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Economy of Cameroon vs Qatar compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Cameroon has a GDP of $58.9B compared to $216B for Qatar, ranking 92/197 and 56/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cameroon has $23.8B in government debt (40.4% of GDP), compared to $89.2B (41.4% of GDP) in Qatar.

Cameroon vs Qatar GDP by year

Cameroon
Qatar
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cameroon Qatar
2025 $58,933,453,924 $215,559,615,385
2024 $53,296,694,320 $216,294,505,495
2023 $48,814,501,547 $213,002,809,341
2022 $44,347,206,073 $235,709,325,714
2021 $45,011,937,347 $179,732,009,560
2020 $40,773,241,177 $144,411,363,352
2019 $39,667,757,528 $176,371,267,692
2018 $39,955,552,190 $183,334,953,819
2017 $36,098,547,033 $161,099,122,225
2016 $33,814,337,044 $151,732,181,868
2015 $32,210,233,020 $161,739,955,577
2014 $36,386,544,706 $206,224,598,571
2013 $33,728,621,180 $198,727,642,967
2012 $30,155,062,329 $186,833,502,363
2011 $30,630,910,495 $167,775,274,725
2010 $27,507,501,821 $125,122,252,747
2009 $27,932,970,317 $97,798,351,648
2008 $27,715,142,033 $115,269,780,220
2007 $23,928,250,433 $79,711,813,187
2006 $20,910,512,975 $60,882,142,857
2005 $19,509,852,207 $44,530,494,505
2004 $18,826,214,136 $31,734,065,934
2003 $15,970,315,035 $23,533,791,209
2002 $12,417,251,350 $19,363,736,264
2001 $10,953,485,349 $17,538,461,538
2000 $10,566,579,295 $17,759,890,110
1999 $11,565,826,465 $12,393,131,868
1998 $11,298,144,990 $10,255,494,505
1997 $10,789,458,433 $11,297,802,198
1996 $11,093,538,846 $9,059,340,659
1995 $10,864,772,471 $8,137,912,088
1994 $8,902,446,252 $7,374,450,549
1993 $16,181,814,713 $7,156,593,407
1992 $12,071,775,335 $7,646,153,846
1991 $11,840,192,296 $6,883,516,484
1990 $12,314,482,628 $7,360,439,560
1989 $11,012,566,195 $6,487,912,088
1988 $12,236,057,362 $6,038,186,813
1987 $13,049,659,981 $5,446,428,571
1986 $11,857,056,199 $5,053,021,978
1985 $8,544,810,498 $6,153,296,703
1984 $7,311,938,026 $6,870,329,670
1983 $6,870,200,010 $6,484,890,110
1982 $6,611,255,964 $7,611,263,736
1981 $6,610,938,617 $8,672,527,473
1980 $6,674,569,047 $7,837,915,956
1979 $5,919,002,983 $5,632,962,997
1978 $4,662,852,583 $4,052,000,413
1977 $3,394,664,024 $3,617,564,638
1976 $2,898,090,002 $3,284,273,987
1975 $2,857,037,371 $2,512,773,166
1974 $2,157,415,533 $2,401,403,227
1973 $1,901,393,361 $793,885,560
1972 $1,498,251,890 $510,262,500
1971 $1,236,941,394 $387,703,106
1970 $1,151,216,993 $301,791,302
1969 $1,100,551,489 -
1968 $1,046,191,218 -
1967 $936,175,260 -
1966 $851,112,535 -
1965 $814,083,266 -
1964 $776,650,177 -
1963 $718,320,845 -
1962 $694,247,864 -
1961 $652,777,608 -
1960 $614,206,068 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cameroon/qatar | CC BY

