Cameroon:
Economy

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Other pages in this profile of Cameroon:
Geography, People, Government, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Economy - overview	Definition 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. 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. International oil and cocoa prices have a significant impact on the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity)	Definition - World rank and map $39.37 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)	Definition $20.65 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	Definition - World rank and map 3.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita	Definition - World rank and map $2,100 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	Definition agriculture: 43.9% industry: 15.8% services: 40.3% (2007 est.)
Labor force	Definition 6.674 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	Definition agriculture: 70% industry: 13% services: 17% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate	Definition - World rank and map 30% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line	Definition 48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	Definition lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index	Definition - World rank and map 44.6 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	Definition - World rank and map 0.9% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)	Definition - World rank and map 17.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget	Definition revenues: $4.178 billion expenditures: $3.297 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt	Definition - World rank and map 15.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products	Definition coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Industries	Definition petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate	Definition - World rank and map 3.5% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production	Definition - World rank and map 4.09 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 3.435 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 186.1 kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports	Definition 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	Definition 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production	Definition - World rank and map 82,670 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 24,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption per 1,000 people	Definition - World rank and map 1.3 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports	Definition - World rank and map 107,400 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports	Definition - World rank and map 63,710 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 95 million bbl (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption per capita	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports	Definition - World rank and map 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves	Definition - World rank and map 105.9 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance	Definition - World rank and map $85 million (2007 est.)
Exports	Definition - World rank and map $3.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities	Definition crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners	Definition Spain 20%, Italy 15.9%, France 11.8%, South Korea 8.5%, Netherlands 6.2%, US 5.8% (2006)
Imports	Definition - World rank and map $3.714 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities	Definition machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners	Definition France 23.3%, Nigeria 12.8%, China 9%, Belgium 5.8%, US 4% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	Definition - World rank and map $2.934 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external	Definition - World rank and map $2.555 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares	Definition $NA
Economic aid - recipient	Definition $413.8 million (2005)
Currency (code)	Definition Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Exchange rates	Definition Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)
Fiscal year	Definition 1 July - 30 June

Cameroon: Economy

Cameroon:
Economy