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Cameroon vs DR Congo
Side-by-side comparison of Cameroon and DR Congo from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Cameroon
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
DR Congo
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 66 years
In short
Cameroon scores 26.3 in the NationsTree Index (172nd in the world) and DR Congo scores 22.0 (183rd), a gap of 4.4 points. Their trees are 6.9 m and 7.5 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
DR Congo has 3.8 times the population of Cameroon. DR Congo is 4.9 times larger than Cameroon by land area. The economy of DR Congo is 25% larger than that of Cameroon (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Cameroon 29.9 million and DR Congo 112.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $5,788 in Cameroon and $1,920 in DR Congo (2025, international dollars). People in Cameroon live on average 1.9 years longer (64.0 vs 62.1 years).
Of 28 indicators reported by both countries, Cameroon ranks higher in the world on 19 and DR Congo on 9. Cameroon is clearly stronger in tourism, science & innovation and institutions & safety. DR Congo is clearly stronger in military, trade and environment & energy.
Over the last five years DR Congo improved faster (direction score 35 vs 18 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Cameroon and DR Congo.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
DR Congo overtook Cameroon in GDP (PPP) in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
Cameroon overtook DR Congo in the NationsTree Index in 2019 and has stayed ahead since.
Cameroon has been ahead of DR Congo in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
DR Congo has been ahead of Cameroon in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
CameroonDR Congo All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Cameroon | DR Congo |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 475,44255th/216 · 2024 | 2,345,41011th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 472,71052nd/216 · 2024 | 2,267,05011th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 29.9 m51st/217 · 2025 | 112.8 m15th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.56%22nd/217 · 2025 | 3.20%10th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 61.6143rd/216 · 2024 | 48.2155th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 55.7%142nd/217 · 2025 | 45.1%161st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 41.1%16th/217 · 2025 | 45.9%5th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.8%200th/217 · 2025 | 3.1%191st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $58.93 bn92nd/210 · 2025 | $91.03 bn81st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $172.94 bn85th/199 · 2025 | $216.62 bn78th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $147.78 bn84th/199 · 2025 | $185.11 bn77th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,972176th/210 · 2025 | $807202nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $5,788162nd/199 · 2025 | $1,920194th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,860168th/201 · 2025 | $720193rd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.2%106th/210 · 2025 | 5.8%39th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.4%101st/180 · 2025 | 2.9%2016 |
| Unemployment % | 3.6%61st/187 · 2025 | 4.4%73rd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 79.5%1999 | 14.9%3rd/55 · 2022 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 40.5%63rd/189 · 2025 | 20.4%19th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.1%79th/192 · 2025 | -2.4%88th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 16.8%43rd/197 · 2025 | 8.9%76th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 24.8%90th/200 · 2025 | 39.7%15th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 14.6%47th/192 · 2025 | 7.9%124th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 50.4%143rd/200 · 2025 | 48.0%156th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $7.71 bn117th/182 · 2025 | $39.52 bn74th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $11.96 bn117th/182 · 2025 | $39.98 bn70th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 13.1%168th/183 · 2025 | 43.4%68th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 20.3%166th/183 · 2025 | 43.9%91st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 33.4%175th/183 · 2025 | 87.3%83rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 54.1%22nd/170 · 2023 | 1.8%106th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 6.0%145th/171 · 2023 | 15.4%117th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 22.8%65th/171 · 2023 | 1.3%158th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.2%102nd/171 · 2023 | 76.5%1st/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 2.1%129th/168 · 2023 | 0.2%159th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -3.8%127th/191 · 2025 | -3.7%124th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%144th/196 · 2025 | 2.1%99th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 5.5%68th/209 · 2021 | 38.8%3rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 2.36%36th/197 · 2021 | 0.65%51st/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.58%36th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 28.81%1st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.58%29th/209 · 2021 | 9.36%7th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 13.1%81st/206 · 2024 | 7.3%120th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 9,88045th/183 · 2022 | 8,78952nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.0 