Cameroon: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Cameroon?

Life expectancy at birth in Cameroon was 64.0 years in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UN population estimates. It was 66.2 years for women and 61.8 years for men.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if current death rates stayed the same; high child mortality pulls it down. Current health spending was 4.6% of GDP in 2023.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Cameroon · World Bank: Life expectancy, female · World Bank: Life expectancy, male · World Bank: Current health expenditure, Cameroon

What is the infant mortality rate in Cameroon?

Cameroon's infant mortality rate was 40.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, down from 41.3 in 2023, according to the World Bank, using UN inter-agency estimates. The under-five mortality rate was 64.8 per 1,000.

Infant mortality counts deaths before the first birthday and under-five mortality deaths before the fifth. The figures are modelled estimates combining surveys and registration data, because not all deaths are registered.

Official sources: World Bank: Infant mortality rate, Cameroon · World Bank: Under-five mortality rate, Cameroon

What is the maternal mortality rate in Cameroon?

Cameroon's maternal mortality ratio was an estimated 258 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, down from 276 in 2022, according to the World Bank, using UN inter-agency estimates.

The ratio counts women who die from causes linked to pregnancy or childbirth for every 100,000 babies born alive. It is a modelled estimate with a wide margin of uncertainty, so year-to-year changes should be read with care.

Official sources: World Bank: Maternal mortality ratio, Cameroon

Where can I find official health statistics for Cameroon?

The INS published a public dashboard of health statistics on 17 September 2026, together with a national report on mortality and causes of death in hospitals (2025 edition).

The Ministry of Public Health runs public hospitals and health programmes. International comparisons, such as life expectancy and child mortality, are published by the World Bank from UN estimates. The INS dashboard's figures load interactively and could not be read as text for this answer.

Official sources: INS: Public dashboard of health statistics · Ministry of Public Health

What is life expectancy in Cameroon?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Cameroon was 64.0 years in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 26th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 64.3 years. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 170th highest.

What is Cameroon's infant mortality rate?

40.2 per 1,000: that is the infant mortality rate in Cameroon for 2024, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 23rd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 37.2 per 1,000. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 26th highest.

What is maternal mortality in Cameroon?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 258 per 100,000. No year since 2005 has been lower. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 257 per 100,000; Cameroon is 24th highest of 48. Worldwide: 27th of 192.

What share of GDP does Cameroon spend on health care?

4.6% of GDP: that is current health spending in Cameroon for 2023, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 4.4% of GDP, and Cameroon placed 23rd highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 134th highest.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Cameroon?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in Cameroon was 67.7% in 2023. The peak was 78.5% in 2017 and the low 66.8% in 2012. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 32.4%, and Cameroon placed 2nd highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 9th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Cameroon?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2022, is 0.14 per 1,000. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 0.18 per 1,000, and Cameroon placed 31st highest of 46. Worldwide: 110th of 125.

How many hospital beds does Cameroon have?

According to the WHO, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Cameroon was 2.6 per 1,000 in 2016. It is 3rd highest of 19 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.73 per 1,000. Of 140 countries with 2016 data, 69th highest.

How many children in Cameroon are vaccinated against measles?

71.0%: that is measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Cameroon for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. The peak was 80.0% in 2008 and the low 61.0% in 2018. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 81.0%; Cameroon is 33rd highest of 48. Worldwide: 164th of 191.