Cameroon Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Yaounde

Population

31,518,954 (2025 est.)

Area

475,440 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

6 00 N, 12 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area — total

475,440 sq km

Area — land

472,710 sq km

Area — water

2,730 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries — total

5,018 km

Land boundaries — 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

Coastline

402 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — 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

Elevation — lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

667 m

Natural resources

Petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Land use — agricultural land

20.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

41% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

38.1% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

290 sq km (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)

Major watersheds (area 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

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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

31,518,954 (2025 est.)

Population — male

15,683,611

Population — female

15,835,343

Nationality — noun

Cameroonian(s)

Nationality — 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.)

Languages — Languages

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

Languages — 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.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

41.5% (male 6,477,438/female 6,364,987)

Age structure — 15-64 years

55.3% (male 8,488,522/female 8,638,519)

Age structure — 65 years and over

3.2% (2024 est.) (male 463,628/female 533,011)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

77.6 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

71.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

5.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

17.3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

19.4 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

18.6 years

Median age — female

19.2 years

Population growth rate

2.37% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

30.79 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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

Urbanization — urban population

59.3% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.1 years (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate — total

44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

50.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

41.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

64.2 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

62.3 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

66.1 years

Total fertility rate

3.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.91 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 69.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 30.4% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 60.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 39.8% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

11.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

2.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

1.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

9.2% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

0.9% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.1% (2018 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

10.7% (2018)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

29.8% (2018)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

2.9% (2018)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

13.8% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy — total population

72.6% (2018 est.)

Literacy — male

79.7% (2018 est.)

Literacy — female

66.2% (2018 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

11 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

12 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

10 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Nuclear Test Ban

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

20.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

41% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

38.1% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

59.3% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

6.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

200 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

5.658 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

1.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

293.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

278.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

166.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

24 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

3.271 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

4.6% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

246.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

104.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

737 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

283.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Cameroon

Country name — conventional short form

Cameroon

Country name — local long form

République du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)

Country name — local short form

Cameroun/Cameroon

Country name — former

Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Country name — 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"

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Yaounde

Capital — geographic coordinates

3 52 N, 11 31 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — 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

Constitution — 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

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president

Executive branch — 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

Executive branch — most recent election date

12 October 2025

Executive branch — 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)

Executive branch — expected date of next election

October 2032

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parlement - Parliament

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

180 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

3/12/2023

Legislative branch - lower chamber — parties elected and seats per party

Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC/CPDM) (152); Other (28)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

33.9%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

February 2026

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate (Sénat - Senate)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

33%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

March 2027

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)

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — 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)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 265-8790

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 387-3826

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Mail@cameroonembassyusa Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org)

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[237] 22251-4000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[237] 22251-4000, Ext. 4531

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

YaoundeACS@state.gov https://cm.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation from the US — branch office(s)

Douala

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)

National holiday

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

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1957; lyrics were changed slightly to the current version in 1978

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

3 (two natural and one cultural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Dja Faunal Reserve (n); Sangha Trinational Forest (n); Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (c)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$138.191 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$133.843 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$4,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$4,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$4,800 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$51.327 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

4.5% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.2% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

17.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

25.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

49.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

74.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

10.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

21.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

14.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-21.1% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, maize, taro, tomatoes, sorghum, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables (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.)

Labor force

11.119 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

3.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3.7% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

3.7% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

6.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

5.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

6.7% (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

42.2 (2021 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

45.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

2.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

2.1% (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

31.1% (2021 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$6.385 billion (2021 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$7.624 billion (2021 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

11.3% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$2.019 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$1.505 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

-$1.794 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$8.353 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$8.641 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$7.447 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

Netherlands 21%, France 14%, UAE 13%, India 9%, China 8% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, cocoa beans, wood (2023)

Imports — Imports 2023

$10.294 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$9.759 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$9.025 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

China 43%, France 6%, India 6%, Belgium 4%, UAE 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Garments, refined petroleum, plastic products, wheat, rice (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 — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$5.133 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$4.3 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$11.112 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

606.345 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

575.586 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

71% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

94%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

25%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

1.798 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

6.161 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

60 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

2.238 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

36.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

63.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

200 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

2.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

534.691 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

1.821 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

135.071 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

4.271 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

67,500 (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2024 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

31.5 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

108 (2024 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.cm

Internet users — percent of population

42% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

603,000 (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TJ

Airports

37 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways — total

987 km (2014)

Railways — narrow gauge

987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

198 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Bulk carrier 2, general cargo 91, oil tanker 42, other 63

Ports — total ports

7 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

1

Ports — small

0

Ports — very small

5

Ports — size unknown

1

Ports — ports with oil terminals

5

Ports — key ports

Douala, Ebome Marine Terminal, Kole Oil Terminal, Kome Kribi 1 Marine Terminal, Kribi Deep Sea Port, Limboh Terminal, Moudi Marine Terminal

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1% of GDP (2020 est.)

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 armaments from a variety of countries, including China, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, the US, and some Western European countries, particularly France (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (18-28 for medical services); no conscription; service obligation 4 years (2025)

Military deployments

750 (plus about 400 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

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)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

443,740 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

1,058,405 (2024 est.)