Military expenditures - dollar figure:$43.9 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.6% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Burundi
Disputes - international:Tutsi, Hutu, other conflicting ethnic groups, associated politicalrebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fightingin the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda in an effort togain control over populated and natural resource areas; governmentheads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continuesdespite the presence of about 6,000 peacekeepers from the UNOperation in Burundi (ONUB) since 2004; although some 150,000Burundian refugees have been repatriated, as of February 2005,Burundian refugees still reside in camps in western Tanzania as wellas the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 48,424 (Democratic Republic of theCongo)IDPs: 145,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; mostIDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Cambodia
Introduction Cambodia
Background:Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants ofthe Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia andreached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks bythe Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empireushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the countryunder French protection in 1863. Cambodia became part of FrenchIndochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II,Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forcescaptured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, orstarvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside,began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democraticelections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by theKhmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore somesemblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factionalfighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a secondround of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of anothercoalition government and renewed political stability. The remainingelements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of theremaining leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored tribunal forcrimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were relativelypeaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contendingpolitical parties before a coalition government was formed.
Geography Cambodia
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, betweenThailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 181,040 sq kmland: 176,520 sq kmwater: 4,520 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries: total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline: 443 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season(December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 mhighest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources:oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 20.44% permanent crops: 0.59% other: 78.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:2,700 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues:illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip miningfor gems in the western region along the border with Thailand haveresulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular,destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soilerosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have accessto potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishingand overfishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River andTonle Sap
People Cambodia
Population:13,881,427note: estimates for this country take into account the effects ofexcess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower lifeexpectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35.6% (male 2,497,595/female 2,447,754)15-64 years: 61% (male 4,094,946/female 4,370,159)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 180,432/female 290,541) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.6 yearsmale: 19.9 yearsfemale: 21.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:26.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 68.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 77.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 59.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 59.29 yearsmale: 57.35 yearsfemale: 61.32 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.37 children born/woman (2006 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: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations note: at present, H5N1 avian influenza poses a minimal risk; during outbreaks among birds, rare cases could occur among US citizens who have close contact with infected birds or poultry (2005)
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: 73.6%male: 84.7%female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
Government Cambodia
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodiaconventional short form: Cambodialocal long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phoneticpronunciation)local short form: Kampucheaformer: Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea,People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia
Government type:multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Phnom Penhgeographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 Etime difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities*(krong, singular and plural)provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, KampongChhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear,Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takevmunicipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh, Preah Seihanu
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; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
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); SOKAN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16July 2004); KEV PUT REAKSMEI (since 24 October 2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; inpractice named by the prime ministerelections: 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 king
Legislative branch:bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the NationalAssembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils;members serve five-year terms)elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to beheld in July 2008); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to beheld in January 2011)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 - CPP 69%,FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP 2(January 2006)
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 [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Sam RangsiParty or SRP [SAM RANGSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, 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 20011telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 728-000 FAX: [855] (23) 728-600
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 an actual building in its design
Economy Cambodia
Economy - overview:In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the governmentmade progress on economic reforms. The US and Cambodia signed aBilateral Textile Agreement, which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quotaof US textile imports and established a bonus for improving workingconditions and enforcing Cambodian labor laws and internationallabor standards in the industry. From 2001 to 2004, the economy grewat an average rate of 6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in thegarment sector and tourism. With the January 2005 expiration of aWTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textileproducers were forced to compete directly with lower-pricedproducing countries such as China and India. Although initial 2005GDP growth estimates were less than 3%, better-than-expected garmentsector performance led the IMF to forecast 6% growth in 2005. Facedwith the possibility that its vibrant garment industry, with morethan 200,000 jobs, could be in serious danger, the Cambodiangovernment has committed itself to a policy of continued support forhigh labor standards in an attempt to maintain favor with buyers.The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly, with foreignvisitors surpassing 1 million for the year by September 2005. In2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneathCambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream forthe government once commercial extraction begins in the comingyears. The long-term development of the economy remains a dauntingchallenge. The Cambodian government continues to work with bilateraland multilateral donors, including the World Bank and IMF, toaddress the country's many pressing needs. In December 2004,official donors pledged $504 million in aid for 2005 on thecondition that the Cambodian government implement steps to reducecorruption. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the nextdecade will be fashioning an economic environment in which theprivate sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia'sdemographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is 20 yearsor younger. The population lacks education and productive skills,particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers froman almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fully 75% of thepopulation remains engaged in subsistence farming.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$34.08 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$4.729 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:13.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,500 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 30% services: 35% (2004)
