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Economy of Cameroon vs Tanzania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Cameroon has a GDP of $53.3B compared to $78.8B for Tanzania, ranking 91/197 and 82/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cameroon has $22.8B in government debt (42.8% of GDP), compared to $39.3B (49.9% of GDP) in Tanzania.

Cameroon vs Tanzania GDP by year

Cameroon
Tanzania
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cameroon Tanzania
2024 $53,296,694,320 $78,844,405,385
2023 $48,814,501,547 $79,030,935,627
2022 $44,347,206,073 $75,749,121,843
2021 $45,011,937,347 $70,655,628,148
2020 $40,773,241,177 $66,068,737,786
2019 $39,667,757,528 $61,026,731,926
2018 $39,955,552,190 $57,003,712,892
2017 $36,098,547,033 $53,274,884,533
2016 $33,814,337,044 $49,774,409,374
2015 $32,210,233,020 $47,413,919,817
2014 $36,386,544,706 $49,986,726,461
2013 $33,728,621,180 $45,648,857,242
2012 $30,155,062,329 $39,650,394,363
2011 $30,630,910,495 $34,657,140,096
2010 $27,507,501,821 $32,012,892,919
2009 $27,932,970,317 $29,400,573,554
2008 $27,715,142,033 $27,947,821,398
2007 $23,928,250,433 $21,860,434,823
2006 $20,910,512,975 $18,619,859,795
2005 $19,509,852,207 $18,395,383,647
2004 $18,826,214,136 $16,673,062,473
2003 $15,970,315,035 $15,211,487,709
2002 $12,417,251,350 $14,129,651,896
2001 $10,953,485,349 $13,563,990,022
2000 $10,566,579,295 $13,371,767,082
1999 $11,565,826,465 $12,704,334,196
1998 $11,298,144,990 $12,172,790,056
1997 $10,789,458,433 $11,158,197,942
1996 $11,093,538,846 $9,433,528,150
1995 $10,864,772,471 $7,631,431,840
1994 $8,902,446,252 $6,550,480,484
1993 $16,181,814,713 $6,182,872,708
1992 $12,071,775,335 $6,681,997,469
1991 $11,840,192,296 $7,197,768,159
1990 $12,314,482,628 $6,184,384,225
1989 $11,012,566,195 $6,418,799,007
1988 $12,236,057,362 $7,406,614,407
1987 $13,049,659,981 $7,824,193,222
1986 $11,857,056,199 $10,840,864,521
1985 $8,544,810,498 $15,328,295,175
1984 $7,311,938,026 $12,906,635,133
1983 $6,870,200,010 $14,049,883,809
1982 $6,611,255,964 $13,927,383,240
1981 $6,610,938,617 $13,161,540,378
1980 $6,674,569,047 $11,409,228,087
1979 $5,919,002,983 $9,804,637,491
1978 $4,662,852,583 $9,261,675,710
1977 $3,394,664,024 $7,732,598,995
1976 $2,898,090,002 $6,472,511,988
1975 $2,857,037,371 $5,729,917,840
1974 $2,157,415,533 $4,977,337,978
1973 $1,901,393,361 $4,144,104,535
1972 $1,498,251,890 $3,472,787,266
1971 $1,236,941,394 $3,050,673,517
1970 $1,151,216,993 $2,851,419,386
1969 $1,100,551,489 $5,142,066,811
1968 $1,046,191,218 $4,895,251,824
1967 $936,175,260 $4,565,132,048
1966 $851,112,535 $4,377,998,825
1965 $814,083,266 $3,817,226,546
1964 $776,650,177 $3,748,840,925
1963 $718,320,845 $3,456,579,293
1962 $694,247,864 $3,101,589,993
1961 $652,777,608 $2,826,179,031
1960 $614,206,068 $2,651,729,807

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Cameroon vs Tanzania by year

