Cameroon - Country facts
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Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Background
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
Climate
varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Terrain
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Population
16,380,005
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to A
Ethnic Groups
Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, 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)
Map of Cameroon
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