Cameroon gained independence from Germany in 1972 after 70 years of French and German rule. It was divided into French and British zones in 1946 and faced an economic crisis in 1987. The population of Cameroon has grown 1.93% since 2005 to over 16 million people. Cameroon has a diverse terrain that includes coasts, deserts, mountains, and rainforests. It is divided into five regions and its most famous citizens are authors and the soccer player Samuel Eto'o.