Cameroon External Debt to GNI
External debt stocks as % of GNI DT.DOD.DECT.GN.ZS
Cameroon's external debt to gni was 29.74% in 2025, ranked 85th globally. This represents a 4.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
Cameroon's external debt to gni stood at 29.74% in 2025, a decline of +1.54pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 29.74% by 2025. Cameroon ranked 85th globally.
Cameroon’s external debt-to‑GNI ratio has risen sharply from 14.35 % in 1970 to a peak of 110.43 % in 1994, reflecting the debt‑laden environment of the early 1990s, before falling to a trough of 10.20 % in 2011 as fiscal consolidation and debt restructuring took effect. By 2025 the ratio has climbed back to 29.74 % of GNI, placing the country 85th globally and closely aligned with peers such as Sudan (29.94 %) and Niger (29.64 %). The long‑term upward trajectory since the 2010s suggests that external borrowing is again playing a larger role in financing Cameroon’s balance‑of‑payments needs, while the modest decline from the 1994 high indicates that debt remains manageable relative to historic extremes. Continued fiscal discipline, diversification of export revenues and prudent borrowing could stabilize or even reduce the ratio, whereas a resurgence of external shocks would likely reverse the recent moderation.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt to GNI | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 26.94% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 28.34% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 29.74% | - | - |
| 2025 | 29.74% | −1.54pp | #85 |
| 2024 | 31.29% | −0.59pp | #29 |
| 2023 | 31.88% | −3.09pp | #31 |
| 2022 | 34.97% | +0.24pp | #34 |
| 2021 | 34.73% | −2.14pp | #29 |
| 2020 | 36.87% | +3.57pp | #33 |
| 2019 | 33.30% | +5.24pp | #38 |
| 2018 | 28.06% | −0.30pp | #29 |
| 2017 | 28.36% | +4.63pp | #34 |
| 2016 | 23.73% | +0.73pp | #29 |
| 2015 | 22.99% | +6.84pp | #26 |
| 2014 | 16.15% | +0.51pp | #14 |
| 2013 | 15.64% | +2.55pp | #12 |
| 2012 | 13.09% | +2.88pp | #9 |
| 2011 | 10.20% | −1.51pp | #6 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cameroon matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2007. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw external debt to gni improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cameroon's external debt to gni was 29.74% in 2025. Ranked 85th globally. This represents a 4.9% decrease from the previous year.
Cameroon's external debt to gni peaked at 110.43% in 1994.
The lowest external debt to gni in Cameroon was 10.20% in 2011.
Cameroon ranks 85th globally in external debt to gni as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.GN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Cameroon's external debt to gni is projected to reach 29.74% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The external debt to gni of Cameroon in 2025 was 29.74%. This ranks 85th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cameroon_external-debt-to-gni,
title = {Cameroon External Debt to GNI},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cameroon/external-debt-to-gni/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}