329)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 233,506; female 283,607) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 18.5 yearsmale: 18.3 yearsfemale: 18.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.97% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:35.08 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:15.34 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 69.18 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 65.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 73.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 47.95 yearsmale: 47.1 yearsfemale: 48.83 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.55 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:6.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:560,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:49,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, schistosomiasisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Cameroonian(s)adjective: Cameroonian
Ethnic groups:Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%,non-African less than 1%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:24 major African language groups, English (official), French(official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 79%male: 84.7%female: 73.4% (2003 est.)
Government Cameroon
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cameroonconventional short form: Cameroonformer: French Cameroon
Government type:unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (oppositionparties legalized in 1990)note: preponderance of power remains with the president
Capital:Yaounde
Administrative divisions:10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord,Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence:1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted;revised January 1996
Legal system:based on French civil law system, with common law influence; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 11 October 2004 (next to be held NA October2011); prime minister appointed by the presidenthead of government: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 Dec 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submittedby the prime ministerelection results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote -Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, GargaHaman ADJI 3.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms;note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of thelegislature)elections: last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for thelegislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Courtof Justice (consists of 9 judges and 6 substitute judges, elected bythe National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; DemocraticRally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for theDefense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for theLiberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader MarcelYONDO]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA];National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLOBOUBA]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union ofCameroonian Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Southern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]; Human RightsDefense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC,OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGAchancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador George McDade STAPLESembassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaoundemailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy,Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520telephone: [237] 223-05-12, 222-25-89, 222-17-94, 223-40-14FAX: [237] 223-07-53branch office(s): Douala
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellowwith a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses thepopular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Cameroon
Economy - overview:Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions,Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies insub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problemsfacing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civilservice and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise.Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and WorldBank programs designed to spur business investment, increaseefficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize thenation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed anIMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however,the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budgettransparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on theeconomy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $27.75 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42.6% industry: 19.8% services: 37.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.4% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:47.7 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:6.49 million NA (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%
Unemployment rate:30% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.442 billionexpenditures: $1.941 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:57.1% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, rootstarches; livestock; timber
Industries:petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumergoods, textiles, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:4.2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:3.613 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.36 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:76,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:22,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:200 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:55.22 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-564 million (2003)
Exports:$1.873 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:Spain 21.9%, Italy 13.4%, France 10.8%, Netherlands 10.6%, US 7.5%,China 4.4% (2003)
Imports:$1.959 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:France 21.9%, Nigeria 9.5%, Japan 6.8%, US 5.7%, China 4.9%,Germany 4.3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$634 million (2003)
Debt - external:$7.236 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debtof $1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion
Currency:Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsibleauthority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:XAF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 581.2(2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699(1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Cameroon
Telephones - main lines in use:110,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.077 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: available only to business and governmentdomestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatterinternational: country code - 237; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:2.27 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:450,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.cm
Internet hosts:479 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users: 60,000 (2002) note: Cameroon also had more than 100 cyber-cafes in 2001
Transportation Cameroon
Railways: total: 1,008 km narrow gauge: 1,008 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 34,300 km paved: 4,288 km unpaved: 30,012 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2004)
Pipelines:gas 90 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,120 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 169,593 GRT/357,023 DWTby type: petroleum tanker 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:47 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)
Military Cameroon
Military branches:Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (1999)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,898,944 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,979,151 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 184,054 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$189.2 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2003)
Transnational Issues Cameroon
Disputes - international:ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritimeboundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission to resolvedifferences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation inless-contested sections of the boundary, starting in Lake Chad inthe north; the ICF ruled on an equidistance settlement ofCameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf ofGuinea, however, implementation of the decision is delayed due toimprecisely defined coordinates, the unresolved Bakasi allocation,and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroonover an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; Nigeria initiallyrejected cession of the Bakasi Peninsula; Lake Chad Commissioncontinues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria toratify delimitation treaty over the lake region, which remains thesite of armed clashes among local populations and militias
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 39,261 (Chad), 16,983 (Nigeria), 9,634 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2004)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Canada
Introduction Canada
Background:A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada becamea self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to theBritish crown. Economically and technologically the nation hasdeveloped in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south acrossan unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem ismeeting public demands for quality improvements in health care andeducation services after a decade of budget cuts. The issue ofreconciling Quebec's francophone heritage with the majorityanglophone Canadian population has moved to the back burner inrecent years; support for separatism abated after the Quebecgovernment's referendum on independence failed to pass in October of1995.
