Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Cameroon
Cameroon: Share of food products in total merchandise exports was 22.8% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Cameroon, 1962–2023
Source: UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2023, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Cameroon stood at 22.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.5% on the previous year and up 37.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Cameroon peaked at 75.0% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 2007.
That places Cameroon 75th out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 59.0% | — |
| 1963 | 62.0% | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 63.8% | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 59.7% | -6.6% |
| 1966 | 62.1% | +4.1% |
| 1967 | 65.8% | +5.9% |
| 1968 | 69.3% | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 65.7% | -5.3% |
| 1970 | 75.0% | +14.1% |
| 1971 | 64.3% | -14.2% |
| 1972 | 63.2% | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 62.4% | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 69.6% | +11.6% |
| 1975 | 66.9% | -4.0% |
| 1976 | 64.7% | -3.2% |
| 1977 | 72.8% | +12.6% |
| 1978 | 74.2% | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 52.8% | -28.9% |
| 1980 | 48.0% | -9.1% |
| 1982 | 32.9% | -31.5% |
| 1986 | 52.5% | +59.7% |
| 1987 | 40.1% | -23.5% |
| 1990 | 20.4% | -49.1% |
| 1995 | 27.0% | +32.2% |
| 1996 | 24.3% | -10.2% |
| 1997 | 22.4% | -7.9% |
| 2000 | 14.9% | -33.2% |
| 2001 | 16.8% | +12.4% |
| 2002 | 20.6% | +22.6% |
| 2003 | 19.7% | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 18.8% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | 14.7% | -21.8% |
| 2006 | 12.0% | -18.0% |
| 2007 | 11.5% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 32.3% | +179.7% |
| 2009 | 47.8% | +48.1% |
| 2010 | 24.4% | -48.9% |
| 2011 | 40.1% | +64.1% |
| 2012 | 17.1% | -57.3% |
| 2013 | 16.6% | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 26.0% | +48.8% |
| 2016 | 45.1% | +73.4% |
| 2017 | 21.9% | -51.4% |
| 2018 | 19.6% | -10.6% |
| 2019 | 19.7% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 23.9% | +21.1% |
| 2021 | 21.3% | -10.8% |
| 2022 | 17.5% | -17.7% |
| 2023 | 22.8% | +30.5% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 22.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.6%, 1.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 22.8% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.6%, 83% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of food products in total merchandise exports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +179.7% | 11.5% | 32.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 63.4% | 59.0% | 69.3% | 8 |
| 1970s | 66.6% | 52.8% | 75.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 43.4% | 32.9% | 52.5% | 4 |
| 1990s | 23.5% | 20.4% | 27.0% | 4 |
| 2000s | 20.9% | 11.5% | 47.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.8% | 16.6% | 45.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 21.4% | 17.5% | 23.9% | 4 |
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 share of food products in total merchandise exports in Cameroon?
- Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Cameroon was 22.8% in 2023, according to UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 75.0% in 1970.
- What is the lowest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 2007.
- How does Cameroon rank for share of food products in total merchandise exports?
- Cameroon ranks 75th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of food products in total merchandise exports rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of food products in total merchandise exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Value of food exports divided by the total value of merchandise exports, expressed as a percentage.