Economy - overview:
Modest oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions provide Cameroon with one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Oil remains Cameroon’s main export commodity, and despite falling global oil prices, still accounts for nearly 40% of export earnings. Cameroon’s economy suffers from factors that often impact underdeveloped countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, continuing inefficiencies of a large parastatal system in key sectors, and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise.Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The IMF continues to press for economic reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. The Government of Cameroon provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have strained the federal budget and diverted funds from education, healthcare, and infrastructure projects, especially in 2015, as low oil prices have led to lower revenues.Cameroon devotes significant resources to several large infrastructure projects under construction, including a deep sea port in Kribi and the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project. Cameroon’s energy sector continues to diversify, recently opening a natural gas powered electricity generating plant. Cameroon continues to seek foreign investment to improve its inadequate infrastructure, create jobs and improve its economic footprint but its unfavorable business environment remains a significant deterrent to foreign investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$72.11 billion (2015 est.) $68.45 billion (2014 est.) $64.78 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 96
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$28.52 billion (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2015 est.) 5.7% (2014 est.) 5.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,200 (2015 est.) $3,000 (2014 est.) $2,900 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 187
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
17.6% of GDP (2015 est.) 17.8% of GDP (2014 est.) 17.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 77.9%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 11.3%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 20.4%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 0%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 16%
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -25.6% (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 22.3%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 29.9%
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 47.9% (2015 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, cassava (manioc, tapioca); livestock; timber

Industries:
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
9.332 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 70%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 13%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]
services: 17% (2001 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - services country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
30% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
48% (2000 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.3%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 35.4% (2001)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
44.6 (2001) 47.7 (1996)
country comparison to the world: 44
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: $4.035 billion
[see also: Budget revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: $5.404 billion (2015 est.)
[see also: Budget expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
14.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
31.7% of GDP (2015 est.) 23.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2015 est.) 1.8% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13% (31 December 2015 est.) 13% (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$3.239 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $3.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$5.53 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $6.217 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$2.691 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $3.127 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$230 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$1.439 billion (2015 est.) -$1.455 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$5.283 billion (2015 est.) $6.027 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:
Spain 13.9%, China 12%, India 10.1%, Italy 8.1%, Netherlands 8%, Belgium 5.1%, France 4.6%, Norway 4.5%, UK 4.3% (2014)

Imports:
$6.159 billion (2015 est.) $6.483 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners:
China 26.2%, Nigeria 12%, France 11.8%, Belgium 4.9%, US 4.2% (2014)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.51 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $3.122 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$5.784 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $4.922 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per dollar - 580.5 (2015 est.) 494.42 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.)