The country’s economy shows moderate growth supported by agriculture, natural resources, and infrastructure investment, though governance weaknesses and internal conflict continue to limit progress.
Introduction
Cameroon, often called “Africa in miniature” due to its diverse geography and cultures, is a lower‑middle‑income country with a long history of political continuity under President Paul Biya. Its stability has enabled development in agriculture, transport, and petroleum, though conflict in English‑speaking regions persists.
Geography
Cameroon is located in Central Africa, bordering Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Atlantic Ocean. It spans 475,440 sq km, with landscapes ranging from tropical coasts to northern savannas and volcanic highlands, including Mount Cameroon (4,045 m). Natural resources include petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, and hydropower.
People and Society
The population is ethnically and linguistically diverse, with Bantu-speaking groups in the south, Sudanic-speaking peoples in the north, and Semi‑Bantu groups in the west. Cameroon hosts over 407,000 refugees (as of early 2026), mainly from the Central African Republic and Nigeria. Poverty remains high, with 23% living in extreme poverty.
Government
Cameroon is a unitary republic led by President Paul Biya, who won the 2025 presidential election with 53.66% of the vote (officially declared by the Constitutional Council). Legislative and municipal elections are scheduled for 2026. Governance challenges persist, including slow democratic reforms and ongoing separatist conflict in Anglophone regions.
Population (2025)
Estimated population: 31,518,954.
Economy
Cameroon’s economy grew by 3.5% in 2024, driven by improved cocoa prices, cotton yields, and better electricity supply. Growth remains below national targets due to infrastructure gaps, governance issues, and conflict. Key exports include crude oil, timber, and cocoa. The African Development Bank’s 2025 report highlights the need for improved domestic resource mobilization, digitalization, and restructuring of public corporations.
Energy
Cameroon relies on petroleum and hydropower, with ongoing reforms recommended to improve efficiency in the energy and refining sectors. Hydropower potential remains underdeveloped despite abundant water resources.
Communications
The country continues to expand digitalization efforts, though connectivity gaps persist. Governance reforms emphasize improving the digital economy to support growth.
Transportation
Cameroon has developed road and rail networks over decades of relative stability. Infrastructure investment continues to support economic recovery, particularly in manufacturing and agriculture.
Military and Security
Security challenges remain significant. The military continues operations against Boko Haram in the Far North and separatist groups in the Anglophone regions. These conflicts have displaced over one million people internally since 2017.
Travel Advice (General)
Travelers should exercise caution due to:
- Ongoing conflict in the Northwest and Southwest (Anglophone) regions
- Boko Haram activity in the Far North
- Occasional political unrest
Major cities like Yaoundé and Douala are generally safer but require standard urban security precautions. (This section synthesizes risk patterns from cited conflict data.)
Expected Trends for 2026
- Political: Legislative and municipal elections scheduled; continued dominance of the ruling party expected, though reforms may progress slowly.
- Economic: Moderate growth likely to continue, supported by manufacturing and infrastructure investment; reforms in governance and digitalization may accelerate.
- Security: Conflict in Anglophone regions and Far North likely to persist without major breakthroughs.
- Social: Refugee and internally displaced populations will remain high due to regional instability.
