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Full country name: Republic of Cameroon
Area: 475,440 sq km (183,569 sq mi)
Population: 15.4 million
Capital city: Yaoundé (pop 730,000)
People: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%
Languages: 24 major African language groups, English, French
Religions: Indigenous beliefs, Christian, Muslim
Government: Unitary republic
President: Paul Biya
Prime Minister: Peter Mafany Musonge

GDP: US$29.6 billion
GDP per head: US$2,000
Annual growth: 5%
Inflation: 2.5%
Major industries: Petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches, livestock, timber
Major trading partners: Italy, Spain, France, Netherlands, Nigeria, U.S., Germany

Events

After New Year's Day, the first major event of the year is the Mt Cameroon Race, held in late January. This 27km (17mi) race up and down the 3000m (10,000ft) mountain is Africa's toughest. The Muslim Feast of Ramadan, which changes dates from year to year, signals the end of a month of daily fasts and is celebrated all over Cameroon, most notably in Foumban, where horse races, processions and dances are part of the festivities. Muslims in northern and western Cameroon also celebrate Tabaski in February or March, when celebrations include a parade of marabouts (wise men and fortune-tellers). The country's major non-religious holiday is the Cameroon National Festival, held on 20 May. The best place to witness it is Maroua. Horses race through the streets of Kumbo, a town in western Cameroon, during Nso Cultural Week, held in mid-November.

Traveling Guidelines

Visas: All visitors need visas, which are good for three months, plus an International Health Certificate showing proof of a yellow fever vaccination within the past 10 years.
Health risks: Cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, fungal infections, giardia, hepatitis, malaria, meningococcal meningitis, typhoid, yellow fever
Time: GMT/UTC plus 1 hour
Electricity: 110/220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric