Nigeria vs. Cameroon
Introduction
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | In ancient and pre-colonial times, the area of present-day Nigeria was occupied by a great diversity of ethnic groups with very different languages and traditions. British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy. After independence in 1960, politics were marked by coups and mostly military rule, until the death of a military head of state in 1998 allowed for a political transition. In 1999, a new constitution was adopted and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through decades of corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history. National and state elections in 2011 and 2015 were generally regarded as credible. The 2015 election was also heralded for the fact that the then-umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeated the long-ruling People's Democratic Party that had governed since 1999, and assumed the presidency, marking the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another. Presidential and legislative elections were held in early 2019 and deemed broadly free and fair despite voting irregularities, intimidation, and violence. | Much of the area of present-day Cameroon was ruled by powerful chiefdoms before becoming a German colony in 1884 known as Kamerun. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA. |
Geography
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon | Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria |
| Geographic coordinates | 10 00 N, 8 00 E | 6 00 N, 12 00 E |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 923,768 sq km land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km | total: 475,440 sq km land: 472,710 sq km water: 2,730 sq km |
| Area - comparative | about six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California | slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania |
| Land boundaries | total: 4,477 km border countries (4): Benin 809 km, Cameroon 1975 km, Chad 85 km, Niger 1608 km | total: 5,018 km border countries (6): Central African Republic 901 km, Chad 1116 km, Republic of the Congo 494 km, Equatorial Guinea 183 km, Gabon 349 km, Nigeria 1975 km |
| Coastline | 853 km | 402 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm |
| Climate | varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north | varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north |
| Terrain | southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north | diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 380 m | highest point: Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 667 m |
| Natural resources | natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land | petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower |
| Land use | agricultural land: 78% (2018 est.) arable land: 37.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 7.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.) forest: 9.5% (2018 est.) other: 12.5% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 20.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 3.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2018 est.) forest: 41.7% (2018 est.) other: 37.7% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 2,930 sq km (2012) | 290 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | periodic droughts; flooding | volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986 |
| Environment - current issues | serious overpopulation and rapid urbanization have led to numerous environmental problems; urban air and water pollution; rapid deforestation; soil degradation; loss of arable land; oil pollution - water, air, and soil have suffered serious damage from oil spills | waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation and overgrazing result in erosion, desertification, and reduced quality of pastureland; poaching; overfishing; overhunting |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Tropical Timber 2006 | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban |
| Geography - note | the Niger River enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea | sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano |
| Total renewable water resources | 286.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 283.15 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest as shown in this population distribution map | population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 219,463,862 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected | 28,524,175 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 41.7% (male 45,571,738/female 43,674,769) 15-24 years: 20.27% (male 22,022,660/female 21,358,753) 25-54 years: 30.6% (male 32,808,913/female 32,686,474) 55-64 years: 4.13% (male 4,327,847/female 4,514,264) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 3,329,083/female 3,733,801) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 42.34% (male 5,927,640/female 5,820,226) 15-24 years: 20.04% (male 2,782,376/female 2,776,873) 25-54 years: 30.64% (male 4,191,151/female 4,309,483) 55-64 years: 3.87% (male 520,771/female 552,801) 65 years and over: 3.11% (male 403,420/female 460,248) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 18.6 years male: 18.4 years female: 18.9 years (2020 est.) | total: 18.5 years male: 18.2 years female: 18.8 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 2.53% (2021 est.) | 2.77% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 34.38 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 35.91 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 7.93 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 58.23 deaths/1,000 live births male: 63.67 deaths/1,000 live births female: 52.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 50.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 55.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 60.87 years male: 59.07 years female: 62.78 years (2021 est.) | total population: 62.79 years male: 61.07 years female: 64.57 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 4.67 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 4.61 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 1.3% (2020 est.) | 3% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian | noun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian |
