External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Cameroon
Cameroon: External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP was -7.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Cameroon, 1965–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Cameroon stood at -7.2%. That is the lowest value across all 61 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 135.7% on the previous year and down 102.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Cameroon peaked at 6.6% in 1993 and was at its lowest, -7.2%, in 2025.
That places Cameroon 120th out of 191 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | -0.5% | — |
| 1966 | -2.6% | +415.2% |
| 1967 | -2.0% | -24.3% |
| 1968 | -2.5% | +28.4% |
| 1969 | 0.5% | -120.9% |
| 1970 | 1.5% | +193.7% |
| 1971 | -4.1% | -368.8% |
| 1972 | -5.7% | +37.5% |
| 1973 | -3.3% | -42.0% |
| 1974 | 2.6% | -179.9% |
| 1975 | -2.9% | -208.3% |
| 1976 | -4.7% | +65.2% |
| 1977 | -2.7% | -41.9% |
| 1978 | -4.5% | +62.7% |
| 1979 | -7.2% | +60.4% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -110.5% |
| 1981 | -6.5% | -969.1% |
| 1982 | 4.3% | -165.7% |
| 1983 | 1.1% | -74.6% |
| 1984 | 2.5% | +127.2% |
| 1985 | 1.9% | -24.6% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | -70.3% |
| 1987 | -3.9% | -806.0% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -101.8% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | +4017.7% |
| 1990 | 2.9% | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 5.4% | +86.8% |
| 1992 | 2.2% | -58.4% |
| 1993 | 6.6% | +196.8% |
| 1994 | 6.0% | -9.4% |
| 1995 | 6.6% | +9.2% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | -48.0% |
| 1997 | 4.8% | +41.7% |
| 1998 | 1.7% | -65.6% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 1.8% | +10.3% |
| 2001 | -1.0% | -158.8% |
| 2002 | -2.5% | +139.0% |
| 2003 | -1.4% | -45.4% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | -45.8% |
| 2005 | -0.5% | -31.8% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -347.4% |
| 2007 | 0.7% | -40.9% |
| 2008 | -2.9% | -492.1% |
| 2009 | -3.0% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | -2.5% | -17.0% |
| 2011 | -3.1% | +22.5% |
| 2012 | -2.3% | -25.5% |
| 2013 | -2.4% | +5.0% |
| 2014 | -3.6% | +50.7% |
| 2015 | -3.6% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | -2.7% | -23.1% |
| 2017 | -2.5% | -8.8% |
| 2018 | -3.1% | +24.8% |
| 2019 | -3.7% | +18.1% |
| 2020 | -3.3% | -11.2% |
| 2021 | -3.7% | +13.6% |
| 2022 | -2.6% | -28.8% |
| 2023 | -4.2% | +58.3% |
| 2024 | -3.1% | -27.0% |
| 2025 | -7.2% | +135.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.4% | -2.6% | 0.5% | 5 |
| 1970s | -3.1% | -7.2% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | -6.5% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.1% | 1.6% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.8% | -3.0% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.9% | -3.7% | -2.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.0% | -7.2% | -2.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More economy & growth data for Cameroon
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.05 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.53 Percent per annum (2029)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 10.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 441.18 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 870,178 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 7.13 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.5801 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 1,144 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 14.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.8696 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Cameroon?
- External balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp in Cameroon was -7.2% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 6.6% in 1993.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.2% in 2025.
- How does Cameroon rank for external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp?
- Cameroon ranks 120th out of 191 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services as a percent of gdp rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 102.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of External balance on goods and services as a percent of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Exports of goods and services minus imports of goods and services divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.