External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) in Cameroon
Cameroon: External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) was 14.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
External health expenditure in Cameroon, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 14.7% for external health expenditure in 2023.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 101.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external health expenditure in Cameroon peaked at 15.0% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2001.
Cameroon ranks 49th of 177 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure) in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.6% | — |
| 2001 | 2.1% | -17.9% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | +64.6% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -31.3% |
| 2004 | 3.3% | +41.4% |
| 2005 | 4.8% | +42.2% |
| 2006 | 4.7% | -2.2% |
| 2007 | 5.0% | +8.4% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | +21.0% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 8.0% | +40.0% |
| 2011 | 12.2% | +51.9% |
| 2012 | 7.9% | -35.3% |
| 2013 | 7.3% | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 9.3% | +26.6% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | -6.7% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 14.3% | +68.2% |
| 2019 | 13.0% | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 10.7% | -17.9% |
| 2021 | 15.0% | +40.2% |
| 2022 | 14.4% | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 14.7% | +2.0% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 14.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.8%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 14.7% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 20.5%, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.0% | 2.1% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.8% | 7.3% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 10.7% | 15.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More health data for Cameroon
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7821 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,841 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 17 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0746 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.076 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external health expenditure in Cameroon?
- External health expenditure in Cameroon was 14.7% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest external health expenditure recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 2021.
- What is the lowest external health expenditure recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2001.
- How does Cameroon rank for external health expenditure?
- Cameroon ranks 49th out of 177 countries with data for 2023.
- Is external health expenditure rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 101.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of External health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from external sources. External sources compose of direct foreign transfers and foreign transfers distributed by government encompassing all financial inflows into the national health system from outside the country. External sources either flow through the government scheme or are channeled through non-governmental organizations or other schemes.