Cameroon’s external debt rose to $15.8bn in 2024.

Lower is better. A lower stock means less money has to be found in foreign currency for interest and repayments, and less exposure to changes in lenders' conditions. Cameroon's external debt stood at $15.8bn in 2024, up from $15.4bn a year earlier, a rise of 2.4%. Since 2015 the range runs from a low of $7.3bn in 2015 to a high of $15.8bn in 2024, so the latest figure sits at the top of its own range for the period.

Why it matters. Every dollar of external debt service has to be paid in foreign currency, which the Cameroonian state must earn through exports or raise through new borrowing. A stock well above its 2015 level of $7.3bn leaves less room in the budget for spending at home, such as roads, schools and health services. Households and firms feel this through taxes, public spending choices and the cost of credit.