| Economy - overview | Because of its modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy. |
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| GDP | 1.3% (2006) |
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| GDP - real growth rate | 3.5% (2006 est.) |
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| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 45.2%
industry: 16.1%
services: 38.7% (2006 est.) |
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| Population below poverty line | 48% (2000 est.) |
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Household income or consumption
by percentage share | lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.6% (1996) |
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Distribution of family income
- Gini index | 44.6 (2001) |
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| Labor force | 6.394 million (2006 est.) |
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| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 70%
industry: 13%
services: 17% |
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| Unemployment rate | 30% (2001 est.) |
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| Budget | revenues: $3.339 billion
expenditures: $3.157 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.) |
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| Industries | petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair |
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| Industrial production growth rate | 4.2% (1999 est.) |
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Electricity -
production | 3.924 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
production by source | fossil fuel: 2.7%
hydro: 97.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity -
consumption | 3.649 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
exports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
imports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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| Oil - production | 82,300 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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| Oil - consumption | 24,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - exports | NA bbl/day |
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| Oil - imports | NA bbl/day |
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| Oil - proved reserves | 90 million bbl (2006 est.) |
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| Agriculture - products | coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber |
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| Exports | $4.318 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Exports - commodities | crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton |
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| Exports - partners | Spain 17.3%, Italy 13.8%, France 9.5%, South Korea 8.1%, UK 8.1%, Netherlands 7.9%, Belgium 4.9%, US 4.3% (2005) |
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| Imports | $3.083 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Imports - commodities | machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food |
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| Imports - partners | France 24%, Nigeria 12%, Belgium 6.3%, China 5.6%, US 5.1%, Thailand 4.5%, Germany 4.2% (2005) |
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| Debt - external | $3.657 billion (2006 est.) |
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| 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 |
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| Currency code | XAF |
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| Exchange rates | Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002) |
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| Fiscal year | 1 July - 30 June |
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