Economy, jobs and prices in North, Cameroon: official figures
The 2023 General Census of Enterprises counted 13,828 businesses and establishments in the North region, 3.2% of Cameroon's 438,893, up from 6,789 in 2016 (+103.7%; Cameroon: +109.5%).
How much business turnover is there in the North region?
Businesses with their head office in the North region reported a turnover of 421 billion CFA francs in 2022, 2.1% of the national total; 5th highest of the 10 regions.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique · saved copyHow many formal jobs are there in the North region?
Businesses headquartered in the North region employed 28,474 permanent workers in 2022, against 16,844 in 2015 (2.4% of the 1,178,044 permanent jobs counted nationally). The census counts all of a firm's jobs in the region of its head office, including staff at branches in other regions.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique · saved copyWhat is the inflation rate in Garoua?
Consumer prices in Garoua, the regional capital, rose by 2.7% on average in 2025, 3rd lowest of the 10 regional capitals (Cameroon: 3.4%, above the 3% ceiling set by CEMAC).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique · saved copyAre prices still rising in Garoua?
In July 2026 prices in Garoua were 5.0% higher than a year earlier (Cameroon: 3.4% higher).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique · saved copyDo people in the North region have clean drinking water?
39.9% of people in the North region had at least a basic drinking water service (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2018, the lowest of the 10 regions (Cameroon: 66.5%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in the North region have a proper toilet?
38.8% of people in the North region had basic sanitation (an improved toilet not shared with other households) in 2018, 5th highest of the 10 regions (Cameroon: 42.8%).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyMore figures
- That is 42 businesses for every 10,000 residents (using the 2023 population projection), 2nd lowest of the 10 regions (Cameroon: 156). Source: Institut National de la Statistique · saved copy
How North compares with other regions
Businesses per 10,000 residents (RGE3 2023, population projection 2023) (2023)
North ranks 9 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Businesses per 10,000 residents (RGE3 2023, population projection 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | South | 162 |
| 5 | East | 143 |
| 6 | South-West | 139 |
| 7 | Adamawa | 96 |
| 8 | North-West | 48 |
| 9 | North | 42 |
| 10 | Far North | 31 |
Consumer price inflation in the regional capital (annual average) (2025)
North ranks 8 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Consumer price inflation in the regional capital (annual average) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Centre | 3.7% |
| 5 | South-West | 3.7% |
| 6 | South | 3.3% |
| 7 | Littoral | 3.2% |
| 8 | North | 2.7% |
| 9 | East | 2.4% |
| 10 | Far North | 2.2% |
Population with at least basic drinking water (2018)
North ranks 10 of 10, highest first. Centre and Littoral combine the survey figures for Yaoundé and Douala with the rest of each region, weighted by population.
| Rank | Region | Population with at least basic drinking water |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Centre | 72.7% |
| 5 | South | 70.2% |
| 6 | Far North | 65.6% |
| 7 | West | 64.9% |
| 8 | Adamawa | 52.1% |
| 9 | East | 45.4% |
| 10 | North | 39.9% |
More on North: overview · health · education and schools · Cameroon
Sources
- Institut National de la Statistique: Note sur les prix au Cameroun en décembre 2025 (consumer price index by regional capital; inflation in 2025), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c55e0a546c1…)
- Institut National de la Statistique: Note sur les prix au Cameroun en juillet 2026 (consumer price index by regional capital), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9dc29d67ea92…)
- Institut National de la Statistique (with ICF, The DHS Program): Enquête Démographique et de Santé du Cameroun 2018 (EDSC-V), final report: regional tables 2.1.2, 2.3.2, 2.6, 2.13, 3.3.1, 3.13, 5.2, 8.2-8.3, 9.5, 10.3, 11.1, 12.15, 14.4, 17.10.1, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2fd029d9c33…)
- Institut National de la Statistique: 3rd General Census of Enterprises (RGE3), main report: businesses by region 2009-2023, turnover by region 2022, permanent jobs by region 2022, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62895f181cfb…)
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