ears
male: 51.55 years
female: 53.68 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian

Ethnic divisions: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%,
Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%,
other African 13%, non-African less than 1%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%

Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official),
French (official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 63.4%
male: 75%
female: 52.1%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon

Data code: CM

Type of government: unitary republic; multiparty presidential
regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

Capital: Yaounde

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French
administration)

National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)

Constitution: 20 May 1972

Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law
influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) elected
for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 11
October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); results - President
Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread
allegations of fraud; SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the
vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got 19% of the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April
1992) appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 1 March
1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats (180 total) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic
Movement (CPDM) (government-controlled and the only party until
legalization of opposition parties in 1990), Paul BIYA, president
major opposition parties