Knelstrom Intelligence · World Factbook

Cameroon

Republic of Cameroon

CM / CMRafrica

CapitalYaoundé

Population29,879,337

GDP$58.9bn

Area475,442 km²

RegionSub-Saharan Africa

Data sources current · last checked September 20, 2026 2:10 am

Country facts

Official nameRepublic of Cameroon

CapitalYaoundé

Area475,442 km²

CurrencyCentral African CFA franc (XAF)

Official language(s)French, English

Calling code+237

RegionSub-Saharan Africa

Income levelLower middle income

Form of governmentrepublic

Time zoneWest Africa Time, UTC+01:00, Africa/Douala

Overview

Population29,879,3372025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate30,640,8172026 · Estimated

GDP (current US$)$58,933,453,9242025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$1,9722025 · Verified

GDP growth3.2%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices3.4%2025 · Verified

Unemployment3.6%2025 · Verified

Background

Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year, the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Nonetheless, unrest and violence in the country's two western, English-speaking regions have persisted since 2016. Movement toward democratic reform is slow, and political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Reference: 2016, 1972, 1960

Geography

Latitude3.8721°current · Verified

Longitude11.5174°current · Verified

Location

Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 475,440 sq km
land: 472,710 sq km
water: 2,730 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania

Land boundaries

total: 5,018 km
border countries: Central African Republic 901 km; Chad 1,116 km; Republic of the Congo 494 km; Equatorial Guinea 183 km; Gabon 349 km; Nigeria 1975 km

Reference: 1975

Coastline

402 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Terrain

diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Elevation

highest point: Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 667 m

Natural resources

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land: 20.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 41% (2023 est.)
other: 38.1% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Irrigated land

290 sq km (2012)

Reference: 2012

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) - 10,360-25,900 sq km
note - area varies by season and year to year

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

Major aquifers

Lake Chad Basin

Population distribution

population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in the Oku volcanic field sometimes release fatal levels of gas, which killed about 1,700 people in 1986

Reference: 2000, 1986

Geography - note

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea; 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

Population & Society

Population29,879,3372025 · Verified

UN Population Division population estimate30,640,8172026 · Estimated

Fertility rate4.32024 · Verified

Urban population55.7%2025 · Verified

Nationality

noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian

Ethnic groups

Bamileke-Bamu 22.2%, Biu-Mandara 16.4%, Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri 13.5%, Beti/Bassa, Mbam 13.1%, Grassfields 9.9%, Adamawa-Ubangi, 9.8%, Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko 4.6%, Southwestern Bantu 4.3%, Kako/Meka 2.3%, foreign/other ethnic group 3.8% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Languages

Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

Religions

Roman Catholic 33.1%, Muslim 30.6%, Protestant 27.1% other Christian 6.1%, animist 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 1.2% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.5% (male 6,477,438/female 6,364,987)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 8,488,522/female 8,638,519)
65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 463,628/female 533,011)

Reference: 2024

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 80.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 75 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 17.2 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Median age

total: 18.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.2 years

Reference: 2024

Population growth rate

2.71% (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Birth rate

34.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Death rate

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Population distribution

population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Major urban areas - population

4.509 million YAOUNDE (capital), 4.063 million Douala (2023)

Reference: 2023

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.1 years (2018 est.)
note: note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Reference: 2018

Maternal mortality ratio

258 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Gross reproduction rate

2.19 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Drinking water source

improved: urban: urban: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 69.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 30.4% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Reference: 2016

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 60.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 39.8% of population (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

11.4% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 1.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Tobacco use

total: 5% (2025 est.)
male: 9.2% (2025 est.)
female: 0.9% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11% (2018 est.)

Reference: 2018

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

54.2% (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 10.7% (2018)
women married by age 18: 29.8% (2018)
men married by age 18: 2.9% (2018)

Reference: 2018

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years (2023 est.)
male: 12 years (2023 est.)
female: 10 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Migration & Displacement

Immigrant/emigrant stock measures the number of international migrants resident in, or originating from, the country; it is not the same as annual immigration/emigration flows.