| Ethnic groups | Hausa 30%, Yoruba 15.5%, Igbo (Ibo) 15.2%, Fulani 6%, Tiv 2.4%, Kanuri/Beriberi 2.4%, Ibibio 1.8%, Ijaw/Izon 1.8%, other 24.7% (2018 est.) note: Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups | Bamileke-Bamu 24.3%, Beti/Bassa, Mbam 21.6%, Biu-Mandara 14.6%, Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri 11%, Adamawa-Ubangi, 9.8%, Grassfields 7.7%, Kako, Meka/Pygmy 3.3%, Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko 2.7%, Southwestern Bantu 0.7%, foreign/other ethnic group 4.5% (2018 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 1.7 million (2020 est.) | 500,000 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Muslim 53.5%, Roman Catholic 10.6%, other Christian 35.3%, other .6% (2018 est.) | Roman Catholic 38.3%, Protestant 25.5%, other Christian 6.9%, Muslim 24.4%, animist 2.2%, other 0.5%, none 2.2% (2018 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 49,000 (2020 est.) | 14,000 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages | 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62% male: 71.3% female: 52.7% (2018) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 77.1% male: 82.6% female: 71.6% (2018) |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: leptospirosis and schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever note: on 7 October 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for a Yellow Fever outbreak in Nigeria; a large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017; the outbreak is now spread throughout the country with the Nigerian Ministry of Health reporting cases of the disease in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory; the CDC recommends travelers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Nigeria; as of 19 July 2021, Nigeria has reported a total of 169,678 cases of COVID-19 or 82.31 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with 1.03 cumulative death per 100,000 population; as of 19 July 2021, 1.23% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis |
| Food insecurity | widespread lack of access: due to persistent civil conflict in the northern areas - according to the latest analysis, about 12.8 million people are assessed to be in need of humanitarian assistance in the June-August 2021 period as a result of worsening conflict that is driving new population displacements; over 2.8 million people are estimated to be internally displaced in northeastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, due to communal clashes in northwestern/northcentral zones and natural disasters; the areas inaccessible to humanitarian interventions are facing the worst food insecurity conditions (2021) | severe localized food insecurity: due to civil insecurity and population displacements - according to a March 2021 analysis, about 1.9 million people (7 percent of the total population) were projected to be severely food insecure in the June-August 2021 period; this mainly results from the effects of Boko Haram incursions in the Far North Region, the socio-political unrest in the Northwest and Southwest regions and COVID-19 related economic shocks, which disrupted trade flows and agricultural practices, deteriorated livelihoods and displaced people (2021) |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 9 years male: 9 years female: 8 years (2011) | total: 12 years male: 13 years female: 11 years (2016) |
| Education expenditures | NA | 3.1% of GDP (2018) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 52.7% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 58.1% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 92.6% of population rural: 63.6% of population total: 77.9% of population unimproved: urban: 7.4% of population rural: 36.4% of population total: 22.1% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 94% of population rural: 54.6% of population total: 76.5% of population unimproved: urban: 6% of population rural: 45.3% of population total: 23.5% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 80.2% of population rural: 39.5% of population total: 59.7% of population unimproved: urban: 19.8% of population rural: 60.5% of population total: 40.3% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 83.3% of population rural: 25.6% of population total: 57.7% of population unimproved: urban: 16.7% of population rural: 74.4% of population total: 42.3% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 14.862 million Lagos, 4.103 million Kano, 3.649 million Ibadan, 3.464 million ABUJA (capital), 3.171 million Port Harcourt, 1.782 million Benin City (2021) | 4.164 million YAOUNDE (capital), 3.793 million Douala (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 917 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 529 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 18.4% (2019/20) | 11% (2018/19) |
| Health expenditures | 3.9% (2018) | 3.5% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2018) | 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2011) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 8.9% (2016) | 11.4% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 20.4 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 | 20.1 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 25-49 |
| Demographic profile | Nigeria's population is projected to grow from more than 186 million people in 2016 to 392 million in 2050, becoming the world's fourth most populous country. Nigeria's sustained high population growth rate will continue for the foreseeable future because of population momentum and its high birth rate. Abuja has not successfully implemented family planning programs to reduce and space births because of a lack of political will, government financing, and the availability and affordability of services and products, as well as a cultural preference for large families. Increased educational attainment, especially among women, and improvements in health care are needed to encourage and to better enable parents to opt for smaller families. Nigeria needs to harness the potential of its burgeoning youth population in order to boost economic development, reduce widespread poverty, and channel large numbers of unemployed youth into productive activities and away from ongoing religious and ethnic violence. While most movement of Nigerians is internal, significant emigration regionally and to the West provides an outlet for Nigerians looking for economic opportunities, seeking asylum, and increasingly pursuing higher education. Immigration largely of West Africans continues to be insufficient to offset emigration and the loss of highly skilled workers. Nigeria also is a major source, transit, and destination country for forced labor and sex trafficking. | Cameroon has a large youth population, with more than 60% of the populace under the age of 25. Fertility is falling but remains at a high level, especially among poor, rural, and uneducated women, in part because of inadequate access to contraception. Life expectancy remains low at about 55 years due to the prevalence of HIV and AIDs and an elevated maternal mortality rate, which has remained high since 1990. Cameroon, particularly the northern