GDP per capita in Cameroon vs Qatar by year

Cameroon
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Qatar
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cameroon Qatar
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $1,972 - $72,525 -
2024 $1,830 $5,589 $75,685 $126,046
2023 $1,720 $5,411 $80,196 $129,368
2022 $1,605 $5,189 $88,701 $122,921
2021 $1,672 $4,794 $71,752 $116,833
2020 $1,556 $4,365 $51,684 $82,149
2019 $1,555 $4,241 $66,841 $107,503
2018 $1,611 $4,011 $71,040 $110,033
2017 $1,496 $3,767 $63,280 $99,358
2016 $1,442 $3,627 $61,254 $89,935
2015 $1,415 $3,498 $68,985 $102,546
2014 $1,649 $3,422 $95,841 $148,389
2013 $1,576 $3,239 $103,697 $169,203
2012 $1,449 $3,060 $108,470 $180,939
2011 $1,514 $2,989 $103,262 $174,620
2010 $1,399 $2,914 $77,387 $151,646
2009 $1,461 $2,879 $60,786 $125,898
2008 $1,492 $2,870 $80,781 $126,015
2007 $1,326 $2,818 $65,954 $124,056
2006 $1,191 $2,704 $62,582 $127,181
2005 $1,143 $2,598 $53,950 $115,250
2004 $1,133 $2,533 $41,036 $110,958
2003 $988 $2,368 $31,602 $94,120
2002 $790 $2,263 $27,227 $93,177
2001 $715 $2,191 $25,871 $89,805
2000 $709 $2,108 $27,535 $88,849
1999 $796 $2,039 $20,234 $84,690
1998 $799 $1,975 $17,665 $84,486
1997 $783 $1,915 $20,523 $79,219
1996 $827 $1,850 $17,125 $62,331
1995 $832 $1,790 $15,823 $60,321
1994 $701 $1,752 $14,765 $59,415
1993 $1,310 $1,731 $14,770 $59,125
1992 $1,005 $1,890 $16,280 $60,387
1991 $1,015 $1,963 $15,133 $54,759
1990 $1,087 $2,032 $16,722 $55,659
1989 $1,001 - $15,243 -
1988 $1,145 - $14,682 -
1987 $1,258 - $13,719 -
1986 $1,179 - $13,213 -
1985 $875 - $16,815 -
1984 $772 - $19,749 -
1983 $746 - $19,669 -
1982 $732 - $24,431 -
1981 $750 - $29,543 -
1980 $784 - $28,407 -
1979 $718 - $21,777 -
1978 $582 - $16,757 -
1977 $435 - $16,058 -
1976 $381 - $15,710 -
1975 $386 - $13,014 -
1974 $299.9 - $13,540 -
1973 $271.8 - $4,905 -
1972 $220.1 - $3,483 -
1971 $186.7 - $2,952 -
1970 $178.5 - $2,594 -
1969 $175.2 - - -
1968 $170.8 - - -
1967 $156.6 - - -
1966 $145.8 - - -
1965 $142.7 - - -
1964 $139.2 - - -
1963 $131.6 - - -
1962 $130 - - -
1961 $124.6 - - -
1960 $119.1 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cameroon/qatar | CC BY

Cameroon's GDP per capita is $1,972, ranking 159/197, compared to $72,525 in Qatar, ranking 13/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cameroon ranks 156th at $5,589, while Qatar ranks 5th at $126,046.

Economic indicators

Cameroon Qatar
Gross domestic product
$58.9B
2025
$216B
2025
GDP rank
92/197
2025
56/197
2025
GDP growth
3.2%
2024-2025
2.9%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$1,972
2025
$72,525
2025
GDP per capita rank
159/197
2025
13/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$5,589
2024
$126,046
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
156/197
2024
5/197
2024
Government debt
$23.8B
2025
$89.2B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
40.4%
2025
41.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$796
2025
$30,009
2025
Government debt per person rank
151/185
2025
24/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,941
2026
$37,042
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$177B
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
30,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31.1%
2021
25.8%
2017
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2021
2.6%
2017
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.3%
2025
27.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.4%
2024-2025
0.6%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate n/a
4.1%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2021
0.1%
2024
Population
31045453
3058826