m97th/194 · 2019 | 351,000136th/194 · 2016 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $437.0 m100th/175 · 2020 | $60.5 m151st/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 7.1%73rd/168 · 2020 | 0.4%163rd/168 · 2018 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 424,00081st/107 · 2016 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 64.0194th/217 · 2024 | 62.1205th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 64.8181st/196 · 2024 | 89.7188th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.14158th/174 · 2022 | 0.21146th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.72016 | 0.82006 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 77%153rd/193 · 2024 | 65%178th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 30.3%2018 | 54.0%108th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 44.8%160th/173 · 2023 | 55.5%150th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 12.7%47th/55 · 2021 | 11.1%2012 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.0%200th/217 · 2025 | 6.1%178th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.6%136th/193 · 2023 | 3.7%163rd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 72.6%2018 | 68.5%82nd/98 · 2023 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 16.7%126th/150 · 2024 | 6.4%2020 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.588155th/193 · 2023 | 0.522171st/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 42.292nd/108 · 2021 | 44.72020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 26.7%92nd/108 · 2021 | 85.3%2020 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 72.0%176th/215 · 2024 | 22.5%209th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 11.9%146th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 13.1%135th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 46.3%152nd/186 · 2024 | 19.7%176th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 108125th/210 · 2024 | 59196th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 2.1157th/208 · 2022 | 0.0201st/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.10142nd/164 · 2022 | 2.30117th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 88468th/82 · 2021 | 3,64135th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 331,025122nd/161 · 2023 | 1.2 m94th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.3535th/203 · 2024 | 0.0611th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 79.2%19th/212 · 2021 | 96.3%1st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 55.6191st/200 · 2023 | 35.8170th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 40.7%78th/214 · 2024 | 61.5%29th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 330139th/149 · 2024 | 402129th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 36.1165th/205 · 2025 | 18.1199th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 23.7180th/207 · 2025 | 18.0196th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 39.0178th/207 · 2025 | 31.2197th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 36.0190th/207 · 2025 | 28.3203rd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 41.9162nd/205 · 2025 | 32.9189th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 34.7169th/205 · 2025 | 35.6165th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 6.8106th/145 · 2022 | — |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $627.5 m95th/156 · 2025 | $1.23 bn80th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.1%110th/156 · 2025 | 1.4%94th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 6.5%53rd/154 · 2025 | 8.1%41st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 34,00085th/170 · 2020 | 134,00046th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.34%141st/168 · 2020 | 0.41%129th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m144th/163 · 2023 | 44.0 m67th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 22.0 m1997 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | — | 0.41%2015 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 7275th/137 · 2020 |
| Scientific articles articles | 1,54778th/197 · 2023 | 243122nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Cameroon or DR Congo?
DR Congo has the larger population: 112.8 m (2025) compared with 29.9 m for Cameroon (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Cameroon or DR Congo?
DR Congo is larger: 2,345,410 km² (2024) compared with 475,442 km² for Cameroon (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Cameroon or DR Congo?
DR Congo has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $216.62 bn intl. (2025) compared with $172.94 bn intl. for Cameroon (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Cameroon or DR Congo?
Cameroon has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $5,788 intl. (2025) compared with $1,920 intl. for DR Congo (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Cameroon or DR Congo?
Cameroon has the higher life expectancy at birth: 64.0 years (2024) compared with 62.1 years for DR Congo (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Cameroon or DR Congo?
DR Congo spends more on the military: $1.23 bn (2025) compared with $627.5 m for Cameroon (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Cameroon or DR Congo?
Cameroon: 26.3 points (172nd in the world); DR Congo: 22.0 points (183rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Côte d'Ivoire
Sudan
Uganda
GhanaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Cameroon vs DR Congo — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/cameroon-vs-dr-congo. Data as of 26 October 2026.