International migrant stock (immigrants)642,9482024 · Verified

International migrant stock2.2%2024 · Verified

International emigrant stock409,6772024 · Estimated

Net migration-15,3792025 · Verified

Refugees hosted408,6132025 · Verified

Asylum seekers hosted18,5532025 · Verified

Refugees from this country140,3662025 · Verified

Asylum seekers from this country37,9912025 · Verified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 443,740 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 1,058,405 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Government & Politics

Form of governmentrepubliccurrent · Reported

Office	Holder	Affiliation	From	Status	Evidence
Head of government	Joseph Ngute	—	2019-01-04	Current	Reported
Head of state	Paul Biya	—	1982-11-06	Current	Reported

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
local long form: République du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)
local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
former: Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
etymology: in the 16th century, Portuguese explorers named an estuary near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; the name Camaroes evolved into "Cameroon"

Capital

name: Yaounde
geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Germans founded the city in 1888, but the name comes from the native Ewondo people; the meaning of the name is unclear

Administrative divisions

10 regions (régions, singular - région); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extrême-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)

Legal system

mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Constitution

history: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996
amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended

Reference: 1996

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019)
cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
most recent election date: 12 October 2025
election results: 2025- Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 53.7%, Issa Tchiroma BAKARY (CNSF) 35.2%, Cabral LIBII (PCRN) 3.4%, Bello Boubou MAIGARI (UNDP)2.4%, other 5.3%
2018: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2%
(2018)
expected date of next election: October 2032

Reference: 2032, 2025, 2019, 2018

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parlement - Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly)
number of seats: 180 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 3/12/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC/CPDM) (152); Other (28)
percentage of women in chamber: 33.9%
expected date of next election: February 2026

Reference: 2026, 2023

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Sénat - Senate)
number of seats: 100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020
percentage of women in chamber: 33%
expected date of next election: March 2027

Reference: 2027, 2020

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for renewable 6-year terms
subordinate courts: Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts

Political parties

Alliance for Democracy and Development
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM
Cameroon People's Party or CPP
Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC
Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC
Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN
Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC
Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR
Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP
Progressive Movement or MP
Social Democratic Front or SDF
Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC
Union of Socialist Movements

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016)
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
email address and website: mail@cameroonembassyusa
Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org)

Reference: 2016

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022)
embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé
mailing address: 2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 22251-4000
FAX: [237] 22251-4000, Ext. 4531
email address and website: YaoundeACS@state.gov
https://cm.usembassy.gov/
branch office(s): Douala

Reference: 2022

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Reference: 1960

National holiday

State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

Reference: 1972

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), red, and yellow, with a small five-pointed yellow star centered in the red band
meaning: red stands for unity; yellow for the sun, happiness, and the northern savannahs; green for hope and the southern forests; the star is called the "star of unity;" the vertical tricolor design is similar to the French flag
history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

National symbol(s)

lion

National color(s)

green, red, yellow

National anthem(s)

title: "O Cameroun, Berceau de Nos Ancêtres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers)
lyrics/music: Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME
history: adopted 1957; lyrics were changed slightly to the current version in 1978

Reference: 1978, 1957

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (two natural and one cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Dja Faunal Reserve (n); Sangha Trinational Forest (n); Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (c)

Government & Official Links

Institution	Official website	X / Twitter	Verification
Cameroon official website	Official website	—	Reported · source Checked September 20, 2026

Institutional accounts only; personal accounts of political office-holders are excluded.

Legislature & Elections

Legislature

Name	Chamber	Seats	Electoral system
Parliament of Cameroon	—	—	—

Economy

GDP (current US$)$58,933,453,9242025 · Verified

GDP per capita (current US$)$1,9722025 · Verified

GDP growth3.2%2025 · Verified

Inflation, consumer prices3.4%2025 · Verified

Unemployment3.6%2025 · Verified

Income levelLower middle incomecurrent · Verified

Economic overview

largest CEMAC economy with many natural resources; recent political instability and terrorism reducing economic output; systemic corruption; poor property rights enforcement; increasing poverty in northern regions

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $143.264 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $138.191 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $133.843 billion (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,800 (2022 est.)
note: note: data in 2021 dollars

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 17.4% (2024 est.)
industry: 25.6% (2024 est.)
services: 49.9% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Reference: 2024

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 74.5% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 10.5% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.4% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 14.7% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -21.1% (2024 est.)
note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Reference: 2024

