Country explorer: Cameroon

Cameroon has seen modest but consistent growth in GDP per capita, relative stability in unemployment rates, and maintained low to moderate inflation, reflecting steady economic management and gradual societal progress, similar to the broader trend observed across lower-middle-income countries.

Cameroon has experienced a steady population growth, a gradual decline in fertility rates, fluctuating net migration with episodes of both significant inflows and outflows, and a consistent improvement in life expectancy, trends that are largely in line with many of its African peers, reflecting ongoing societal and health transformations.

Cameroon has exhibited modest progress in enhancing access to basic needs, evidenced by gradual increases in the population's access to clean fuels for cooking and electricity, trends mirroring overall improvements common among lower-middle-income countries.

Cameroon has shown a gradual but consistent improvement in human development, marked by progress in the Human Development Index, reductions in child mortality, increases in literacy rates, and advancements in learning-adjusted years of schooling, reflecting a broader trend of positive development gains similar to other lower-middle-income countries.

Cameroon has seen a steady decline in forest area, moderate fluctuations in CO₂ emissions with a trend towards reduction, persistently high reliance on hydroelectric power with negligible adoption of other renewables compared to global peers, and a consistent decrease in renewable freshwater resources per capita, reflecting broader environmental and energy challenges common among lower-middle-income countries.

Cameroon has experienced a notable growth in internet usage and mobile phone subscriptions, demonstrating a significant digital transformation common to many lower-middle-income countries, though its scientific output per capita suggests a need for enhanced focus on research and development to align more closely with its African peers like Kenya and Ghana.

Cameroon has experienced gradual societal transformations reflected by a slight decrease in the age dependency ratio, a steady improvement in self-reported life satisfaction, a moderate increase in the share of the population born in another country, and a significant decrease in gender inequality, mirroring trends seen in many other lower-middle-income countries.

In the past two decades, Cameroon has experienced declining governance indicators, including weakening rule of law, persistent corruption, diminished political civil liberties, and constrained press freedom, showcasing challenges that are significant yet not uncommon among its lower-middle-income and regional peers.