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Cameroon
Spending

Debt
Qatar
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Cameroon Qatar
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 16.3% 40.4% 27.1% 41.4%
2024 17.1% 43.4% 26% 41.3%
2023 17.3% 43.6% 26.7% 42.8%
2022 17.1% 45.6% 24.3% 42.6%
2021 17% 47.2% 29.4% 58.4%
2020 16.8% 44.9% 34.7% 72.6%
2019 19.1% 41.6% 32.5% 62.1%
2018 17.8% 38.3% 28.9% 52.2%
2017 18.2% 36.5% 34.7% 51.6%
2016 20.1% 32.1% 40.1% 46.7%
2015 17.9% 31.6% 38.6% 35.5%
2014 19.5% 20.7% 32.3% 24.9%
2013 19.2% 17.5% 28.3% 30.9%
2012 17% 14.9% 31% 32.1%
2011 17.1% 15.9% 28.5% 33.5%
2010 14.8% 14% 32% 30.4%
2009 14.7% 11.3% 36.4% 36%
2008 15.9% 11.2% 23.5% 11.4%
2007 13.5% 13.8% 29.5% 9.37%
2006 12% 18.4% 29.5% 13.9%
2005 11.4% 43.8% 29% 19.1%
2004 10.7% 51.7% 29.9% 30.1%
2003 10.6% 51.5% 28.5% 38.8%
2002 14% 56.6% 31.6% 47.7%
2001 14.4% 62.2% 32.1% 59.2%
2000 14.4% 75.9% 29.8% 51.6%
1999 - 68.4% 42.4% 81.8%
1998 - 67.8% 55.1% 76.6%
1997 - - 47.6% 54.4%
1996 - - 55.2% 57.8%
1995 - - 52.2% 50.2%
1994 - - 59.8% 54.8%
1993 - - 62.8% 46.3%
1992 - - 54.2% 19.9%
1991 - - 57.5% 21.8%
1990 - - 50% 12.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cameroon/qatar | CC BY

In 2025, Cameroon's government spending was $9.58B, accounting for 16.3% of its GDP, while Qatar spent $58.4B, or 27.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 40.4% in Cameroon and 41.4% in Qatar, ranking 133/185 and 127/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Cameroon

Qatar
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Cameroon Qatar
2025 -2.01% -1%
2024 -1.51% 0.71%
2023 -0.64% 5.51%
2022 -1.11% 10.4%
2021 -2.88% 0.24%
2020 -3.52% -2.13%
2019 -3.65% 1%
2018 -2.3% 2.26%
2017 -3.68% -6.82%
2016 -5.79% -9.2%
2015 -2.86% 18.4%
2014 -3.36% 13.4%
2013 -3.54% 19.3%
2012 -1.22% 8.55%
2011 -1.55% 5.24%
2010 -0.57% 4.6%
2009 -0.05% 14.1%
2008 1.94% 9.49%
2007 3.66% 10.3%
2006 6.34% 8.39%
2005 3.43% 9.8%
2004 2.07% 17.7%
2003 3.51% 6.71%
2002 1.59% 7.89%
2001 1.2% 4.48%
2000 2.06% 4.62%
1999 - -4.35%
1998 - -7%
1997 - -9.4%
1996 - -8.73%
1995 - -5.78%
1994 - -11.8%
1993 - -9.53%
1992 - -2.74%
1991 - -2.57%
1990 - 3.23%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cameroon/qatar | CC BY

In 2025, Cameroon's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $1.18B, equivalent to 2.01% of GDP. This compares to Qatar's deficit of $2.16B, or 1% of GDP.

