Cameroon Debt Service
Total debt service as % of exports DT.TDS.DECT.EX.ZS
Cameroon's debt service was 24.89% in 2025, ranked 19th globally. This represents a 23.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1977–2025.
Overview
Cameroon's debt service stood at 24.89% in 2025, a rise of +4.74% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 24.89% by 2025. Cameroon ranked 19th globally.
Cameroon’s debt‑service burden has risen sharply since the early 2000s, reaching 24.89 percent of exports in 2025, which places the country at 19th position worldwide. The indicator climbed from a modest 6.91 percent in 1977 to an all‑time peak of 30.78 percent in 1987, before falling to a trough of 3.14 percent in 2012, illustrating the volatility of external financing and fiscal adjustments over the past five decades. The recent level is comparable to Kenya’s 24.57 percent and Jamaica’s 25.66 percent, underscoring a regional convergence among middle‑income economies facing similar debt‑service pressures. The upward trajectory since the 2012 trough reflects higher borrowing costs, expanded public investment, and a weaker export base, while the 2025 figure still exceeds the 2012 low by nearly eightfold. Continued improvement in export performance and prudent fiscal consolidation could temper the rising trend, but any deterioration in global interest rates or commodity prices would likely reverse the modest gains.
Data & projection
| Year | Debt Service | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 26.05% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 24.89% | - | - |
| 2025 | 24.89% | +4.74% | #19 |
| 2023 | 20.15% | −0.43% | #87 |
| 2022 | 20.58% | −4.98% | #91 |
| 2021 | 25.56% | +4.70% | #90 |
| 2020 | 20.86% | +6.62% | #73 |
| 2019 | 14.24% | +0.18% | #74 |
| 2018 | 14.06% | +3.39% | #73 |
| 2017 | 10.68% | −2.72% | #55 |
| 2016 | 13.39% | +6.04% | #64 |
| 2015 | 7.36% | +1.30% | #41 |
| 2014 | 6.05% | +2.72% | #41 |
| 2013 | 3.33% | +0.20% | #29 |
| 2012 | 3.14% | −1.18% | #26 |
| 2011 | 4.32% | +0.76% | #40 |
| 2010 | 3.56% | −3.80% | #33 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cameroon matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2007. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw debt service improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cameroon's debt service was 24.89% in 2025. Ranked 19th globally. This represents a 23.5% increase from the previous year.
Cameroon's debt service peaked at 30.78% in 1987.
The lowest debt service in Cameroon was 3.14% in 2012.
Cameroon ranks 19th globally in debt service as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.TDS.DECT.EX.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Cameroon's debt service is projected to reach 24.89% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The debt service of Cameroon in 2025 was 24.89%. This ranks 19th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cameroon_debt-service,
title = {Cameroon Debt Service},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cameroon/debt-service/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}