Government debt, % of GDP (2025)
40.5 %
Owed abroad by the government, US$ billion (2024)
12.5
Largest creditor: China, % of foreign public debt
26.4 %
Owed to China, % of foreign public debt
26.4 %
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Cameroon | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 14.0 | 32.1 |
| 2011 | 15.9 | 28.4 |
| 2012 | 14.9 | 26.4 |
| 2013 | 17.5 | 31.1 |
| 2014 | 20.7 | 36.4 |
| 2015 | 31.6 | 44.1 |
| 2016 | 32.1 | 45.9 |
| 2017 | 36.5 | 48.0 |
| 2018 | 38.3 | 49.2 |
| 2019 | 41.6 | 53.9 |
| 2020 | 44.9 | 56.7 |
| 2021 | 47.2 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | 45.6 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 43.6 | 60.9 |
| 2024 | 43.4 | 56.8 |
| 2025 | 40.5 | 53.2 |
| 2026 | 40.1 (partial) | 52.5 (partial) |
| 2027 | 39.1 (partial) | 54.2 (partial) |
| 2028 | 38.1 (partial) | 53.0 (partial) |
| 2029 | 36.8 (partial) | 53.1 (partial) |
| 2030 | 35.1 (partial) | 51.7 (partial) |
| 2031 | 34.3 (partial) | 50.7 (partial) |
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Part | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Other governments | 48.0 % | 48% |
| Development banks and funds | 45.8 % | 46% |
| Bondholders | 6.2 % | 6% |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | China | World Bank-IDA | African Development Bank | France | Islamic Development Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 197 | 350 | 202 | 925 | 50 |
| 2011 | 243 | 412 | 219 | 800 | 68 |
| 2012 | 566 | 498 | 375 | 913 | 87 |
| 2013 | 1,258 | 659 | 424 | 1,067 | 101 |
| 2014 | 1,904 | 740 | 451 | 841 | 108 |
| 2015 | 2,139 | 798 | 450 | 792 | 164 |
| 2016 | 2,386 | 897 | 551 | 807 | 218 |
| 2017 | 3,052 | 1,082 | 611 | 1,068 | 291 |
| 2018 | 3,132 | 1,181 | 1,080 | 1,037 | 441 |
| 2019 | 3,603 | 1,481 | 1,142 | 1,127 | 597 |
| 2020 | 3,772 | 1,629 | 1,533 | 1,357 | 596 |
| 2021 | 3,720 | 1,781 | 1,548 | 1,348 | 757 |
| 2022 | 3,794 | 1,870 | 1,629 | 1,168 | 849 |
| 2023 | 3,555 | 2,081 | 1,794 | 1,110 | 919 |
| 2024 | 3,305 | 2,323 | 1,787 | 965 | 837 |
Source: World Bank, International Debt Statistics. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Where Cameroon ranks in Africa
- Government debt to GDP: 42nd highest of 53.
- Total external debt in dollars: 18th largest of 49.
- Compare Cameroon's debt with its neighbours on the data wall
More on Cameroon
Method and sources
Debt to GDP is the IMF's general government gross debt, which covers domestic and foreign debt of every level of government. Debt owed abroad by the government and debt it guarantees. Excludes IMF credit and private debt that is not guaranteed. WLD is the total. Creditor names are the World Bank's. Figures checked 24 October 2026.
IMF government debt data · World Bank International Debt Statistics
Frequently asked questions
How much does Cameroon owe?
Cameroon government and the debt it guarantees owed $12.5 billion to foreign lenders in 2024, according to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics. Counting domestic debt too, government debt was 40.5% of GDP in 2025, according to the IMF.
Who is Cameroon's largest creditor?
China, owed $3.3 billion in 2024, 26.4% of the government's foreign debt. Next: World Bank-IDA (18.6%), African Development Bank (14.3%) and France (7.7%).
How much does Cameroon owe China?
$3.3 billion in 2024, 26.4% of public debt owed abroad, which makes China its 1st largest creditor.
What is Cameroon's debt to GDP ratio?
40.5% in 2025: general government gross debt as a share of GDP, from the IMF World Economic Outlook. That is the 42nd highest of 53 African countries with a figure.