Cameroon
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tanzania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cameroon Tanzania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $1,830 $5,589 $1,150 $4,221
2023 $1,720 $5,411 $1,186 $4,019
2022 $1,605 $5,189 $1,171 $3,800
2021 $1,672 $4,794 $1,125 $3,493
2020 $1,556 $4,365 $1,084 $3,291
2019 $1,555 $4,241 $1,031 $2,982
2018 $1,611 $4,011 $992 $2,728
2017 $1,496 $3,767 $957 $2,472
2016 $1,442 $3,627 $925 $2,435
2015 $1,415 $3,498 $911 $2,317
2014 $1,649 $3,422 $993 $2,221
2013 $1,576 $3,239 $935 $2,176
2012 $1,449 $3,060 $837 $2,083
2011 $1,514 $2,989 $753 $2,211
2010 $1,399 $2,914 $715 $2,069
2009 $1,461 $2,879 $674 $1,972
2008 $1,492 $2,870 $657 $1,908
2007 $1,326 $2,818 $528 $1,820
2006 $1,191 $2,704 $462 $1,707
2005 $1,143 $2,598 $469 $1,598
2004 $1,133 $2,533 $438 $1,482
2003 $988 $2,368 $410 $1,379
2002 $790 $2,263 $391 $1,302
2001 $715 $2,191 $385 $1,229
2000 $709 $2,108 $390 $1,164
1999 $796 $2,039 $382 $1,120
1998 $799 $1,975 $375 $1,082
1997 $783 $1,915 $353 $1,059
1996 $827 $1,850 $305 $1,026
1995 $832 $1,790 $251.2 $981
1994 $701 $1,752 $222.5 $958
1993 $1,310 $1,731 $218.2 $959
1992 $1,005 $1,890 $243.4 $955
1991 $1,015 $1,963 $268.8 $952
1990 $1,087 $2,032 $236.9 $925
1989 $1,001 - $252.3 -
1988 $1,145 - $299 -
1987 $1,258 - $326 -
1986 $1,179 - $466 -
1985 $875 - $681 -
1984 $772 - $593 -
1983 $746 - $667 -
1982 $732 - $683 -
1981 $750 - $665 -
1980 $784 - $595 -
1979 $718 - $527 -
1978 $582 - $515 -
1977 $435 - $446 -
1976 $381 - $387 -
1975 $386 - $355 -
1974 $299.9 - $320 -
1973 $271.8 - $276.1 -
1972 $220.1 - $239.8 -
1971 $186.7 - $218.4 -
1970 $178.5 - $211.3 -
1969 $175.2 - $394 -
1968 $170.8 - $388 -
1967 $156.6 - $374 -
1966 $145.8 - $370 -
1965 $142.7 - $333 -
1964 $139.2 - $337 -
1963 $131.6 - $320 -
1962 $130 - $295.7 -
1961 $124.6 - $277.4 -
1960 $119.1 - $267.8 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Cameroon's GDP per capita is $1,830, ranking 158/197, compared to $1,150 in Tanzania, ranking 170/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cameroon ranks 156th at $5,589, while Tanzania ranks 165th at $4,221.

Economic indicators

Cameroon Tanzania
Gross domestic product
$53.3B
2024
$78.8B
2024
GDP rank
91/197
2024
82/197
2024
GDP growth
3.52%
2023-2024
5.53%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$1,830
2024
$1,150
2024
GDP per capita rank
158/197
2024
170/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$5,589
2024
$4,221
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
156/197
2024
165/197
2024
Government debt
$22.8B
2024
$39.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
42.8%
2024
49.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$784
2024
$573
2024
Government debt per person rank
152/185
2024
160/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,578
2026
$2,309
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$7.32B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
1
2025
Income share by richest 10%
31.1%
2021
33.1%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2021
2.9%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
16.7%
2024
19.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.53%
2023-2024
3.06%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2021
2.43%
2024
Population
30864115
73145892

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Cameroon
Spending

Debt
Tanzania
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Cameroon Tanzania
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 16.7% 42.8% 19.1% 49.9%
2023 17.1% 43.1% 19% 47.8%
2022 17.1% 45.6% 19.1% 44.9%
2021 17.1% 47.2% 18.4% 43.4%
2020 16.6% 44.9% 17.4% 41.3%
2019 18.7% 41.6% 17.3% 40.4%
2018 18% 38.3% 17.3% 42%
2017 19.2% 36.5% 16.4% 40.1%
2016 20.2% 32.1% 16.9% 39.8%
2015 20.1% 31.6% 17.2% 39.5%
2014 20.1% 20.7% 17.3% 36.4%
2013 19.2% 17.5% 18.8% 32.7%
2012 17.2% 14.9% 19.6% 30%
2011 17.8% 15.9% 19% 28.4%
2010 15.2% 14% 19.8% 27.6%
2009 14.7% 11.3% 19.6% 23.9%
2008 15.9% 11.2% 18.1% 21.6%
2007 13.5% 13.8% 17.8% 23.8%
2006 12.5% 18.4% 17.6% 17.4%
2005 12.4% 43.8% 18.3% 25.4%
2004 13.4% 51.7% 17% 44.5%
2003 13.2% 51.5% 15.4% 44.4%
2002 13.9% 56.6% 13.6% 47.4%
2001 14.6% 62.2% 12.4% 50.8%
2000 14.6% 75.9% 12.3% 55.4%
1999 - 68.4% 12.8% 62.9%
1998 - 67.8% 11.4% 62.2%
1997 - - 12.8% 73.4%
1996 - - 13.4% 89.6%
1995 - - 15.6% 111.1%
1994 - - 16.8% 126%
1993 - - 16.4% 129.2%
1992 - - 17.6% 117.6%
1991 - - 14.2% 106.5%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Cameroon's government spending was $8.91B, accounting for 16.7% of its GDP, while Tanzania spent $15.1B, or 19.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 42.8% in Cameroon and 49.9% in Tanzania, ranking 125/185 and 109/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Cameroon

