Cameroon
Africa · Middle Africa
Africa in miniature: extraordinary biodiversity, with an Anglophone conflict in the west.
At a Glance
📈Cameroon's Human Development Index
0.587
Medium human development#149 of 191 countries worldwide, #20 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 22% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Called 'Africa in miniature' — contains every major African ecosystem: rainforest, savanna, desert, coast.
- Mount Cameroon is an active volcano — one of Africa's most active, last erupted in 2000.
- Over 280 ethnic groups and 280+ languages — among the most linguistically diverse countries per km².
- Korup National Park has some of the oldest rainforest on earth — older than the Amazon.
Quick Facts
Capital
Yaoundé
Languages
English, French
Currency
Fr XAF
Area
472,710 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
16Mbps
GDP / Capita
$2K
PPP / Capita
$6K
Inflation
3.4%
Unemployment
3.6%
Innovation (GII)
18.2
GNI / Capita
$2K
Tax Revenue
11.3%
FDI Inflows
1.7%
Education Spend
2.8%
Cost of Living
40.7
Price Level Index
75th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.440 → 0.587 (+0.147)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Cameroon for real?
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💬Quick answers
What is Cameroon's Human Development Index?
Cameroon's Human Development Index is 0.587 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #149 of 191 countries.
Is Cameroon safe?
Cameroon scores 2.63 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #135 of 160 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.