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Compare Virgin Islands (2005) - Cameroon (2003)

Compare Virgin Islands (2005) z Cameroon (2003)

 Virgin Islands (2005)Cameroon (2003)
 Virgin IslandsCameroon
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Age structure 0-14 years: 23.1% (male 12,676/female 12,421)


15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,069/female 37,918)


65 years and over: 10.7% (male 5,125/female 6,499) (2005 est.)
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 3,372,129; female 3,291,295)


15-64 years: 54.5% (male 4,315,672; female 4,265,286)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 227,444; female 274,353) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Airports 2 (2004 est.) 49 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
total: 11


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 38


1,524 to 2,437 m: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 20


under 914 m: 11 (2002)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total: 475,440 sq km


land: 469,440 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than California
Background During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
Birth rate 14.2 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 35.49 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $560


expenditures: NA (2003)
revenues: $2.2 billion


expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 00/01 est.)
Capital Charlotte Amalie Yaounde
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Coastline 188 km 402 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon


conventional short form: Cameroon


former: French Cameroon
Currency - Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Death rate 6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 15.3 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external NA $8.6 billion (2002 est.)
Dependency status organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission: Ambassador George McDade STAPLES


embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde


mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520


telephone: [237] 223-05-12, 222-25-89, 222-17-94, 223-40-14


FAX: [237] 223-07-53


branch office(s): Douala
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA


chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790


FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
Disputes - international none ICJ ruled in 2002 on the Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime boundary by awarding the potentially petroleum-rich Bakassi Peninsula and offshore region to Cameroon; Nigeria rejected cession of the peninsula, but the parties have formed a Joint Border Commission to resolve differences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of the boundary; Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over the lake region, which remains the site of armed clashes among local populations and militias; Nigeria agreed to ratify the treaty and relinquish sovereignty of disputed lands to Cameroon by December 2003
Economic aid - recipient NA on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; total debt relief now amounts to $1.26 billion
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment. Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service 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. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on the economy.
Electricity - consumption 962.6 million kWh (2002) 3.36 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.035 billion kWh (2002) 3.613 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 2.7%


hydro: 97.3%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Fako (on Cameroon Mountain) 4,095 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94


signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Ethnic groups black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census) Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)


head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19 September 1996)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister


elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidates boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares relatively meaningless
Exports NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico Italy 16.7%, Spain 16%, France 12.8%, US 8.3%, Netherlands 8.2%, Taiwan 7.7%, China 5.2%, UK 4.4% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 July - 30 June
Flag description white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
GDP - purchasing power parity - $26.84 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 19%


services: 80% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 46%


industry: 21%


services: 33% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2002 est.) 4% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 6 00 N, 12 00 E
Geography - note important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; 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
Highways total: 1,257 km


paved: 1,192 km


unpaved: 65 km


note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2003)
total: 34,300 km


paved: 4,288 km


unpaved: 30,012 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: 1.9%


highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)
Imports NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico France 28.2%, Nigeria 12.8%, US 8%, Belgium 5.7%, Germany 5.3%, Italy 4.3% (2002)
Independence - 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4.2% (1999 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber
Infant mortality rate total: 8.03 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.11 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
total: 70.12 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 74.2 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 65.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.2% (2003) 4.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2002)
Irrigated land NA 330 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 judges and 6 substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly)
Labor force 48,900 (2003 est.) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.) agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%
Land boundaries 0 km total: 4,591 km


border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Land use arable land: 11.76%


permanent crops: 2.94%


other: 85.3% (2001)
arable land: 12.81%


permanent crops: 2.58%


other: 84.61% (1998 est.)
Languages English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census) 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Legal system based on US laws based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature)


elections: last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21


note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.91 years


male: 75.08 years


female: 82.96 years (2005 est.)
total population: 48.05 years


male: 47.15 years


female: 48.97 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 79%


male: 84.7%


female: 73.4% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 50 NM
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $118.6 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1.4% (FY98)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 3,799,841 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 1,928,285 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 179,586 (2003 est.)
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun: Cameroonian(s)


adjective: Cameroonian
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Net migration rate -8.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - gas 90 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,124 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader Marcel YONDO]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Southern Cameroon National Council [Frederick Ebong ALOBWEDE]; Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
Population 108,708 (July 2005 est.) 15,746,179


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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 48% (2000 est.)
Population growth rate -0.07% (2005 est.) 2.02% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 17, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)
Railways - total: 1,008 km


narrow gauge: 1,008 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female


total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 20 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


domestic: full range of services available


international: country code - 1-340; 2 submarine cable connections (Taino Carib, Americas-1); satellite earth stations - NA
general assessment: available only to business and government


domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 69,400 (2002) 95,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 41,000 (2002) 300,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 16 (2004) 1 (2002)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Total fertility rate 2.19 children born/woman (2005 est.) 4.63 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.3% (2003 est.) 30% (2001 est.)
Waterways - 2,090 km (of decreasing importance) (2002)
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