Tanzania
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Cameroon Tanzania
2024 -1.48% -3.03%
2023 -0.63% -3.67%
2022 -1.11% -3.92%
2021 -3.01% -3.55%
2020 -3.19% -2.56%
2019 -3.24% -2.06%
2018 -2.41% -2.01%
2017 -4.72% -1.14%
2016 -5.88% -2.08%
2015 -4.25% -3.17%
2014 -4.09% -2.91%
2013 -3.55% -3.76%
2012 -1.4% -4%
2011 -2.26% -3.51%
2010 -0.93% -4.74%
2009 -0.04% -4.46%
2008 2% -1.92%
2007 3.87% -1.44%
2006 28.2% -3.38%
2005 3.03% -3.28%
2004 -0.46% -2.43%
2003 0.56% -1.77%
2002 1.51% -0.73%
2001 0.86% -0.41%
2000 1.54% -0.73%
1999 - -1.14%
1998 - 0.13%
1997 - -0.03%
1996 - 1.57%
1995 - -2.12%
1994 - -3.74%
1993 - -2.02%
1992 - -4.96%
1991 - 0.6%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Cameroon's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $789M, equivalent to 1.48% of GDP. This compares to Tanzania's deficit of $2.39B, or 3.03% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Cameroon recorded a fiscal deficit in 17 of those years, while Tanzania ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Cameroon posted an annual deficit equal to 0.04% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.67% of GDP for Tanzania.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cameroon

Tanzania
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cameroon Tanzania
2024 4.53% 3.06%
2023 7.38% 3.8%
2022 6.25% 4.35%
2021 2.27% 3.69%
2020 2.44% 3.29%
2019 2.45% 3.46%
2018 1.07% 3.49%
2017 0.64% 5.32%
2016 0.87% 5.17%
2015 2.68% 5.59%
2014 1.85% 6.13%
2013 2.05% 7.87%
2012 2.74% 16%
2011 2.94% 12.7%
2010 1.28% 6.2%
2009 3.04% 12.1%
2008 5.34% 10.3%
2007 0.92% 7.03%
2006 5.12% 7.25%
2005 2.01% 5.03%
2004 0.23% 4.74%
2003 0.62% 5.3%
2002 2.83% 5.32%
2001 4.42% 5.15%
2000 1.23% 5.92%
1999 1.87% 7.89%
1998 3.17% 12.8%
1997 4.79% 16.1%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Cameroon has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.75%, compared with 6.97% in Tanzania. In 2024, inflation was 4.53% in Cameroon and 3.06% in Tanzania.

Top exports between countries

Cameroon
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $378K
Chemicals & pharma $83K
Machinery & equipment $27K
Raw materials & minerals $23K
Textiles & consumer goods $9K
Tanzania
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $281K
Machinery & equipment $241K
Metals $77K
Chemicals & pharma $56K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $22K
Raw agricultural goods $22K
Animal & marine products $17K
Wood & paper products $10K
Raw materials & minerals $9K
Miscellaneous $4K

Balance of trade

Cameroon Tanzania
Current account balance
-$2.02B
2023
-$2.38B
2024
Current account balance ranking
144/190
2023
147/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-4.14%
2023
-3.02%
2024
Goods imports
$7.74B
2023
$14.2B
2024
Goods exports
$6.34B
2023
$9.12B
2024
Service imports
$2.55B
2023
$2.8B
2024
Service exports
$2.01B
2023
$6.85B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
18.7%
2024
21.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
19.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Cameroon Tanzania
Economic freedom 52 59
Economic freedom ranking 151/197 106/197
Property rights 28.1 45.2
Government integrity 21 40.9
Judicial effectiveness 10.1 29.6
Tax burden 72.2 80.4
Government spending 91.4 89.1
Fiscal health 94.5 75
Business freedom 48.6 48.1
Labor freedom 45.6 62.3
Monetary freedom 75.3 73.4
Trade freedom 57.2 58.8
Investment freedom 30 55
Financial freedom 50 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cameroon
Tanzania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cameroon Tanzania
2026 52 59
2025 52.1 59.3
2024 53.6 59.1
2023 51.9 60
2022 52.9 59.5
2021 53.4 61.3
2020 53.6 61.7
2019 52.4 60.2
2018 51.9 59.9
2017 51.8 58.6
2016 54.2 58.5
2015 51.9 57.5
2014 52.6 57.8
2013 52.3 57.9
2012 51.8 57
2011 51.8 57
2010 52.3 58.3
2009 53 58.3
2008 54.3 56.5
2007 55.6 56.8
2006 54.6 58.5
2005 53 56.3
2004 52.3 60.1
2003 52.7 56.9
2002 52.8 58.3
2001 53.3 54.9
2000 49.9 56
1999 50.3 60
1998 48 59.6
1997 44.6 59.3
1996 45.7 57.5
1995 51.3 57.3

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Cameroon is 52, ranking 151/197, compared to 59 for Tanzania, ranking 106/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cameroon Tanzania
Services, % of GDP
50.7%
2024
29.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
23.2%
2024
28.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
18.5%
2024
23.3%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$49.5B
2024
$80.2B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$5,490
2024
$4,130
2024
Total reserves including gold
$4.88B
2023
$5.05B
2018
Total reserves ranking
103/177
2023
101/177
2018
Net foreign direct investment
-$901M
2023
-$1.72B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$888M
2024
$1.72B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$63.4M
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
3.2%
2024
2.57%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
37.7%
2021
26.4%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
18.9%
2024
39.8%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1991–2000, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.