Cameroon Profile


Cameroon Profile

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Cameroon, with its population of 25.88 million (2019), is located in western central Africa having 249 miles of coast on the Gulf of Guinea/Atlantic Ocean coastline known as the Bight of Biatra. Cameroon is further bordered by Nigeria to its west, Chad to its north-east, the Central African Republic to its east and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo to its south. Slightly larger than California, Cameroon is sometimes referred to as 'Africa in Miniature' with golden beaches, tropical rainforests, lakes, deserts, savannahs as well as volcanic mountain ranges and an abundance of wildlife including lions and elephants. Cameroon gained its name from what Portuguese settlers had named the River of Shrimp, Rio dos Camaroes, after they reached the coast in 1472. In 1884 the land became a German colony, however after Germany's defeat in World War 1 the then named Kamerun became a League of Nations Mandate territory being split into British Cameroon and French Cameroon in 1919. French Cameroon gained independence from France on 1st January 1960 and, the following year, on 1st October 1961, British Cameroon united with it to become the Federal Republic of Cameroon under the stewardship of President Ahmadou Ahidjo, the leader of French Cameroon who installed one party politics.



Today power rests in the grip of President Paul Biya, formerly the Prime Minister of Cameroon from 1975 to 1982 under Ahmadou Ahidjo, who was first elected into presidential office on 6th November 1982 and who is now the second longest ruling president in Africa, the longest-ruling non-royal leader in the world and the oldest head-of-state in Africa. Cameroon is generally seen as a stable country with this stability providing a platform for the development of its infrastructure and inward investment, however there is a strong movement in the former British Cameroon to break away and form the independent Republic of Ambazonia. Indeed this was proclaimed in 1999 but has gained no recognition either within and outside of Cameroon. The terrorist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) are known to be active in the far north region of Cameroon and attacks have been carried out in the capital Yaounde in the summer of 2020 and further such attacks are threatened with Boko Haram denouncing Cameroon's involvement in the regional fight to counter them and their aims.


Cameroon Country Profile


Cameroon is in 153rd place out of 189 countries and territories in 2019 when ranked in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards of a country. Life expectancy for a child in Cameroon is 58.92 years (2018), not helped by the prevalence of HIV/AIDS where in 2020 a staggering 350,000 have been orphaned by AIDS. Many of these orphaned children, along with others who escape poverty or family breakdown, end up on the streets living through vending, begging or stealing. For more about Cameroon, explore our Cameroon profile pages below.




Cameroon Profile: Volunteer in Cameroon

African Volunteer Work: Cameroon


Check out all the latest fee paying and free African volunteer work placements and charity work job opportunities abroad with local projects and volunteering organisations in Cameroon.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon History

Cameroon History


A timeline of Cameroon history from colonial times to independence and the abolition of the federal system of government in 1972.

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Cameroon Profile: Life in Cameroon

Life in Cameroon


Information about daily life in Cameroon, complete with pictures and images of the country where over half the population live in poverty.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon Children

Cameroon Children


About life for children in Cameroon in facts, information and video where more than 40% live in poverty in rural areas together with details of projects and programs to support children in Cameroon.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon Street Children

Cameroon Street Children


Information and video about the children living on the streets of cities in Cameroon together with details of projects and programs to help them.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon Images

Cameroon Images


Pictures and images about Cameroon, sometimes referred to as 'Africa in Miniature' together with a video showing the best images of Cameroon set to local music.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon Malnutrition

Cameroon Malnutrition


About child malnutrition in Cameroon which is responsible for 38% of all deaths among children under the age of five and one out of every three children stunted.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon AIDS

AIDS in Cameroon


Information and facts about the prevalence of AIDS in Cameroon, believed to be the birthplace of the devastating disease.

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Cameroon Profile: Yaounde Profile

Yaounde Profile


A video and information about life in Yaounde, the capital city of the Republic of Cameroon in west-central Africa.

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Cameroon Profile: Yaounde Airport

Yaounde Airport


Make a virtual landing at Cameroon's Yaounde Airport, also known as Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport, and your probable point of entry into Cameroon for voluntary work.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon Quiz

Cameroon Quiz


Take our online Cameroon trivia quiz and see how much you know about Cameroon including some interesting facts and video.

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Cameroon Profile: Child Sponsor Cameroon

Child Sponsor Cameroon


Details of how to sponsor children in Cameroon with Cameroon child sponsor organisations, charities, programs and projects.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon Map

Cameroon Map


Use this Google Earth satellite map of Cameroon to explore and take a virtual tour of Cameroon in Africa and zoom in on places of interest.

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Cameroon Profile: Cameroon News

Cameroon News


Read all the latest and breaking news from Cameroon here at our Cameroon profile news portal.

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