(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s economy is undergoing a structural transformation, with the services sector driving growth, according to National Accounts data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) in August 2025. The tertiary sector contributed 55%, helping push overall growth to 3.5%.
Financial services, which have grown by an average of 6.5% since 2019, and telecommunications, up 5.3%, are leading the dynamic, supported by a 3.5% increase in private consumption.
This shift toward a service-based economy is accompanied by positive signals in the primary sector. Agricultural exports rose by 9.5%, with cocoa exports surpassing the symbolic milestone of 1 trillion CFA francs in 2024. Meanwhile, cotton contributed to a significant reduction in the trade deficit, which shrank from 2.004 trillion CFA francs in 2023 to 256 billion CFA francs in 2024. As a result, import coverage climbed to nearly 85%, a level not seen in several years.
Although the manufacturing industry still accounts for only 12-15% of GDP, its prospects are solidifying. The National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (SND30) aims to increase the industry’s share of GDP to 24% by 2030, focusing on the local processing of raw materials. Special economic zones, already active in agribusiness and timber, offer tax incentives that are attracting private projects despite a business climate that still needs improvement.
With projected growth of 4% in 2025 and a gradual diversification of its economic drivers, Cameroon is well-positioned for a rebound. By leveraging domestic consumption, the growth of the services sector, and the upgrading of its agricultural exports, the country remains on a path toward inclusive development while strengthening its resilience to external shocks.
Idriss Linge
