currency of 12
January 1994 improved the potential for export growth, mismanagement
remains the main barrier to economic improvement. The devaluation
led to a spurt in inflation, to 48% in 1994, but inflation moderated
in 1995. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry
remains slow.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 1.8% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 24%
services: 47% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 48% (1994)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%,
other services 14.2% (1983)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $1.6 billion
expenditures: $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $226
million (FY92/93 est.)

Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing,
light consumer goods, textiles, lumber

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 630,000 kW
production: 2.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 196 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed,
grains, root starches; livestock; timber

Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, aluminum,
cocoa beans, coffee, cotton
partners: EU (particularly France) about 50%, African countries, US

Imports: $810 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer
goods, transport equipment, petroleum products
partners: EU (France 38%, Germany), African countries, Japan 5%, US
5%

External debt: $6.6 billion (1993)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $449 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation
--------------

Railways:
total: 1,104 km (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways:
total: 64,626 km
paved: 2,666 km
unpaved: 61,960 km (1987 est.)

Waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance

Ports: Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Ti