region, is vulnerable to food insecurity largely because of government mismanagement, corruption, high production costs, inadequate infrastructure, and natural disasters. Despite economic growth in some regions, poverty is on the rise, and is most prevalent in rural areas, which are especially affected by a shortage of jobs, declining incomes, poor school and health care infrastructure, and a lack of clean water and sanitation. Underinvestment in social safety nets and ineffective public financial management also contribute to Cameroon's high rate of poverty. The activities of Boko Haram, other armed groups, and counterinsurgency operations have worsened food insecurity in the Far North region. International migration has been driven by unemployment (including fewer government jobs), poverty, the search for educational opportunities, and corruption. The US and Europe are preferred destinations, but, with tighter immigration restrictions in these countries, young Cameroonians are increasingly turning to neighboring states, such as Gabon and Nigeria, South Africa, other parts of Africa, and the Near and Far East. Cameroon's limited resources make it dependent on UN support to host more than 420,000 refugees and asylum seekers as of September 2020. These refugees and asylum seekers are primarily from the Central African Republic and Nigeria. Internal and external displacement have grown dramatically in recent years. Boko Haram's attacks and counterattacks by government forces in the Far North since 2014 have increased the number of internally displaced people. Armed conflict between separatists and Cameroon's military in the the Northwest and Southwest since 2016 have displaced hundreds of thousands of the country's Anglophone minority. |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 16.6% (2018) | 19.3% (2018) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 86 youth dependency ratio: 80.9 elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 potential support ratio: 19.6 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 81.1 youth dependency ratio: 76.2 elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 potential support ratio: 20.3 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria etymology: named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir" | conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon former: Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon etymology: in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers named the area near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; over time the designation became Cameroon in English; this is the only instance where a country is named after a crustacean |
| Government type | federal presidential republic | presidential republic |
| Capital | name: Abuja geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Abuja is a planned capital city, it replaced Lagos in 1991; situated in the center of the country, Abuja takes its name from a nearby town, now renamed Suleja | name: Yaounde geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded as a German colonial settlement of Jaunde in 1888 and named after the local Yaunde (Ewondo) people |
| Administrative divisions | 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara | 10 regions (regions, singular - region); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extreme-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest) |
| Independence | 1 October 1960 (from the UK) | 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) |
| National holiday | Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960) | State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972) |
| Constitution | history: several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses and approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two thirds of the states; amendments to constitutional articles on the creation of a new state, fundamental constitutional rights, or constitution-amending procedures requires at least four-fifths majority vote by both houses of the National Assembly and approval by the Houses of Assembly in at least two thirds of the states; passage of amendments limited to the creation of a new state require at least two-thirds majority vote by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two thirds of the states; amended several times, last in 2018 | history: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon's unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended; amended 2008 |
| Legal system | mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law | mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 20 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Maj. Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces head of government: President Maj.Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015) cabinet: Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constrained constitutionally to include at least one member from each of the 36 states elections/appointments: president directly elected by qualified majority popular vote and at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 February 2019 (next to be held in February 2023); note: the election was scheduled for 16 February 2019, but postponed on 16 February 2019 election results: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 53%, Atiku ABUBAKER (PDP) 39%, other 8% | chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Joseph Dion NGUTE (since 4 January 2019); Deputy Prime Minister Amadou ALI (since 2014) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2% |
| Legislative branch | description: bicameral National Assembly consists of: Senate (109 seats - 3 each for the 36 states and 1 for Abuja-Federal Capital Territory; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) House of Representatives (360 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 23 February 2019 (next to be held on 23 February 2023); note: election was scheduled for 16 February 2019 but was postponed on 15 February 2019 House of Representatives - last held on 23 February 2019 (next to be held on 23 February 2023); note: election was scheduled for 16 February 2019 but was postponed on 15 February 2019 election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 65, PDP 39, YPP 1, TBD 3; composition - men 103, women 6, percent of women 5.5% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 217, PDP 115, other 20, TBD 8; composition - men 346, women 14, percent of women 3.9%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 4.3% | description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of: Senate or Senat (100 seats; 70 members indirectly elected by regional councils and 30 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 25 March 2018 (next to be held in 2023) National Assembly - last held on 9 February 2020 (current term extended by President); note - the constitutional court has ordered a partial rerun of elections in the English speaking areas; date to be determined election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDPM 81.1%, SDF 8.6%, UNDP 5.8%, UDC 1.16%, other 2.8%; seats by party - CPDM 63, SDF 7 National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPDM 139, UNDP 7, SDF 5, PCRN 5, UDC 4, FSNC 3, MDR 2, Union of Socialist Movements 2; 13 vacant; composition - NA |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices) judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system | highest courts: Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for single 9-year terms subordinate courts: Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts |
| Political parties and leaders | Accord Party or ACC [Mohammad Lawal MALADO] All Progressives Congress or APC [Adams OSHIOMHOLE] All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor Ike OYE] Democratic Peoples Party or DPP [Biodun OGUNBIYI] Labor Party or LP [Alhai Abdulkadir ABDULSALAM] Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Uche SECONDUS] Young Progressive Party or YPP [Kingsley MOGHALU] | Alliance for Democracy and Development Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA] Cameroon People's Party or CPP [Edith Kah WALLA] Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC [Maurice KAMTO] Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA] Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN [Cabral LIBII] Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC [Issa Tchiroma BAKARY] Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA] Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [Marcel YONDO] National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA] Progressive Movement or MP [Jean-Jacques EKINDI] Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI] Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC [Provisionary Management Bureau] Union of Socialist Movements |
| International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, D-8, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Uzoma Elizabeth EMENIKE (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100) FAX: [1] (202) 362-6541 email address and website: info@nigeriaembassyusa.org https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York | chief of mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826 email address and website: cs@cameroonembassyusa.org https://www.cameroonembassyusa.org/mainFolder/index.html |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Beth LEONARD (since 24 December 2019) embassy: Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja mailing address: 8320 Abuja Place, Washington DC 20521-8320 telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000 FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036 email address and website: AbujaACS@state.gov https://ng.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Lagos | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission (currently serving as Charge d'Affaires) Mary E. DASCHBACH embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé mailing address: 2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 22251-4000/[237] 22220-1500 FAX: [237] 22220-1500, Ext. 4531 email address and website: YaoundeACS@state.gov https://cm.usembassy.gov/ branch office(s): Douala |
| Flag description | three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green; the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, white stands for peace and unity | three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; the vertical tricolor recalls the flag of France; red symbolizes unity, yellow the sun, happiness, and the savannahs in the north, and green hope and the forests in the south; the star is referred to as the "star of unity" note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia |
| National anthem | name: Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey lyrics/music: John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B.A. OGUNNAIKE, Sotu OMOIGUI and P.O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE note: adopted 1978; lyrics are a mixture of the five top entries in a national contest | name: "O Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancetres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers) lyrics/music: Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME note: adopted 1957; Cameroon's anthem, also known as "Chant de Ralliement" (The Rallying Song), has been used unofficially since 1948 and officially adopted in 1957; the anthem has French and English versions whose lyrics differ |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt |
| National symbol(s) | eagle; national colors: green, white | lion; national colors: green, red, yellow |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
Economy
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Nigeria is Sub Saharan Africa's largest economy and relies heavily on oil as its main source of foreign exchange earnings and government revenues. Following the 2008-09 global financial crises, the banking sector was effectively recapitalized and regulation enhanced. Since then, Nigeria's economic growth has been driven by growth in agriculture, telecommunications, and services. Economic diversification and strong growth have not translated into a significant decline in poverty levels; over 62% of Nigeria's over 180 million people still live in extreme poverty. Despite its strong fundamentals, oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by inadequate power supply, lack of infrastructure, delays in the passage of legislative reforms, an inefficient property registration system, restrictive trade policies, an inconsistent regulatory environment, a slow and ineffective judicial system, unreliable dispute resolution mechanisms, insecurity, and pervasive corruption. Regulatory constraints and security risks have limited new investment in oil and natural gas, and Nigeria's oil production had been contracting every year since 2012 until a slight rebound in 2017. President BUHARI, elected in March 2015, has established a cabinet of economic ministers that includes several technocrats, and he has announced plans to increase transparency, diversify the economy away from oil, and improve fiscal management, but has taken a primarily protectionist approach that favors domestic producers at the expense of consumers. President BUHARI ran on an anti-corruption platform, and has made some headway in alleviating corruption, such as implementation of a Treasury Single Account that allows the government to better manage its resources and a more