Labor force: 7 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: NA% services: NA% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.5% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40 (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $559.4 millionexpenditures: $772 million; including capital expenditures of $291million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca
Industries:tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:22% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:123.7 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65% hydro: 35% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:115 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:3,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-166 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$2.663 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Exports - partners:US 48.6%, Hong Kong 24.4%, Germany 5.6%, Canada 4.6% (2005)
Imports:$3.538 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Imports - partners:Hong Kong 16.1%, China 13.6%, France 12.1%, Thailand 11.2%, Taiwan10.2%, South Korea 7.5%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4.9%, Japan 4.1%(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.145 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$800 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $504 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2005 by international donors
Currency (code):riel (KHR)
Currency code:KHR
Exchange rates:riels per US dollar - 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33(2003), 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:36,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.062 million (2005)
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: 11 (including two TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese broadcasts); 12 regional low power TV stations (2006)
Televisions:94,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kh
Internet hosts:1,378 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:41,000 (2005)
Transportation Cambodia
Airports:20 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 62,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 141,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:2 (2006)
Railways: total: 602 km narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 12,323 km paved: 1,996 km unpaved: 10,327 km (2000)
Waterways:2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 544 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,777,907 GRT/2,529,708 DWTby type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 443, chemical tanker 11, container10, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 9,refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1,vehicle carrier 1foreign-owned: 407 (Bulgaria 1, Canada 6, China 128, Cyprus 12,Egypt 8, Gabon 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 15, Indonesia 1, Japan 4,South Korea 23, Latvia 2, Lebanon 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1,Philippines 1, Russia 105, Singapore 4, Spain 1, Syria 20, Taiwan 2,Turkey 26, UAE 1, Ukraine 17, US 8, Yemen 3, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Phnom Penh
Military Cambodia
Military branches:Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal KhmerNavy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation: conscription law made effective in October 2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; service obligation is 18 months (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 3,002,718females age 18-49: 3,108,254 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,955,141females age 18-49: 2,048,611 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 175,497females age 18-49: 172,788 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$112 million (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3% (FY01 est.)
Transnational Issues Cambodia
Disputes - international:Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to checkthe spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections ofboundary with missing boundary markers and Thai encroachments intoCambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered byunresolved dispute over offshore islands; Cambodia accuses Thailandof obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded toCambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; in 2004, Cambodian-Laotian andLaotian-Vietnamese boundary commissions re-erected missing markerscompleting most of their demarcations
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Cambodia is a source, destination, and transitcountry for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes ofsexual exploitation and forced labor; a significant number of womenand children are trafficked to Thailand and Malaysia for commercialsexual exploitation and forced labor; men are trafficked primarilyto Thailand for forced labor in the construction and agriculturalsectors, particularly the fishing industry, while women and girlsare trafficked for factory and domestic work; children aretrafficked to Vietnam and Thailand for the purpose of forcedbegging; Cambodia is a transit and destination point for women fromVietnam trafficked for sexual exploitation; trafficking for sexualexploitation also occurs within Cambodia's borders, from rural areasto the citiestier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cambodia does not fully comply withthe minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however,it is committed to making significant efforts to sustain progressover the coming year
Illicit drugs:narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in thegovernment, military, and police; possible small-scale heroin andmethamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due toits cash-based economy and porous borders
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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. Despite a slowmovement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly inthe hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by President Paul BIYA.
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 kmland: 469,440 sq kmwater: 6,000 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 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)
Natural resources:petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12.54% permanent crops: 2.52% other: 84.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:260 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases fromLake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Environment - current issues:waterborne 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:17,340,702note: 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 (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.2% (male 3,614,430/female 3,531,047)15-64 years: 55.5% (male 4,835,453/female 4,796,276)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 260,342/female 303,154) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.9 yearsmale: 18.7 yearsfemale: 19 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.04% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:33.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 63.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 67.38 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 59.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 51.16 yearsmale: 50.98 yearsfemale: 51.34 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.39 children born/woman (2006 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:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks insome locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasisrespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
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: Cameroonlocal long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroonlocal short form: Cameroun/Cameroonformer: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic ofCameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
Government type:republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:name: Yaoundegeographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)head of government: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 December2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submittedby the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 October 2004(next to be held by October 2011); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection 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-yearterms); note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the termof the legislatureelections: last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held in 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 nine judges and six substitute judges,elected by the 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 [Marcel YONDO];Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA]; NationalUnion for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA];Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of CameroonianPopulations 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: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, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, MONUC,NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Niels MARQUARDT embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 220 15 00; Consular: [237] 220 16 03 FAX: [237] 220 16 20; Consular FAX: [237] 220 17 52 branch 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):$39.75 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$15.35 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 44.8% industry: 17% services: 38.2% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 6.86 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 13% services: 17%
Unemployment rate:30% (2001 est.)
