GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country, and all but essential travel to other areas. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Aerial view of lush Yaoundé cityscape showcasing urban and green landscapes.Drone shot of Yaoundé, Cameroon, showcasing a sprawling cityscape against a mountainous horizon under a vibrant sky.

Cameroon

Africa · Middle Africa

Low safetyAffordable cost of livingMedium development

It is less peaceful than most countries.

Safety

136th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.634lower is more peacefulLow safety
#136 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
6.8per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
34.3Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,860national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
19.1New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
45.7years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 66% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 17% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$3.0K$6.0K$5,788 PPP$1,972Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $1,191 a person, $2,704 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2007, $1,326 a person, $2,818 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2008, $1,492 a person, $2,870 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2009, $1,461 a person, $2,879 at PPP, inflation 3%2010, $1,399 a person, $2,914 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2011, $1,514 a person, $2,989 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2012, $1,449 a person, $3,060 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2013, $1,576 a person, $3,239 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2014, $1,649 a person, $3,422 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2015, $1,415 a person, $3,498 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2016, $1,442 a person, $3,627 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2017, $1,496 a person, $3,767 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2018, $1,611 a person, $4,011 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2019, $1,555 a person, $4,241 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2020, $1,556 a person, $4,365 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $1,672 a person, $4,794 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2022, $1,605 a person, $5,188 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2023, $1,720 a person, $5,415 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2024, $1,830 a person, $5,597 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2025, $1,972 a person, $5,788 at PPP, inflation 3.4%$0$3.0K$6.0KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $1,191 a person, $2,704 at PPP, inflation 5.1%2007, $1,326 a person, $2,818 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2008, $1,492 a person, $2,870 at PPP, inflation 5.3%2009, $1,461 a person, $2,879 at PPP, inflation 3%2010, $1,399 a person, $2,914 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2011, $1,514 a person, $2,989 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2012, $1,449 a person, $3,060 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2013, $1,576 a person, $3,239 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2014, $1,649 a person, $3,422 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2015, $1,415 a person, $3,498 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2016, $1,442 a person, $3,627 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2017, $1,496 a person, $3,767 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2018, $1,611 a person, $4,011 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2019, $1,555 a person, $4,241 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2020, $1,556 a person, $4,365 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2021, $1,672 a person, $4,794 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2022, $1,605 a person, $5,188 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2023, $1,720 a person, $5,415 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2024, $1,830 a person, $5,597 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2025, $1,972 a person, $5,788 at PPP, inflation 3.4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
64.0years, at birthVery low
#172 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
48WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
53.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
3.6%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
16 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
445EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet16 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Drone shot of Yaoundé, Cameroon, showcasing a sprawling cityscape against a mountainous horizon under a vibrant sky.
How it changed

Cameroon's Human Development Index

0.588Medium human development

155th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 23rd of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #153Zimbabwe0.598
  2. #154Zambia0.595
  3. #155Cameroon0.588
  4. #156Solomon Islands0.584
  5. #157Ivory Coast0.582
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.448 in 1990 to 0.588 in 2023.

0.400.530.650.58819902000201020231990: 0.4481991: 0.4451992: 0.4421993: 0.4361994: 0.4341995: 0.4331996: 0.4321997: 0.4321998: 0.4331999: 0.4342000: 0.4392001: 0.4582002: 0.4582003: 0.4652004: 0.4702005: 0.4722006: 0.4732007: 0.4852008: 0.5012009: 0.5162010: 0.5292011: 0.5382012: 0.5492013: 0.5582014: 0.5662015: 0.5752016: 0.5792017: 0.5812018: 0.5822019: 0.5822020: 0.5792021: 0.5742022: 0.5812023: 0.5880.400.530.6519902000201020231990: 0.4481991: 0.4451992: 0.4421993: 0.4361994: 0.4341995: 0.4331996: 0.4321997: 0.4321998: 0.4331999: 0.4342000: 0.4392001: 0.4582002: 0.4582003: 0.4652004: 0.4702005: 0.4722006: 0.4732007: 0.4852008: 0.5012009: 0.5162010: 0.5292011: 0.5382012: 0.5492013: 0.5582014: 0.5662015: 0.5752016: 0.5792017: 0.5812018: 0.5822019: 0.5822020: 0.5792021: 0.5742022: 0.5812023: 0.588

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
64 years2024at birthUp 9.1 years from 54.9 years in 2005
Internet users
46%2024of people onlineUp 44 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
56%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 6 points from 49% in 2006
Births per woman
4.262024births per womanDown 1.16 from 5.42 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
79%2021of energy usedDown 6 points from 86% in 2004
Access to electricity
72%2024of people with electricityUp 25 points from 47% in 2005
Infant mortality
402024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 33 from 74 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
43%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 45% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Africa in miniature: extraordinary biodiversity, with an Anglophone conflict in the west. The case against is a low peace ranking, low incomes and short lives.

About Cameroon

Cameroon is sometimes called Africa in miniature because its geography spans rainforest, savanna, mountains, and a stunning volcanic coastline, all within a single country. The cultural diversity is equally remarkable, with over 250 ethnic groups and a fascinating blend of French and English colonial heritage. It is a destination for those who want the breadth of the African continent without the distances.

Practical facts

  • CapitalYaoundé
  • LanguagesEnglish, French
  • CurrencyCentral African CFA franc (XAF)
  • Area472,710 km²
  • Plug typeType C/E
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

Central African RepublicChadRepublic of the CongoEquatorial GuineaGabonNigeria

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Quick answers

What is Cameroon's Human Development Index?

Cameroon's Human Development Index is 0.588 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #155 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Cameroon safe?

Cameroon scores 2.63 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #136 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Cameroon?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Cameroon at 40.7 (New York = 100); that is #67 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Cameroon?

Life expectancy at birth in Cameroon is 64.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #172 of 195 countries.