transparent government payroll and personnel system that eliminated duplicate and "ghost workers." The government also is working to develop stronger public-private partnerships for roads, agriculture, and power. Nigeria entered recession in 2016 as a result of lower oil prices and production, exacerbated by militant attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region, coupled with detrimental economic policies, including foreign exchange restrictions. GDP growth turned positive in 2017 as oil prices recovered and output stabilized. | Cameroon's market-based, diversified economy features oil and gas, timber, aluminum, agriculture, mining and the service sector. Oil remains Cameroon's main export commodity, and despite falling global oil prices, still accounts for nearly 40% of exports. Cameroon's economy suffers from factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, 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. The IMF continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget and diverted funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, as low oil prices have led to lower revenues. Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects currently under construction, including a deep seaport in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project. Cameroon's energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas-powered electricity generating plant. Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs, and improve its economic footprint, but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $1,032,048,000,000 (2019 est.) $1,009,748,000,000 (2018 est.) $990.7 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $94.248 billion (2019 est.) $90.868 billion (2018 est.) $87.32 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 0.8% (2017 est.) -1.6% (2016 est.) 2.7% (2015 est.) | 3.5% (2017 est.) 4.6% (2016 est.) 5.7% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $5,136 (2019 est.) $5,155 (2018 est.) $5,190 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $3,642 (2019 est.) $3,604 (2018 est.) $3,555 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 21.1% (2016 est.) industry: 22.5% (2016 est.) services: 56.4% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 16.7% (2017 est.) industry: 26.5% (2017 est.) services: 56.8% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 40.1% (2018 est.) | 37.5% (2014 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 38.2% (2010 est.) | lowest 10%: 37.5% highest 10%: 35.4% (2001) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 11.3% (2019 est.) 12.1% (2018 est.) 16.5% (2017 est.) | 2.4% (2019 est.) 1% (2018 est.) 0.6% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 60.08 million (2017 est.) | 9.912 million (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 70% industry: 10% services: 20% (1999 est.) | agriculture: 70% industry: 13% services: 17% (2001 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 16.5% (2017 est.) 13.9% (2016 est.) | 4.3% (2014 est.) 30% (2001 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 35.1 (2018 est.) 50.6 (1997) | 46.5 (2014 est.) 46.6 (2014 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 12.92 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 19.54 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 5.363 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 6.556 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel | petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair |
| Industrial production growth rate | 2.2% (2017 est.) | 3.3% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, vegetables, sorghum, groundnuts, fruit, sweet potatoes | cassava, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, sugar cane, sorghum, tomatoes, bananas, vegetables |
| Exports | $34.545 billion (2020 est.) $62.531 billion (2019 est.) $60.547 billion (2018 est.) | $4.732 billion (2017 est.) $4.561 billion (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | crude petroleum, natural gas, scrap vessels, flexible metal tubing, cocoa beans (2019) | crude petroleum, cocoa beans, lumber, gold, natural gas, bananas (2019) |
| Exports - partners | India 16%, Spain 10%, United States 7%, France 7%, Netherlands 6% (2019) | China 17%, Netherlands 14%, Italy 9%, United Arab Emirates 8%, India 7%, United States 6%, Belgium 6%, Spain 5%, France 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $32.67 billion (2017 est.) $35.24 billion (2016 est.) | $4.812 billion (2017 est.) $4.827 billion (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | refined petroleum, cars, wheat, laboratory glassware, packaged medicines (2019) | crude petroleum, scrap vessels, rice, special purpose ships, packaged medicines (2019) |
| Imports - partners | China 30%, Netherlands 11%, United States 6%, Belgium 5% (2019) | China 28%, Nigeria 15%, France 9%, Belgium 6% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $26.847 billion (2019 est.) $22.755 billion (2018 est.) | $9.375 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.364 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Exchange rates | nairas (NGN) per US dollar - 383.5 (2020 est.) 362.75 (2019 est.) 363 (2018 est.) 192.73 (2014 est.) 158.55 (2013 est.) | Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | 1 July - 30 June |
| Public debt | 21.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 19.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 36.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 32.5% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $38.77 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $25.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $3.235 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $2.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | $10.38 billion (2017 est.) $2.714 billion (2016 est.) | -$932 million (2017 est.) -$1.034 billion (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $475.062 billion (2019 est.) | $34.99 billion (2017 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: B (2020) Moody's rating: B2 (2017) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020) | Fitch rating: B (2006) Moody's rating: B2 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 56.9 (2020) Starting a Business score: 86.2 (2020) Trading score: 29.2 (2020) Enforcement score: 61.5 (2020) | Overall score: 46.1 (2020) Starting a Business score: 86.3 (2020) Trading score: 16 (2020) Enforcement score: 39.9 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 15.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 18.3% male: 18.4% NA female: 18.2% NA (2019 est.) | total: 6.3% male: 5.8% female: 6.8% (2014 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 80% (2017 est.) government consumption: 5.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 14.8% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 11.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -13.2% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 66.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 11.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 21.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -20.9% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 23.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 19.3% of GDP (2018 est.) 18.3% of GDP (2017 est.) | 17.7% of GDP (2018 est.) 18.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 23.9% of GDP (2015 est.) |
