Cameroon: Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Cameroon's debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) fell 2.9% on 2023 (from US$1.73 billion to US$1.68 billion).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +9.1% and a typical year strayed about 32.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 94.4% in 2014 and the biggest yearly fall was 49.5% in 2010. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about US$150.41 million a year. A straight line explains 84% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Cameroon had the 55th highest value of the 120 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Cameroon in the 2024 ranking

• Nicaragua — 52nd of 120: US$1.82 billion
• Armenia — 53rd of 120: US$1.82 billion
• Honduras — 54th of 120: US$1.79 billion
• Mauritius — 56th of 120: US$1.66 billion
• Uganda — 57th of 120: US$1.56 billion
• North Macedonia — 58th of 120: US$1.54 billion

What this measures

Total debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt, interest paid on short-term debt, and repayments (repurchases and charges) to the IMF. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 55 values

Debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) in nearby economies

• Angola — US$10.87 billion (2024)
• Benin — US$1.14 billion (2024)
• Botswana — US$275.16 million (2024)
• Burkina Faso — US$884.32 million (2024)
• Burundi — US$35.82 million (2024)
• Cabo Verde — US$152.48 million (2024)
• Central African Republic — US$56.51 million (2024)
• Chad — US$365.92 million (2024)
• Comoros — US$24.64 million (2024)

More economic policy & debt data for Cameroon

• General government final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) — US$5.05 billion (2025)
• General government final consumption expenditure (constant LCU) — 3.02 trillion (2025)
• Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) — US$34.19 billion (2025)
• Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure (constant LCU) — 20.13 trillion (2025)
• Households and NPISHs final consumption expenditure per capita (constant 2015 US$) — US$1,144 (2025)
• Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$) — US$39.23 billion (2025)
• Final consumption expenditure (constant LCU) — 23.14 trillion (2025)
• Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Cameroon's debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$)?

US$1.68 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1970?

It is up 14,678% from US$11.34 million in 1970 (9.69% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was US$1.94 billion in 2021 and the lowest US$11.34 million in 1970.

How does Cameroon rank?

55th highest of 120 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) unusual for Cameroon?

In 2024, Cameroon's debt service on external debt, total (TDS, current US$) fell 2.9% on 2023 (from US$1.73 billion to US$1.68 billion). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +9.1% and a typical year strayed about 32.8% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator DT.TDS.DECT.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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