Over the past 26 years, Cameroon recorded a fiscal deficit in 17 of those years, while Qatar ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Cameroon posted an annual deficit equal to 0.56% of GDP, compared to surplus of 6.31% of GDP for Qatar.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cameroon

Qatar
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cameroon Qatar
2025 3.4% 0.6%
2024 4.53% 1.2%
2023 7.38% 3.1%
2022 6.25% 5%
2021 2.27% 2.3%
2020 2.44% -2.5%
2019 2.45% -0.9%
2018 1.07% 0.1%
2017 0.64% 0.6%
2016 0.87% 2.7%
2015 2.68% 0.9%
2014 1.85% 4.2%
2013 2.05% 3.1%
2012 2.74% 1.8%
2011 2.94% 2%
2010 1.28% -2.4%
2009 3.04% -4.9%
2008 5.34% 15.1%
2007 0.92% 13.7%
2006 5.12% 11.7%
2005 2.01% 9%
2004 0.23% 6.8%
2003 0.62% 2.3%
2002 2.83% 0.2%
2001 4.42% 1.7%
2000 1.23% 1.6%
1999 1.87% 2.2%
1998 3.17% 2.9%
1997 4.79% 2.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cameroon/qatar | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Cameroon has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.77%, compared with 2.99% in Qatar. In 2025, inflation was 3.4% in Cameroon and 0.6% in Qatar.

Top exports between countries

Cameroon
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $418K
Machinery & equipment $129K
Wood & paper products $34K
Raw materials & minerals $29K
Raw agricultural goods $11K
Qatar
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $5.12M
Machinery & equipment $409K
Raw materials & minerals $391K
Metals $123K
Animal & marine products $91K
Wood & paper products $42K
Textiles & consumer goods $35K
Miscellaneous $8K

Balance of trade

Cameroon Qatar
Current account balance
-$1.75B
2024
$31.9B
2025
Current account balance ranking
134/190
2024
17/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-3.28%
2024
+14.8%
2025
Goods imports
$7.77B
2024
$34.3B
2025
Goods exports
$6.79B
2024
$90B
2025
Service imports
$2.4B
2024
$31.3B
2025
Service exports
$1.81B
2024
$24.4B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
20.3%
2025
31.6%
2022
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
13.1%
2025
68.6%
2022

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Cameroon Qatar
Economic freedom 52 70.2
Economic freedom ranking 151/197 37/197
Property rights 28.1 66.2
Government integrity 21 53.5
Judicial effectiveness 10.1 41.5
Tax burden 72.2 99.9
Government spending 91.4 79.9
Fiscal health 94.5 96.6
Business freedom 48.6 68
Labor freedom 45.6 58.5
Monetary freedom 75.3 76
Trade freedom 57.2 81.8
Investment freedom 30 60
Financial freedom 50 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cameroon
Qatar
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cameroon Qatar
2026 52 70.2
2025 52.1 70.2
2024 53.6 68.8
2023 51.9 68.6
2022 52.9 67.7
2021 53.4 72
2020 53.6 72.3
2019 52.4 72.6
2018 51.9 72.6
2017 51.8 73.1
2016 54.2 70.7
2015 51.9 70.8
2014 52.6 71.2
2013 52.3 71.3
2012 51.8 71.3
2011 51.8 70.5
2010 52.3 69
2009 53 65.8
2008 54.3 62.2
2007 55.6 62.9
2006 54.6 62.4
2005 53 63.5
2004 52.3 66.5
2003 52.7 65.9
2002 52.8 61.9
2001 53.3 60
2000 49.9 62
1999 50.3 62
1998 48 -
1997 44.6 -
1996 45.7 -
1995 51.3 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cameroon/qatar | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Cameroon is 52, ranking 151/197, compared to 70.2 for Qatar, ranking 37/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cameroon Qatar
Services, % of GDP
50.4%
2025
47%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
24.8%
2025
57%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
16.8%
2025
0.31%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$55.4B
2025
$221B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$5,700
2025
$126,290
2025
Total reserves including gold
$5.06B
2024
$55.8B
2025
Total reserves ranking
105/177
2024
45/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$825M
2024
$311M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$888M
2024
$460M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$63.4M
2024
$1.56B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.21%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
37.7%
2021
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
19.3%
2025
30.6%
2022

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cameroon/qatar | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.