Number of people living in extreme poverty in Cameroon
Cameroon: Number of people living in extreme poverty was 20.08 million people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Cameroon, 1996–2021
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in extreme poverty in Cameroon is 20.08 million people, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 28.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in extreme poverty in Cameroon peaked at 20.08 million people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.84 million people, in 1996.
Cameroon ranks 43rd of 120 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Number of people living in extreme poverty in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 5.84 million people | — |
| 2001 | 10.59 million people | +81.4% |
| 2007 | 11.55 million people | +9.0% |
| 2014 | 15.66 million people | +35.6% |
| 2021 | 20.08 million people | +28.3% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 20.08 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.39 million people, 1.4× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 20.08 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.66 million people, 1.9× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.84 million people | 5.84 million people | 5.84 million people | 1 |
| 2000s | 11.07 million people | 10.59 million people | 11.55 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 15.66 million people | 15.66 million people | 15.66 million people | 1 |
| 2020s | 20.08 million people | 20.08 million people | 20.08 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More poverty & inequality data for Cameroon
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 1 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 4.32 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 1,770 kg per hectare (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 13.04 (2019)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 13.0% (2019)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in extreme poverty in Cameroon?
- Number of people living in extreme poverty in Cameroon was 20.08 million people in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 20.08 million people in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of people living in extreme poverty recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.84 million people in 1996.
- How does Cameroon rank for number of people living in extreme poverty?
- Cameroon ranks 43rd out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of people living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $3 per day.