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:44.6 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.263 billionexpenditures: $2.705 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:65.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, rootstarches; livestock; timber
Industries:petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, foodprocessing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:4.2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:2.988 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.7% hydro: 97.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.779 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:82,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:85 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m NA cu m
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:110.4 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$39 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$3.236 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:Spain 17.2%, Italy 13.7%, France 9.4%, South Korea 8.1%, UK 8%,Netherlands 7.8%, Belgium 4.8%, US 4.3% (2005)
Imports:$2.514 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:France 25%, Nigeria 12.5%, Belgium 6.6%, China 5.8%, US 5.3%,Thailand 4.7%, Germany 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$964.8 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$9.168 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:in January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of$1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion
Currency (code):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 - 527.47(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Cameroon
Telephones - main lines in use:99,400 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.259 million (2005)
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:39 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:167,000 (2005)
Transportation Cameroon
Airports: 47 (2006)
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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 70 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,107 km (2006)
Railways: total: 987 km narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 80,932 km paved: 5,398 km unpaved: 75,534 km (2002)
Waterways:navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 38,613 GRT/68,820 DWTby type: petroleum tanker 1foreign-owned: 1 (France 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Douala, Limboh Terminal
Military Cameroon
Military branches:Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), AirForce (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(1999)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 3,525,307females age 18-49: 3,461,406 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,946,767females age 18-49: 1,834,600 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 191,619females age 18-49: 187,082 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$230.2 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2005 est.)
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, whichcontinues to meet regularly to resolve differences bilaterally andhave commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of theboundary, starting in Lake Chad in the north; implementation of theICJ ruling on the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritimeboundary in the Gulf of Guinea is impeded by imprecisely definedcoordinates and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea andCameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; Nigeriainitially rejected cession of the Bakassi Peninsula, then agreed,but much of the indigenous population opposes cession; only Nigeriaand Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition toratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Nigerand Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 39,290 (Chad) 16,686 (Nigeria) 9,634(Cote d'Ivoire) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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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. Canada also facesquestions about integrity in government following revelationsregarding a corruption scandal in the federal government that hashelped revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantlyfrancophone Quebec.
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 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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: 4.57%permanent crops: 0.65%other: 94.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:7,850 sq km (2003)
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:33,098,932 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,992,811/female 2,848,388)15-64 years: 69% (male 11,482,452/female 11,368,286)65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,883,008/female 2,523,987) (2006est.)
Median age: total: 38.9 years male: 37.8 years female: 39.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.88% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:10.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:5.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.15 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.22 yearsmale: 76.86 yearsfemale: 83.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.61 children born/woman (2006 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 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001census)
Languages:English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Canada
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Canada
Government type:constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy anda federation
Capital:name: Ottawageographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 40 Wtime difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during StandardTime)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; endsfirst Sunday in Novembernote: Canada is divided into six time zones
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:made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions,and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of theConstitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation offour provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, whichtransferred formal control over the constitution from Britain toCanada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as wellas procedures for constitutional amendments
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 Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September2005)head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February2006)cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually fromamong the members of his own party sitting in Parliamentelections: 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 general
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 23 January 2006 (next to beheld in 2011)election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -Conservative Party 36.3%, Liberal Party 30.2%, New Democratic Party17.5%, Bloc Quebecois 10.5%, Greens 4.5%, other 1%; seats by party -Conservative Party 124, Liberal Party 103, New Democratic Party 29,Bloc Quebecois 51, other 1
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]; Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party[Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialoguepartner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD,ESA (cooperating state), 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, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC,NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE,Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMSIL,UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael WILSONchancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix,San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucsonconsulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (NewJersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS 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 in the trillion dollarclass, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economicsystem, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. SinceWorld War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining,and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely ruraleconomy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-CanadaFree Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free TradeAgreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramaticincrease in trade and economic integration with the US. Given itsgreat natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capitalplant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Top-notch fiscalmanagement has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997,although public debate continues over how to manage the rising costof the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account forroughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surpluswith its principal trading partner, the US, which absorbs more than85% of Canadian exports. Canada is the US' largest foreign supplierof energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power.