Agricultural products

cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, maize, taro, tomatoes, sorghum, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Reference: 2023

Industries

petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate

1.9% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Reference: 2024

Labor force

11.119 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Reference: 2024

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 6.2% (2024 est.)
male: 5.9% (2024 est.)
female: 6.7% (2024 est.)
note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Reference: 2024

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 42.2 (2021 est.)
note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Reference: 2021

Average household expenditures

on food: 45.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 31.1% (2021 est.)
note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Reference: 2021

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Budget

revenues: $6.385 billion (2021 est.)
expenditures: $7.624 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Reference: 2021

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reference: 2016

Taxes and other revenues

11.3% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Reference: 2021

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023: -$2.019 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$1.505 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$1.794 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Exports

Exports 2023: $8.353 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $8.641 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $7.447 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Exports - partners

Netherlands 21%, France 14%, UAE 13%, India 9%, China 8% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, cocoa beans, wood (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Imports 2023: $10.294 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $9.759 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $9.025 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Imports - partners

China 43%, France 6%, India 6%, Belgium 4%, UAE 4% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

garments, refined petroleum, plastic products, wheat, rice (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.882 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.133 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $4.3 billion (2021 est.)
note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $11.112 billion (2023 est.)
note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Reference: 2023

Exchange rates

Currency: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Trade

Exports of goods and services13.1%2025 · Verified

Imports of goods and services20.3%2025 · Verified

Trade33.4%2025 · Verified

Current account balance

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Exports

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Exports - partners

Netherlands 21%, France 14%, UAE 13%, India 9%, China 8% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Reference: 2023

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, cocoa beans, wood (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Imports

Reference: 2023, 2022, 2021

Imports - partners

China 43%, France 6%, India 6%, Belgium 4%, UAE 4% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Reference: 2023

Imports - commodities

garments, refined petroleum, plastic products, wheat, rice (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reference: 2023

Energy & Resources

Access to electricity72.0%2024 · Verified

Electric power consumption226 kWh/person2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption79.2%2021 · Verified

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 1.798 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 6.161 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 60 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.238 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 36.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 63.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Coal

imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 200 million barrels (2021 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2021

Natural gas

production: 2.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 534.691 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 1.821 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 135.071 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2021

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 4.271 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Infrastructure

Access to electricity72.0%2024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions2.1 per 1002022 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions108.2 per 1002024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 896,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Health

Life expectancy at birth64.0 years2024 · Verified

Current health expenditure4.6%2023 · Verified

Infant mortality rate40.2 per 1,0002024 · Verified

Maternal mortality ratio

258 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022, 2021

Physician density

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Reference: 2022

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Reference: 2016

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

11.4% (2016)

Reference: 2016

Tobacco use

total: 5% (2025 est.)
male: 9.2% (2025 est.)
female: 0.9% (2025 est.)

Education

Adult literacy rate72.6%2018 · Verified

Secondary school enrolment, gross44.8%2023 · Verified

Government education expenditure2.8%2023 · Verified

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years (2023 est.)
male: 12 years (2023 est.)
female: 10 years (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Rights, Freedoms & Society

Press & Media Freedom

V-Dem expert-coded/modelled source measures. Knelstrom does not create a press-freedom ranking or composite score.

Freedom of expression & alternative information index0.5322025 · Estimated

Government censorship effort — media-0.0872025 · Estimated

Harassment of journalists-1.0812025 · Estimated

Print/broadcast media critical of government0.4782025 · Estimated

Range of perspectives in major media0.5332025 · Estimated

Media bias0.3132025 · Estimated

Media self-censorship0.7002025 · Estimated

LGBTQ+ Rights & Law

Concrete legal-status fields only; Knelstrom does not generate an LGBTQ rights score or country ranking.

Same-sex sexual activityNo Illegal since 28 September 1972; Penalty: Up to 5 years imprisonment and fines. (repeal proposed)Reported

Recognition of same-sex relationshipsNoReported

Same-sex marriageNoReported

Same-sex adoptionNoReported

Open military serviceNoReported

Sexual-orientation anti-discrimination lawYes / No Limited protections.Reported

Gender identity / expression lawNoReported

Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country or territory (CC BY-SA 4.0). Community-edited legal-status summary; retrieved by Knelstrom and not legal advice.

