Cameroon: Reserves and related items (current US$, BoP)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Cameroon's reserves and related items (current US$, BoP) rose US$1.08 billion on 2023 (from −US$594.81 million to US$482.23 million).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +US$9.77 million and a typical year strayed about US$874.74 million from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was US$2.01 billion in 2006 and the biggest yearly fall was US$1.96 billion in 2016. 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 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 1% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

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 9th highest value of the 28 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

• Ethiopia — 5th of 28: US$632.14 million
• Namibia — 6th of 28: US$628.8 million
• Burkina Faso — 7th of 28: US$585.19 million
• Zimbabwe — 9th of 28: US$472.58 million
• Rwanda — 10th of 28: US$261.22 million
• Bahamas, The — 11th of 28: US$242.14 million

What this measures

Reserves and related items is the net change in a country's holdings of international reserves resulting from transactions on the current, capital, and financial accounts. Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency.Also included are net credit and loans from the IMF (excluding reserve position) and total exceptional financing. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.

All 48 values

Reserves and related items (current US$, BoP) in nearby economies

• Angola — −US$937.09 million (2025)
• Benin — −US$1.22 billion (2023)
• Botswana — −US$305.79 million (2025)
• Burkina Faso — US$585.19 million (2024)
• Burundi — US$21.67 million (2025)
• Cabo Verde — US$369.03 million (2025)
• Comoros — −US$7.66 million (2023)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — US$839.97 million (2025)
• Congo, Rep. — −US$231.6 million (2021)
• Côte d'Ivoire

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

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Cameroon's reserves and related items (current US$, BoP)?

US$482.23 million in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1977?

It is up 11,337% from −US$4.29 million in 1977. The highest value was US$1.62 billion in 2006 and the lowest −US$1.8 billion in 1997.

How does Cameroon rank?

9th highest of 28 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in reserves and related items (current US$, BoP) unusual for Cameroon?

In 2024, Cameroon's reserves and related items (current US$, BoP) rose US$1.08 billion on 2023 (from −US$594.81 million to US$482.23 million). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +US$9.77 million and a typical year strayed about US$874.74 million from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator BN.RES.INCL.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF) 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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