Cameroon/Society

Society in Cameroon

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
28.4M(2023)
Population Growth
2.6%(2023)
Fertility Rate
4.32(2023)
Death Rate
7.2 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-13.9K(2024)

Public Health

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Life Expectancy
63.7 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
67.2 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
258 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure (as share of GDP)
4.5%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

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Literacy Rate
78.2%(2020)
Primary Enrollment
92.9%(2017)
Secondary Enrollment
44.4%(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
15.8(2023)
Education Expenditure (as share of GDP)
2.6%(2022)

Living Standards & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
41.9%(2023)
Access to Electricity
72%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
69.6%(2022)
Urban Population
16.8M(2023)
Rural Population
11.5M(2023)

Current Snapshot Overview

A summary of key social and demographic indicators for Cameroon

  • Cameroon has an estimated population of 28.4M
    2023
    The nation is experiencing rapid demographic expansion with an annual growth rate of 2.6%
    2023
    , indicative of a dynamic and youthful population structure and potential for a significant demographic dividend. The elevated fertility rate of 4.3 births per woman
    2023
    contributes to a young population, presenting both opportunities for future growth and demands on educational and health services. Net emigration is relatively minor, impacting the population by approximately 14K individuals annually (or -0.5 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    .
  • Regarding public health, The notably low life expectancy of 63.7 years
    2023
    underscores critical public health challenges that necessitate urgent and comprehensive interventions. Concurrently, Healthcare delivery faces significant systemic challenges, as evidenced by elevated child mortality (under 5 years) (67.2 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality (258 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    ) rates, suggesting areas for critical intervention and resource allocation. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 4.5% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
  • Educational progress is reflected in a literacy rate of 78%
    2020
    , though continued efforts are needed to achieve universal literacy and enhance foundational skills. Complementing this, while primary education reaches 93% of children
    2017
    , secondary enrollment at 44%
    2023
    suggests significant attrition challenges that may hinder higher skill development and future economic potential. This educational framework is supported by limited educational investment, at 2.6% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain the scale and quality of future human capital development initiatives.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (59% urban population
    2023
    ) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, critical infrastructure gaps are evident, with electricity access at 72%
    2023
    and internet penetration at 42%
    2023
    severely limiting economic potential, hindering social development, and impeding digital integration.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

A youthful, rapidly growing population presents a "demographic dividend" opportunity if met with sufficient investment in jobs and services.

Public Health System

Addressing critical gaps in the healthcare system is essential to improve lagging indicators like life expectancy and maternal mortality.

Human Capital Formation

Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Expanding access to basic infrastructure, particularly electricity, remains a key bottleneck for broad-based development.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.