Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Lower-middle income
Cameroon: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 26.7% (2021), 29th of 151 in the world and 29th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 41.3% (2021), 33rd of 151 in the world and 30th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 74.0% (2021), 39th of 151 in the world and 33rd of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Undernourishment
CameroonSub-Saharan AfricaLower-middle incomeWorld
Food insecurity
CameroonLower-middle incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Cameroon in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 26.7%2021 | 29/151 | 29/44 | 30.8%2001 | · | 26.7%2021 | −9.3 ppsince 2007 | 45.0% | 12.4% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 41.3%2021 | 33/151 | 30/44 | 49.8%2001 | · | 41.3%2021 | −12.1 ppsince 2007 | 63.2% | 26.9% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 74.0%2021 | 39/151 | 33/44 | 82.3%2001 | · | 74.0%2021 | −8.6 ppsince 2007 | 88.6% | 76.8% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 37.7%2021 | 34/145 | 29/45 | · | · | 37.7%2021 | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 42.22021 | 29/151 | 15/44 | 42.12001 | · | 42.22021 | −1.4%since 2007 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 31.1%2021 | 35/151 | 18/44 | 33.6%2001 | · | 31.1%2021 | −1.9 ppsince 2007 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 5.4%2021 | 127/151 | 33/44 | 6.2%2001 | · | 5.4%2021 | −0.4 ppsince 2007 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 4.9%2024 | 82/167 | 42/44 | 24.2%2001 | 4.9% | 5.9% | +0.4 ppsince 2014 | 22.3% | 12.1% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 60.9%2024 | 23/155 | 20/38 | · | · | 56.5% | — | — | 41.8% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 60.9%2024 | 91/145 | 14/36 | · | 14.8%2011 | 51.7%2021 | +48.7 ppsince 2014 | 55.1% | 70.4% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 33.9%2025 | 52/190 | 12/46 | 5.6% | 13.9% | 33.9% | +2.8 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 23.6% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $940m2023 | 46/145 | 24/48 | $377m | $455m | $1.4bn | +25%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $59.2bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 2.0%2023 | 77/139 | 39/47 | 3.8% | 1.7% | 3.5% | −0.3 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 0.9% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $33.12023 | 104/145 | 42/48 | $25.3 | $23.1 | $53.5 | −5.7%since 2013 | $51.5 | $20.6 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−9.3 pp26.7% in 2021
- Poverty, $4.20/day−12.1 pp41.3% in 2021
- Poverty, $8.30/day−8.6 pp74.0% in 2021
- Gini index−1.4%42.2 in 2021
Worse than ten years ago
- Bottom 20% income share−0.4 pp5.4% in 2021
- Undernourishment+0.4 pp4.9% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Cameroon and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Cameroon. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Cameroon | Nigeria | Chad | Republic of the Congo | Central African Republic | Gabon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 26.7%2021 | 41.8%2022 | 39.5%2022 | 39.2%2011 | 71.6%2021 | 3.8%2017 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 41.3%2021 | 64.0%2022 | 61.4%2022 | 55.0%2011 | 83.9%2021 | 8.0%2017 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 74.0%2021 | 92.9%2022 | 89.5%2022 | 82.4%2011 | 96.1%2021 | 32.9%2017 |
| National poverty rate | 37.7%2021 | 56.2%2022 | 44.8%2022 | 40.9%2011 | 68.8%2021 | 33.4%2017 |
| Gini index | 42.22021 | 33.92022 | 37.42022 | 48.92011 | 43.02021 | 38.02017 |
| Top 10% income share | 31.1%2021 | 26.3%2022 | 29.5%2022 | 37.9%2011 | 33.1%2021 | 27.7%2017 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 5.4%2021 | 7.5%2022 | 6.9%2022 | 4.2%2011 | 5.6%2021 | 6.0%2017 |
| Undernourishment | 4.9%2024 | 22.2%2024 | 33.6%2024 | 25.0%2024 | 29.8%2024 | 23.3%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 60.9%2024 | 76.5%2024 | 65.0%2024 | — | 88.1%2022 | — |