Energy
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 29.35 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 8.108 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 24.72 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 6.411 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 55 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 1.989 million bbl/day (2018 est.) | 69,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 36,480 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 2.096 million bbl/day (2015 est.) | 96,370 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 37.45 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 200 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 5.475 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 135.1 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 44.48 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 910.4 million cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 17.24 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 906.1 million cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 27.21 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 10.52 million kW (2016 est.) | 1.558 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 80% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 52% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 47% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 35,010 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 39,080 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 325,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 45,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 2,332 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 8,545 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 223,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 14,090 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 62% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 91% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 30% (2019) | electrification - total population: 70% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 98% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 32% (2019) |
Telecommunications
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 107,154 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 856,411 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.17 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 184,592,255 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88.47 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 21,400,736 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 79.31 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .ng | .cm |
| Internet users | total: 85,450,052 percent of population: 42% (July 2018 est.) | total: 6,089,200 percent of population: 23.2% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: one of the larger telecom markets in Africa subject to sporadic access to electricity and vandalism of infrastructure; most Internet connections are via mobile networks; foreign investment presence, particularly from China; market competition with affordable access; LTE technologies available but GSM is dominate; mobile penetration high due to use of multiple SIM cards and phones; government committed to expanding broadband penetration; operators to deploy fiber optic cable in six geopolitical zones and Lagos; operators invested in base stations to deplete network congestion; submarine cable break in 2020 slowed speeds and interrupted connectivity; importer of phones and broadcast equipment from China (2020) (2020)domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple cellular providers operate nationally with subscribership base over 88 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, NCSCS, MainOne, Glo-1 & 2, ACE, and Equiano fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Cameroon's 3G and LTE services are improving through growing competition and a government program to improve national connectivity and support digital economy; saturated use of transactions through m-commerce; developing broadband sector; improved submarine and terrestrial cable connectivity strengthened international bandwidth and lowered prices; pushing start of fiber link to Congo; fiber rollout continues with new government funding; operators opened new data center in 2020 and developed contracts for satellite broadband; government awarded contract to provide connectivity to universities (2021) (2020)domestic: only about 4 per 100 persons for fixed-line subscriptions; mobile-cellular usage has increased sharply, reaching a subscribership base of over 82 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 237; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, SAIL, ACE, NCSCS, Ceiba-2, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe, South America, and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 83,360 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) | total: 400,929 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.49 less than 1 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | nearly 70 federal government-controlled national and regional TV stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV stations operational; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; network of federal government-controlled national, regional, and state radio stations; roughly 40 state government-owned radio stations typically carry their own programs except for news broadcasts; about 20 private radio stations; transmissions of international broadcasters are available; digital broadcasting migration process completed in three states in 2018 (2019) | government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), broadcasting on both a TV and radio network, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until August 2007, when the government finally issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operating but are subject to closure at any time; foreign news services required to partner with state-owned national station (2019) |
Transportation
