At the halfway point of the National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (SND30), Cameroon presents a mixed assessment. In a particularly constrained international and security context, the country has maintained major macroeconomic balances and initiated structural reforms. However, growth remains below targets, poverty is decreasing slowly, and several sectoral indicators are lagging behind.
Adopted in 2020, the SND30 constitutes the roadmap for the second phase of transformation towards an emerging, democratic, and united Cameroon in its diversity.
A participatory approach involving administrations, parliamentarians, decentralized local authorities (CTD), the private sector, and civil society also relies on the work of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CNSE) and collaboration with the World Bank within the framework of the Country Economic Memorandum.
The implementation of the SND30 was heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and recent geopolitical tensions. To these external shocks were added internal security challenges in the Far North, North-West, and South-West.
On the macroeconomic level, growth remained positive between 2020 and 2025 (from 0.3% to 3.8%), but significantly below the target of 8.5% expected in 2025. The budget deficit was nevertheless contained at -1.4% of GDP, close to the target, reflecting a fiscal discipline effort. The current account deficit, after peaking at -5.2% of GDP in 2023, narrowed to -2.8% in 2025. In contrast, credit to the economy (17.5% of GDP) remains below forecasts, limiting the dynamism of the private sector.
Poverty and inequalities: insufficient progress
The goal of reducing the poverty rate to 25% by 2030 appears ambitious in light of the ECAM5 data published in 2024: in 2022, 37.7% of the population, or approximately 10.1 million people, lived below the poverty line. Poverty remains predominantly rural (56.3%), but is increasing in urban areas. Inequalities remain high, with a Gini index of 0.4 in 2022 (target: 0.34 in 2030). Regional disparities persist, particularly in the Far North, North, and North-West.
Despite these difficulties, the State has maintained support measures: fuel subsidies, salary revaluation, raising the minimum wage (SMIG), and social transfer and reconstruction programs.
Read more Cameroon: Cabral Libii creates a Task Force at the Pcrn and appoints its members
Pillar 1: an as yet unfinished structural transformation
In the rural sector, growth in the primary sector remained moderate (3.6% in 2025 compared to the 7.6% target). Productivity is stagnating and the primary sector’s share of exports is declining. The decrease in log exports, in anticipation of their cessation in 2027, however, favors the rise of processed wood.
Manufacturing industries are struggling to take off: their share of GDP remains below 14%, far from the expected 19.9%. Similarly, their contribution to exports has not reached the planned 30%.
In infrastructure, progress is real but insufficient: 9.5% of the road network is paved (target: 12%), the electricity access rate has reached 77.8% (target: 95%), and installed capacity stands at 2,280 MW (target: 3,500 MW). The challenge now concerns expansion as much as the maintenance and optimization of existing infrastructure.
Pillar 2: human capital, mixed results
Primary education is recording notable progress, with a completion rate estimated at 83.8% in 2025, in line with forecasts. In contrast, secondary education is lagging significantly behind, both in terms of enrollment and completion.
In health, maternal and infant mortality indicators are improving beyond expectations. However, the prevalence of malaria (19.2%) and stunting (25%) exceed targets. Medical density (1.68 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants) and the budget share allocated to health (5.5%) remain below targets and international standards.
Regarding social protection, access to drinking water is progressing, but social coverage is stagnating around 23%, far from the planned trajectory.
Pillar 3: employment, a fragile improvement
Overall underemployment is decreasing slightly, but broad unemployment is increasing, reaching 9.8% in 2025. Unemployment among higher education graduates is also rising (21.6%), reflecting a persistent mismatch between training and the labor market.
Pillar 4: governance, progress and fragilities
Decentralization is experiencing a notable acceleration: the share of the budget transferred to CTDs exceeds the critical threshold of 15%. However, fragilities remain: low execution rate of court decisions (40.8%), prison overcrowding (184.4%), a decrease in the share of the Public Investment Budget, and underperformance of certain public enterprises.
The perception of corruption remains high, and the sovereign rating keeps the country in the speculative category, highlighting vulnerability to the international economic situation.
Accelerating to preserve the ambition of emergence
The average growth lag of about three points per year constitutes a risk for achieving emergence. However, there is room for catching up: the ramp-up of industrial and mining projects, strengthening attractiveness, improving competitiveness, and consistent implementation of reforms.
The evaluation notably recommends: the continuation of fiscal discipline and public finance reform; making public enterprises viable; accelerating agropastoral import substitution; developing strategic industrial zones; rehabilitating energy infrastructure; priority maintenance of road corridors; expanding universal health coverage; making social transfers sustainable; and strengthening technical and scientific training.
At the halfway point, the SND30 remains a relevant framework. Its success will now depend on more effective, better-coordinated implementation oriented towards tangible results for inclusive growth and the structural transformation of Cameroon.
Read more Cameroon: a lawyer challenges the limitation of sponsorship at EASA 2026
