According to a recent report from the National Institute of Statistics, almost half of Cameroon’s population lives in poverty, with an estimated rate of 38.6% in 2021-2022, which represents around 10 million people. This alarming situation highlights the economic and social challenges facing the country.
The survey indicates that poverty is more pronounced in rural areas, where it reaches 56.3%, while the rate is lower in urban areas, at 21.6%. The regions most affected by poverty are the Far North, the North West, the North, Adamaoua and the East. Furthermore, consumption inequalities persist, with the richest 20% of households having consumption ten times higher than that of the poorest 20%.
Despite some progress in access to drinking water and basic social services, the situation remains worrying. Financial inclusion is improving, but disparities persist, particularly in access to electricity and the use of clean energy for cooking. Waste management also remains a major challenge.
Faced with these challenges, the National Institute of Statistics recommends stepping up efforts to strengthen the implementation of the 2030 National Development Strategy and to support vulnerable households. Investments in economic infrastructure and resilience programs are needed to combat poverty and external economic shocks.
Note: This article was written based on data provided by the Eco Matin website.