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 3,798 km (2014) standard gauge: 293 km 1.435-m gauge (2014) narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) note: as of the end of 2018, there were only six operational locomotives in Nigeria primarily used for passenger service; the majority of the rail lines are in a severe state of disrepair and need to be replaced | total: 987 km (2014) narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2014) note: railway connections generally efficient but limited; rail lines connect major cities of Douala, Yaounde, Ngaoundere, and Garoua; passenger and freight service provided by CAMRAIL |
| Roadways | total: 195,000 km (2017) paved: 60,000 km (2017) unpaved: 135,000 km (2017) | total: 77,589 km (2016) paved: 5,133 km (2016) unpaved: 72,456 km (2016) |
| Waterways | 8,600 km (Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2011) | (major rivers in the south, such as the Wouri and the Sanaga, are largely non-navigable; in the north, the Benue, which connects through Nigeria to the Niger River, is navigable in the rainy season only to the port of Garoua) (2010) |
| Pipelines | 124 km condensate, 4045 km gas, 164 km liquid petroleum gas, 4441 km oil, 3940 km refined products (2013) | 53 km gas, 5 km liquid petroleum gas, 1107 km oil, 35 km water (2013) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos oil terminal(s): Bonny Terminal, Brass Terminal, Escravos Terminal, Forcados Terminal, Pennington Terminal, Qua Iboe Terminal LNG terminal(s) (export): Bonny Island | oil terminal(s): Limboh Terminal river port(s): Douala (Wouri) Garoua (Benoue) |
| Merchant marine | total: 728 by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 110, other 603 (2020) | total: 61 by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 34, oil tanker 2, other 24 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 54 (2013) | total: 33 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 40 (2017) over 3,047 m: 10 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2017) under 914 m: 3 (2017) | total: 11 (2017) over 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 14 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (2013) under 914 m: 3 (2013) | total: 22 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2013) under 914 m: 8 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 13 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 104 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 8,169,192 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 19.42 million mt-km (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 265,136 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 70,000 mt-km (2018) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | 5N | TJ |
Military
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard), Air Force; Ministry of Interior: Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC, a paramilitary agency commissioned to assist the military in the management of threats to internal security, including attacks and natural disasters) (2021) | Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army (L'Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale Republique, MNR, includes naval infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC), Rapid Intervention Battalion (Bataillons d'Intervention Rapide, BIR), Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard (2021) note - the Rapid Intervention Battalion, a brigade-sized force comprised of several high-readiness land units, maintains its own command and control structure and reports directly to the President, rather than the Defense Minister |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019) | 18-23 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years; periodic government calls for volunteers (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 0.5% of GDP (2019) 0.5% of GDP (2018) 0.4% of GDP (2017) 0.4% of GDP (2016) 0.4% of GDP (2015) | 1.1% of GDP (2019) 1.1% of GDP (2018) 1.3% of GDP (2017) 1.3% of GDP (2016) 1.3% of GDP (2015) |
| Military - note | the Nigerian Armed Forces are used primarily for internal security operations; in the northeast, the military is conducting counterinsurgency/counter-terrorist operations against the Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups, where it has deployed as many as 70,000 troops at times and jihadist-related violence has killed an estimated 35,000 people, mostly civilians, since 2009 (as of Dec 2020); in the northwest, it faces threats from criminal gangs, bandits, and militants associated with ongoing farmer-herder violence, as well as BH and ISWA terrorists; the military also focuses on the Niger Delta region to protect the oil industry against militants and criminal activity, although the levels of violence there have decreased in recent years; in May 2021, a contingent of military troops and police were deployed to eastern Nigeria to quell renewed agitation for a state of Biafra (Biafra seceded from Nigeria in the late 1960s, sparking a civil war that caused more than 1 million deaths) | the FAC is largely focused on the threat from the terror group Boko Haram along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions (as of Feb 2021, this internal conflict has left an estimated 3,000 civilians dead and over 700,000 people displaced since fighting started in 2016); in addition, the FAC often deploys units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits |
| Maritime threats | the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea." | tthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea." |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | size estimates for the Nigerian Armed Forces vary; approximately 135,000 active personnel (100,000 Army; 20,000 Navy/Coast Guard; 15,000 Air Force); est. 80,000 Security and Civil Defense Corps (2020) | information varies widely; approximately 40,000 active duty troops; (25,000 ground forces, including the BIR and Presidential Guard; 2,000 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 12,000 Gendarmerie) (2020) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Nigerian Armed Forces' inventory consists of a wide variety of imported weapons systems of Chinese, European, Middle Eastern, Russian (including Soviet-era), and US origin; since 2010, Nigeria has undertaken a considerable military modernization program, and has received equipment from some 20 countries with China, Russia, and the US as the leading suppliers; Nigeria has been the largest arms importer in sub-Saharan Africa since 2014; Nigeria is also developing a defense-industry capacity, including small arms, armored personnel vehicles, and small-scale naval production (2020) | the FAC inventory includes a mix of mostly older or second-hand Chinese, Russian, and Western equipment, with a limited quantity of more modern weapons; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of armaments to the FAC (2020) |
