Economy Of Cameroon

Economy overview Because of its 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 considerable impact on the economy.
 
GDP purchasing power parity - $27.75 billion (2004 est.)
 
GDP - real growth rate 4.2% (2004 est.)
 
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.)
 
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 42.6%
industry: 19.8%
services: 37.6% (2004 est.)
 
Investment gross fixed 19.4% of GDP (2004 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 47.7 (1996)
 
Inflation rate consumer prices 2.3% (2004 est.)
 
Labor force 6.49 million NA (2004 est.)
 
Labor force by occupation agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%
 
Unemployment rate 30% (2001 est.)
 
Budget
revenues: $2.442 billion
expenditures: $1.941 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
 
Public debt 57.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
 
Agriculture products coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
 
Industries petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber
 
Industrial production growth rate 4.2% (1999 est.)
 
Electricity production 3.613 billion kWh (2001)
 
Electricity production by source
fossil fuel: 2.7%
hydro: 97.3%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
 
Electricity consumption 3.36 billion kWh (2001)
 
Electricity exports 0 kWh (2001)
 
Electricity imports 0 kWh (2001)
 
Oil production 76,650 bbl/day (2004 est.)
 
Oil consumption 22,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 
Oil exports NA (2001)
 
Oil imports NA (2001)
 
Oil proved reserves 200 million bbl (2004)
 
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 (2004)
 
Current account balance $-564 million (2004 est.)
 
Exports $1.873 billion f.o.b. (2004 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 (2004 est.)
 
Debt external $7.236 billion (2004 est.)
 
Economic aid recipient on 23 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 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority 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

 

 

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This information was reproduced in part from the CIA World Fact book.

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