Economy - overview:
Cameroon’s market-based, diversified economy features oil and gas, timber, aluminum, agriculture, mining and the service sector. Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity, and despite falling global oil prices, still accounts for nearly 40% of exports. Cameroon’s economy suffers from factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise.

Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The IMF continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget and diverted funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, as low oil prices have led to lower revenues.

Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects currently under construction, including a deep seaport in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project. Cameroon’s energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas-powered electricity generating plant. Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs, and improve its economic footprint, but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$89.54 billion (2017 est.)
$86.47 billion (2016 est.)
$82.63 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 88
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$34.99 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2017 est.)
4.6% (2016 est.)
5.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 98
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,700 (2017 est.)
$3,700 (2016 est.)
$3,600 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 182
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
25.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
25.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
23.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 56
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 66.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 11.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: -0.3% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 21.6% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -20.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 16.7% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 26.5% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 56.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, cassava (manioc, tapioca); livestock; timber

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

Industrial production growth rate:
3.3% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 94
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
9.912 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 52
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 13%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 17% (2001 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
4.3% (2014 est.)
30% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 57
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
30% (2001 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 37.5%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
46.5 (2014 est.)
44.6 (2001)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 30
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 5.363 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 6.556 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
15.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 191
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 143
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
36.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 143
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2017 est.)
0.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 31
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 89
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2017 est.)
12.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 61
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$4.857 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.86 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 107
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$4.857 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.86 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 111
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$6.154 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.714 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 125
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$230 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 116
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$932 million (2017 est.)
-$1.034 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 141
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$4.732 billion (2017 est.)
$4.561 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 109
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 15.6%, France 12.6%, China 11.7%, Belgium 6.8%, Italy 6.3%, Algeria 4.8%, Malaysia 4.4% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton

Imports:
$4.812 billion (2017 est.)
$4.827 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 132
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners:
China 19%, France 10.3%, Thailand 7.9%, Nigeria 4.1% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.235 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 107
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$9.375 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.364 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 115
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
605.3 (2017 est.)
593.01 (2016 est.)
593.01 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)