Crime & Justice

Legal system

mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Judicial branch

Military & Security

Military and security forces

Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army, Cameroon Navy (includes naval infantry or fusiliers marin), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Firefighting Corps
General Delegation for National Security (Délégation Générale à la Sûreté Nationale or DGSN): Cameroon Police (2025)
note: note 1: the Army includes the Rapid Intervention Brigade (Brigade d’Intervention Rapide or BIR), which maintains its own command and control structure and reports directly to the Chief of Defense staff and the Presidency; the BIR includes airborne/airmobile, amphibious, armored reconnaissance, artillery, and counterterrorism forces, as well as support elements, such as intelligence
note 2: the Cameroon Police and the National Gendarmerie are responsible for internal security; the Gendarmerie conducts administrative, criminal, and military investigative functions; other missions include customs, air and maritime surveillance, and road traffic control; in times of conflict, it participates in internal defense

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 40-50,000 active FAC, including the Gendarmerie (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAC inventory is comprised of weapons and equipment from a variety of countries, including China, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, the US, and some Western European countries, particularly France (2024)

Reference: 2024

Military service age and obligation

18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; high school graduation required; service obligation 4 years (2024)

Reference: 2024

Military deployments

750 (plus about 350 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)
note: note: Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations occur occasionally

Reference: 2024

Military - note

the Cameroon Armed Forces (FAC) are responsible for defending the country's territorial integrity, providing humanitarian assistance, supporting regional peacekeeping operations, and contributing to internal security; key areas of focus are the threat from the terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and, since 2016, an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions; in addition, the FAC often deploys ground units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits; the Navy’s missions include protecting Cameroon’s oil installations, combatting crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and patrolling the country’s lakes and rivers; the FAC's small Air Force supports both the ground and naval forces (2025)

Reference: 2025, 2016

International Relations

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic representation in the US

Reference: 2016

Diplomatic representation from the US

Reference: 2022

International organization participation

Treaties & Organisations

Organisation	Status	Joined
African Union (AU)	member	—
Commonwealth of Nations (Commonwealth)	member	1960-00-00
United Nations (UN)	member	1960-09-20
World Trade Organization (WTO)	member	—

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

Conflict & Security

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 443,740 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 1,058,405 (2024 est.)

Reference: 2024

Terrorist group(s)

Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa
note: note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transportation & Logistics

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

37 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways

total: 987 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
note: note: railway connections generally efficient but limited; rail lines connect major cities of Douala, Yaounde, Ngaoundere, and Garoua; passenger and freight service provided by CAMRAIL

Reference: 2014

Merchant marine

total: 198 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 91, oil tanker 42, other 63

Reference: 2023

Ports

total ports: 7 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 0
very small: 5
size unknown: 1
ports with oil terminals: 5
key ports: Douala, Ebome Marine Terminal, Kole Oil Terminal, Kome Kribi 1 Marine Terminal, Kribi Deep Sea Port, Limboh Terminal, Moudi Marine Terminal

Reference: 2024

Environment

Forest area42.7%2023 · Verified

Renewable energy consumption79.2%2021 · Verified

Environmental issues

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; poaching; overfishing; overhunting

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Reference: 2006

Climate

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Land use

Reference: 2023

Urbanization

urban population: 59.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Reference: 2023, 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions: 6.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 200 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 5.658 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 1.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Reference: 2023

Particulate matter emissions

62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Reference: 2019

Methane emissions

energy: 293.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 278.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 166.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 24 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.271 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.6% (2022 est.)

Reference: 2024, 2022

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 246.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 104.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 737 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Total renewable water resources

283.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Communications & Media

Individuals using the Internet46.3%2024 · Verified

Mobile cellular subscriptions108.2 per 1002024 · Verified

Fixed broadband subscriptions2.1 per 1002022 · Verified

Secure Internet servers25 per million2024 · Verified

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 896,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)

Reference: 2022

Broadcast media

government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), with both TV and radio broadcasts, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until 2007, when the government issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operate under “administrative tolerance,” meaning the stations could be subject to closure at any time (2023)

Reference: 2023, 2007