Economy, jobs and prices in South-West, Cameroon: official figures
The 2023 General Census of Enterprises counted 27,992 businesses and establishments in the South-West region, 6.4% of Cameroon's 438,893, up from 14,709 in 2016 (+90.3%; Cameroon: +109.5%).
How much business turnover is there in the South-West region?
Businesses with their head office in the South-West region reported a turnover of 722 billion CFA francs in 2022, 3.6% of the national total; 3rd highest of the 10 regions.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique · saved copyHow many formal jobs are there in the South-West region?
Businesses headquartered in the South-West region employed 74,455 permanent workers in 2022, against 54,402 in 2015 (6.3% 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 Buea?
Consumer prices in Buea, the regional capital, rose by 3.7% on average in 2025, joint 4th highest 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 Buea?
In July 2026 prices in Buea were unchanged from a year earlier (Cameroon: 3.4% higher).
Source: Institut National de la Statistique · saved copyDo people in the South-West region have clean drinking water?
91.5% of people in the South-West region had at least a basic drinking water service (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip) in 2018, the joint highest of the 10 regions (Cameroon: 66.5%). The survey could not cover the whole South-West region for security reasons, so its figures mainly reflect towns.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in the South-West region have a proper toilet?
61.3% of people in the South-West region had basic sanitation (an improved toilet not shared with other households) in 2018, 2nd highest of the 10 regions (Cameroon: 42.8%). The survey could not cover the whole South-West region for security reasons, so its figures mainly reflect towns.
Source: Institut National de la Statistique (with ICF, The DHS Program) · saved copyMore figures
- That is 139 businesses for every 10,000 residents (using the 2023 population projection), 5th lowest of the 10 regions (Cameroon: 156). Source: Institut National de la Statistique · saved copy
How South-West compares with other regions
Businesses per 10,000 residents (RGE3 2023, population projection 2023) (2023)
South-West ranks 6 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Businesses per 10,000 residents (RGE3 2023, population projection 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | West | 196 |
| 4 | South | 162 |
| 5 | East | 143 |
| 6 | South-West | 139 |
| 7 | Adamawa | 96 |
| 8 | North-West | 48 |
| 9 | North | 42 |
Consumer price inflation in the regional capital (annual average) (2025)
South-West ranks 5 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Consumer price inflation in the regional capital (annual average) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | North-West | 4.5% |
| 3 | West | 4.1% |
| 4 | Centre | 3.7% |
| 5 | South-West | 3.7% |
| 6 | South | 3.3% |
| 7 | Littoral | 3.2% |
| 8 | North | 2.7% |
Population with at least basic drinking water (2018)
South-West ranks 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Littoral | 91.5% |
| 2 | South-West | 91.5% |
| 3 | North-West | 75.0% |
| 4 | Centre | 72.7% |
| 5 | South | 70.2% |
| 6 | Far North | 65.6% |
| 7 | West | 64.9% |
More on South-West: overview · 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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