Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Cameroon
Cameroon: Total reserves (% of total external debt) was 32.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Total reserves in Cameroon, 1971–2024
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total reserves in Cameroon is 32.1%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and down 41.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total reserves in Cameroon peaked at 114.2% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1998.
Cameroon ranks 60th of 112 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of total external debt | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 40.9% | — |
| 1972 | 19.7% | -51.8% |
| 1973 | 19.2% | -2.3% |
| 1974 | 24.3% | +26.1% |
| 1975 | 6.5% | -73.1% |
| 1976 | 7.2% | +9.8% |
| 1977 | 4.0% | -43.8% |
| 1978 | 3.6% | -9.7% |
| 1979 | 6.5% | +78.2% |
| 1980 | 8.0% | +23.6% |
| 1981 | 3.7% | -54.3% |
| 1982 | 2.9% | -21.4% |
| 1983 | 5.9% | +104.2% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | -63.0% |
| 1985 | 4.5% | +106.5% |
| 1986 | 1.7% | -62.0% |
| 1987 | 1.7% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 3.9% | +129.2% |
| 1989 | 1.7% | -56.2% |
| 1990 | 0.6% | -67.0% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | +40.3% |
| 1992 | 0.4% | -49.0% |
| 1993 | 0.2% | -54.8% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -19.6% |
| 1995 | 0.1% | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | -11.0% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | -28.8% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 0.1% | +39.2% |
| 2000 | 2.1% | +1610.7% |
| 2001 | 3.5% | +67.3% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | +78.3% |
| 2003 | 5.7% | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | +35.8% |
| 2005 | 12.5% | +61.5% |
| 2006 | 50.8% | +305.1% |
| 2007 | 95.0% | +87.2% |
| 2008 | 109.8% | +15.5% |
| 2009 | 113.5% | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 114.2% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 103.4% | -9.5% |
| 2012 | 87.0% | -15.9% |
| 2013 | 67.1% | -22.9% |
| 2014 | 55.0% | -18.0% |
| 2015 | 48.4% | -11.9% |
| 2016 | 28.2% | -41.7% |
| 2017 | 31.8% | +12.8% |
| 2018 | 31.4% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 28.8% | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 26.9% | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 28.0% | +3.9% |
| 2022 | 33.9% | +21.4% |
| 2023 | 31.7% | -6.6% |
| 2024 | 32.1% | +1.3% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 32.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.2%, 86% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 32.1% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 23.9%, 1.3× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total reserves (% of total external debt) in Cameroon changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +1610.7% | 0.1% | 2.1% |
| 2006 | +305.1% | 12.5% | 50.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 14.7% | 3.6% | 40.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.6% | 1.7% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.7% | 2.1% | 113.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.5% | 28.2% | 114.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.5% | 26.9% | 33.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More financial sector data for Cameroon
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 27.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0753 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 21.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.055 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 27.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0753 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 21.26 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total reserves in Cameroon?
- Total reserves in Cameroon was 32.1% in 2024, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest total reserves recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 114.2% in 2010.
- What is the lowest total reserves recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1998.
- How does Cameroon rank for total reserves?
- Cameroon ranks 60th out of 112 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total reserves rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Total reserves (% of total external debt). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of total external debt which are all liabilities that require payment(s) of interest and/or principal by the debtor at some point(s) in the future and that are owed to non-residents by residents of an economy.