| Military deployments | 200 Ghana (ECOMIG); MNJTF (1 brigade or approximately 3,000 troops committed; note - the national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross-border operations are conducted periodically) (2021) | 750 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (Jan 2021) note: Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross-border operations occur occasionally |
Transnational Issues
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phaseout of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries; location of Benin-Niger-Nigeria tripoint is unresolved | Joint Border Commission with Nigeria reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a full phase-out of Nigerian control and patriation of residents in 2008; Cameroon and Nigeria agreed on maritime delimitation in March 2008; sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty, which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | refugees (country of origin): 67,456 (Cameroon) (2021) IDPs: 2,880,168 (northeast Nigeria; Boko Haram attacks and counterinsurgency efforts in northern Nigeria; communal violence between Christians and Muslims in the middle belt region, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; cattle rustling; competition for resources) (2021) | refugees (country of origin): 328,258 (Central African Republic), 118,409 (Nigeria) (2021) IDPs: 1,032,942 (2021) (includes far north, northwest, and southwest) |
| Trafficking in persons | current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Nigeria along with victims from Nigeria abroad; internal trafficking involving recruiting victims from rural areas for commercial sex and forced labor in domestic work, street vending, mining, agriculture, begging and textile manufacturing; traffickers operate "baby factories" where women held against their will are raped and children are sold into forced labor or sex trafficking or rented to beggars to increase their profits; women are often taken to other West and Central African countries, South Africa, Europe and the Middle East for commercial sex; Boko Haram and ISIS-WA forcibly recruit, abduct, and use child soldiers as young as 12 as cooks, spies, messengers, bodyguards, armed combatants, and suicide bombers; they abduct women and girls in the northern region of Nigeria for sexual slavery and forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Nigeria does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government is continuing to train officials and raise public awareness; the government established anti-trafficking task forces in Borno and Ekiti states and used new technology to collect victim testimony; authorities prosecuted three government officials complicit in human trafficking; the government is drafting a memoranda of understanding that will improve coordination between government agencies; however, security forces used at least two children in support roles; some security officials were involved in sex trafficking; no criminal charges were made against military officials or members of the Civilian Joint Task Force for sex trafficking or the use of child soldiers; no protections were given to female and child trafficking victims allegedly associated with insurgencies; fewer traffickers were convicted; Nigeria was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020) | current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Cameroon and Cameroonians abroad; deteriorating economic and education conditions and diminished police and judicial presence caused by conflict in the Northwest and Southwest has left displaced persons vulnerable to trafficking; parents may be lured by promises of education or a better life for their children in urban areas, and then the children are subject to forced labor and sex trafficking; teenagers and adolescents may be lured to cities with promises of employment and then become victims of forced labor and sex trafficking; children from neighboring countries are forced to work in spare parts shops or cattle grazing by business owners and herders; Cameroonians, often from rural areas, are exploited in forced labor and sex trafficking in the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and African countries tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cameroon does not meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities investigated at least nine suspected trafficking cases, identified 77 victims, and provided some training on trafficking indicators to officials and teachers; however, officials prosecuted and convicted fewer traffickers; standard operating procedures for the identification and referral of trafficking victims were not implemented, and officials were not trained on the measures; the government did not report referring trafficking victims to government institutions for vulnerable children, but NGO-funded centers provided care for an unknown number of child victims; 2012 anti-trafficking legislation addressing victim and witness protection in conformity with international law was not passed for the eighth consecutive year (2020) |
Terrorism
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Terrorist Group(s) | Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - West Africa; Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan (Ansaru) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T | Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - West Africa note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T |
Environment
| Nigeria | Cameroon | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 48.73 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 120.37 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 143.99 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 65.26 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.29 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 30.71 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.965 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 5.51 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 246.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 104.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 737 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 1.02% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 2.5% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 27,614,830 tons (2009 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 3,270,617 tons (2013 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 13,082 tons (2009 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.4% (2009 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
