External balance on goods and services in Cameroon
Cameroon: External balance on goods and services was -2.47 trillion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-2.47 trillion current LCU
Change on year
down 150.2%
World rank
174th
of 193 countries
All-time high
355.47 billion current LCU
in 1995
All-time low
-2.47 trillion current LCU
in 2025
Years of data
61
1965–2025
External balance on goods and services in Cameroon, 1965–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Cameroon stood at -2.47 trillion current LCU. That is the lowest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is down 150.2% on the previous year and down 264.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Cameroon peaked at 355.47 billion current LCU in 1995 and was at its lowest, -2.47 trillion current LCU, in 2025.
That places Cameroon 174th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | -1.00 billion current LCU | — |
| 1966 | -5.40 billion current LCU | +440.0% |
| 1967 | -4.50 billion current LCU | -16.7% |
| 1968 | -6.50 billion current LCU | +44.4% |
| 1969 | 1.50 billion current LCU | -123.1% |
| 1970 | 4.90 billion current LCU | +226.7% |
| 1971 | -14.10 billion current LCU | -387.8% |
| 1972 | -21.50 billion current LCU | +52.5% |
| 1973 | -14.00 billion current LCU | -34.9% |
| 1974 | 13.70 billion current LCU | -197.9% |
| 1975 | -17.50 billion current LCU | -227.7% |
| 1976 | -32.70 billion current LCU | +86.9% |
| 1977 | -22.90 billion current LCU | -30.0% |
| 1978 | -47.00 billion current LCU | +105.2% |
| 1979 | -90.20 billion current LCU | +91.9% |
| 1980 | 10.62 billion current LCU | -111.8% |
| 1981 | -117.61 billion current LCU | -1207.1% |
| 1982 | 93.49 billion current LCU | -179.5% |
| 1983 | 28.64 billion current LCU | -69.4% |
| 1984 | 79.40 billion current LCU | +177.2% |
| 1985 | 71.90 billion current LCU | -9.4% |
| 1986 | 22.87 billion current LCU | -68.2% |
| 1987 | -154.20 billion current LCU | -774.3% |
| 1988 | 2.60 billion current LCU | -101.7% |
| 1989 | 103.20 billion current LCU | +3869.2% |
| 1990 | 96.20 billion current LCU | -6.8% |
| 1991 | 179.00 billion current LCU | +86.1% |
| 1992 | 71.30 billion current LCU | -60.2% |
| 1993 | 303.45 billion current LCU | +325.6% |
| 1994 | 296.61 billion current LCU | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 355.47 billion current LCU | +19.8% |
| 1996 | 193.48 billion current LCU | -45.6% |
| 1997 | 304.27 billion current LCU | +57.3% |
| 1998 | 110.89 billion current LCU | -63.6% |
| 1999 | 115.23 billion current LCU | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 134.01 billion current LCU | +16.3% |
| 2001 | -84.22 billion current LCU | -162.8% |
| 2002 | -216.16 billion current LCU | +156.7% |
| 2003 | -126.82 billion current LCU | -41.3% |
| 2004 | -73.72 billion current LCU | -41.9% |
| 2005 | -52.13 billion current LCU | -29.3% |
| 2006 | 136.96 billion current LCU | -362.7% |
| 2007 | 84.93 billion current LCU | -38.0% |
| 2008 | -359.42 billion current LCU | -523.2% |
| 2009 | -395.58 billion current LCU | +10.1% |
| 2010 | -340.37 billion current LCU | -14.0% |
| 2011 | -442.08 billion current LCU | +29.9% |
| 2012 | -351.42 billion current LCU | -20.5% |
| 2013 | -399.19 billion current LCU | +13.6% |
| 2014 | -649.01 billion current LCU | +62.6% |
| 2015 | -678.28 billion current LCU | +4.5% |
| 2016 | -548.79 billion current LCU | -19.1% |
| 2017 | -523.36 billion current LCU | -4.6% |
| 2018 | -691.65 billion current LCU | +32.2% |
| 2019 | -854.98 billion current LCU | +23.6% |
| 2020 | -766.80 billion current LCU | -10.3% |
| 2021 | -926.80 billion current LCU | +20.9% |
| 2022 | -731.10 billion current LCU | -21.1% |
| 2023 | -1.24 trillion current LCU | +69.5% |
| 2024 | -987.80 billion current LCU | -20.3% |
| 2025 | -2.47 trillion current LCU | +150.2% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's -2.47 trillion current LCU is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -57.12 billion current LCU, 43.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's -2.47 trillion current LCU is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 36.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Cameroon changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +3869.2% | 2.60 billion current LCU | 103.20 billion current LCU |
| 1981 | -1207.1% | 10.62 billion current LCU | -117.61 billion current LCU |
| 1987 | -774.3% | 22.87 billion current LCU | -154.20 billion current LCU |
| 2008 | -523.2% | 84.93 billion current LCU | -359.42 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -3.18 billion current LCU | -6.50 billion current LCU | 1.50 billion current LCU | 5 |
| 1970s | -24.13 billion current LCU | -90.20 billion current LCU | 13.70 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.09 billion current LCU | -154.20 billion current LCU | 103.20 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 202.59 billion current LCU | 71.30 billion current LCU | 355.47 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -95.22 billion current LCU | -395.58 billion current LCU | 136.96 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -547.91 billion current LCU | -854.98 billion current LCU | -340.37 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -1.19 trillion current LCU | -2.47 trillion current LCU | -731.10 billion current LCU | 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 63.42 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 2.18 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 888.22 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 8.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0167 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 30.5 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 3.68 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Cameroon?
- External balance on goods and services in Cameroon was -2.47 trillion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 355.47 billion current LCU in 1995.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.47 trillion current LCU in 2025.
- How does Cameroon rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Cameroon ranks 174th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 264.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.