Geography Canada
Location:Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on theeast, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on thenorth, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates:60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references:North America
Area:total: 9,984,670 sq kmland: 9,093,507 sq kmwater: 891,163 sq km
Area - comparative:somewhat larger than the US
Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline:202,080 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margincontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain:mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Natural resources:iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash,diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, naturalgas, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 4.96%permanent crops: 0.02%other: 95.02% (2001)
Irrigated land:7,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle todevelopment; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, aresult of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, andNorth American interior, and produce most of the country's rain andsnow east of the mountains
Environment - current issues:air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes anddamaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, andvehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity;ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial,mining, and forestry activities
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic locationbetween Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% ofthe population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border
People Canada
Population:32,507,874 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.2% (male 3,038,800; female 2,890,579)15-64 years: 68.7% (male 11,225,686; female 11,111,941)65 years and over: 13% (male 1,807,472; female 2,433,396) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 38.2 yearsmale: 37.2 yearsfemale: 39.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.92% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.91 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.67 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:5.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 5.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.96 yearsmale: 76.59 yearsfemale: 83.5 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.61 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:56,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Canadian(s)adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups:British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%,Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixedbackground 26%
Religions:Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18%note: based on the 1991 census
Languages:English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97% (1986 est.)male: NAfemale: NA
Government Canada
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada
Government type:confederation with parliamentary democracy
Capital:Ottawa
Administrative divisions:10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia,Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, NorthwestTerritories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence:1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December1931 (independence recognized)
National holiday:Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution:17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of thegovernment was set up in the British North America Act of 1867;charter of rights and unwritten customs
Legal system:based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil lawsystem based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October1999)elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for afive-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the Houseof Commons is automatically designated prime minister by thegovernor generalhead of government: Prime Minister Paul MARTIN (since 12 December2003); Deputy Prime Minister Anne MCLELLAN (since 12 December 2003)cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from amongthe members of his own party sitting in Parliament
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat(members appointed by the governor general with the advice of theprime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normallimit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre desCommunes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote toserve for up to five-year terms)elections: House of Commons - last held 28 June 2004 (next to beheld by NA 2009)election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -Liberal Party 36.7%, Conservative Party 29.6%, New Democratic Party15.7%, Bloc Quebecois 12.4%, Greens 4.3%, independents 0.4%, other0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 134, Conservative Party 99,Bloc Quebecois 54, New Democratic Party 19, independent 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime ministerthrough the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; FederalCourt of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Courtof Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, andCourt of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada (amerger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive ConservativeParty) [Stephen HARPER]; Liberal Party [Paul MARTIN]; New DemocraticParty [Jack LAYTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), AustraliaGroup, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperatingstate), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (guest),NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL,UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael F. KERGINchancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattleconsulate(s): Anchorage, Denver, Houston, Philadelphia,Raleigh-Durham, San Diego, San Francisco (trade office), and SanJose (trade office)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CELLUCCI embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430 telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Flag description:two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), withwhite square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centeredin the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white
Economy Canada
Economy - overview:As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closelyresembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern ofproduction, and high living standards. Since World War II, theimpressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectorshas transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into oneprimarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free TradeAgreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase intrade and economic integration with the US. As a result of the closecross-border relationship, the economic sluggishness in the UnitedStates in 2001-02 had a negative impact on the Canadian economy.Real growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined in2001, with moderate recovery in 2002-03. Unemployment is up, withcontraction in the manufacturing and natural resource sectors.Nevertheless, given its great natural resources, skilled laborforce, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economicprospects. Solid fiscal management has produced a long-term budgetsurplus which is substantially reducing the national debt, althoughpublic debate continues over how to manage the rising cost of thepublicly funded healthcare system. Trade accounts for roughly athird of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with itsprincipal trading partner, the United States, which absorbs morethan 85% of Canadian exports. Roughly 90% of the population liveswithin 160 kilometers of the US border.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $958.7 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $29,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 29.2% services: 68.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.5% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31.5 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:17.04 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 3%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, services 74%, other 3% (2000)
Unemployment rate:7.8% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $348.2 billionexpenditures: $342.7 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:77% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairyproducts; forest products; fish
Industries:transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessedminerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products,petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:0.2% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:566.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:504.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:38.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:16.11 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:2.738 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.703 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:2.008 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:1.145 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:5.112 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:186.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:82.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:109 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:4.46 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.691 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$18.63 billion (2003)
Exports:$279.3 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; woodpulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Exports - partners:US 86.6%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.4% (2003)
Imports:$240.4 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners:US 60.6%, China 5.6%, Japan 4.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$36.27 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$1.9 billion (2000)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.3 billion (1999)
Currency:Canadian dollar (CAD)
Currency code:CAD
Exchange rates:Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002),1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Canada
Telephones - main lines in use:19,950,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:13,221,800 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technologydomestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stationsinternational: country code - 1-xxx; 5 coaxial submarine cables;satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 535, FM 53, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios:32.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:21.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ca
Internet hosts:3,210,081 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):760 (2000 est.)
Internet users:16.11 million (2002)
Transportation Canada
Railways: total: 48,909 km standard gauge: 48,909 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 1,408,800 kmpaved: 497,306 km (including 16,900 km of expressways)unpaved: 911,494 km (2002)
Waterways:631 kmnote: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the SaintLawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2003)
Pipelines:crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km(2003)
Ports and harbors:Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, NewWestminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick), St.John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney, Trois-Rivieres, ThunderBay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Merchant marine:total: 119 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,784,229 GRT/2,657,499 DWTforeign-owned: Germany 3, Hong Kong 2, Monaco 18, United Kingdom 3,United States 2registered in other countries: 43 (2004 est.)by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 59, cargo 13, chemical tanker 6,combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, passenger 2,passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 18, rail car carrier 1, rollon/roll off 11, short-sea/passenger 3, specialized tanker 1
Airports:1,357 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 503 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 245 under 914 m: 75 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 150
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 823 1,524 to 2,437 m: 67 914 to 1,523 m: 347 under 914 m: 409 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 12 (2003 est.)
Military Canada
Military branches:Canadian Armed Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, AirCommand
Military manpower - military age and obligation:16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 8,417,314 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 7,176,642 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 214,623 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$9,801.7 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (2003)
Transnational Issues Canada
Disputes - international:managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance,Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputedMachias Seal Island and North Rock; uncontested dispute with Denmarkover Hans Island sovereignty in the Kennedy Channel betweenEllesmere Island and Greenland
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market andexport to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plantlarge quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit pointfor heroin and cocaine entering the US market; vulnerable tonarcotics money laundering because of its mature financial servicessector
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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