Cameroon
Cameroon, located in Central Africa, is a diverse and geographically complex nation often referred to as "Africa in miniature" due to its remarkable ecological and cultural variety. Bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, Equatorial...
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With a safety index of 35/100, Cameroon offers below average safety conditions for expats and their families.
Cameroon requires all international visitors, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, to obtain a visa in advance prior to travel—no visa-free entry or visa on arrival is available for these nationalities.[1][3][6][7] Travelers must apply through the official eVisa portal (www.evisacam.cm), uploading required documents such as a valid passport (minimum 6 months validity), round-trip flight itinerary, proof of accommodation or invitation letter legalized by police, recent bank statement proving sufficient funds, and a yellow fever vaccination...
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16% below EU avg
46% below EU avg
80% below EU avg
83% below EU avg
Baselines based on EU averages. Source: Numbeo indices.
Capital
Yaoundé
Timezone
UTC+01:00
Area
475,442 km²
Population
26,545,864
Cameroon shows a purchasing power index of 12/100, indicating below average economic conditions for expats.
GDP
$45.34B
HDI
0.6
Quality of Life
13/100
-30 vs NYC
Purchasing Power
5/100
-37 vs NYC
Understanding the economic landscape is essential for evaluating living costs and opportunities in Cameroon. This comprehensive overview covers key financial indicators including cost of living, housing markets, income levels, and fiscal policies that shape daily life and long-term financial planning.
Cost of Living Index
Very affordable (CPI: 40.5). Groceries (37.7), rent (18.0), and restaurants (45.3) are low compared to NYC=100 baseline, with regional variations in urban areas.
Housing Market
Property prices average 45.7 years of household income, making housing very expensive. Rent index (18.0) offers some affordability in certain regions.
Average Income Levels
Low purchasing power index of 11.0 indicates weak buying power. Limited job creation contributes to rising poverty at 27.6%.
Tax System
Income tax progressive up to 35% for high earners; VAT at 19.25% standard rate. Improved tax collection but high bureaucracy and regional enforcement variations.
Business Environment
Challenging due to poor infrastructure, bureaucracy, and commodity reliance. GDP growth at 3.7% in 2024 and 4% in 2025-2026 supported by mining and energy projects.
Social Security
Limited coverage via CNPS for pensions and family benefits in formal sector; healthcare and unemployment protections weak, with poverty rising to 27.6% due to insufficient safety nets.
Cameroon features a diverse climate gradient from equatorial rainforests in the south to semi-arid Sahelian conditions in the north, influenced by its position straddling the Gulf of Guinea and Lake Chad. Köppen classifications include Af (tropical rainforest), Am (tropical monsoon), Aw (tropical savanna), and Aw/BSh (hot semi-arid) transitioning northward.
5 distinct climate regions — see full guide for details
Read full guideLife Expectancy
58.1
Population
26,545,864
Religions
Ethnic Composition
Research in Progress
We're currently analyzing expat perspectives for Cameroon. Check back soon for insights from real experiences!
We're gradually rolling out this feature and continuously improving the insights. The data is based on real expat discussions and will become more comprehensive over time.
Cameroon is a unitary presidential republic dominated by President Paul Biya and his CPDM party since 1982, with a bicameral legislature and limited political space for opposition. Upcoming 2025 presidential elections face controversy amid postponed legislative polls to 2026 and suppression of opposition activities. The government maintains centralized control amid calls for reform and anti-corruption efforts.
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Data Source: Safety, crime, and quality metrics are sourced from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported data.
All scores are relative comparisons on a 0-100 scale, where 50 = global average. Higher scores mean better than average, lower scores mean worse than average.