Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Cameroon

Cameroon: Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index was 26.7% in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
26.7%
World rank
19th
of 120 countries
All-time high
56.5%
in 1996
All-time low
26.7%
in 2021
Years of data
5
1996–2021

Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Cameroon, 1996–2021

02040601996200820211996: 56.5 %2001: 30.8 %2007: 36 %2014: 29 %2021: 26.7 %

Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2021, share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Cameroon stood at 26.7%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Cameroon peaked at 56.5% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 26.7%, in 2021.

That places Cameroon 19th out of 120 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 56.5% 56.5% 56.5% 1
2000s 33.4% 30.8% 36.0% 2
2010s 29.0% 29.0% 29.0% 1
2020s 26.7% 26.7% 26.7% 1

Countries ranked near Cameroon

  1. 16 Mali 36.1% compare
  2. 17 Togo 34.7% compare
  3. 18 Benin 27.2% compare
  4. 20 Pakistan 23.0% compare
  5. 21 Gambia 22.0% compare
  6. 22 Botswana 21.4% compare

See the full ranking of 120 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Cameroon

All data for Cameroon →

Frequently asked questions

What is share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Cameroon?
Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index in Cameroon was 26.7% in 2021, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index recorded in Cameroon?
The highest recorded value was 56.5% in 1996.
What is the lowest share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index recorded in Cameroon?
The lowest recorded value was 26.7% in 2021.
How does Cameroon rank for share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index?
Cameroon ranks 19th out of 120 countries with data for 2021.
Is share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index rising or falling in Cameroon?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
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 Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Share in extreme poverty vs. poverty gap index
Unit
%
Source
World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
120 places, 2,148 data points, 1963–2025
Last refreshed

Percentage of population living in households with an income or consumption below $3 per day.