Current Account Balance: Cameroon

Analysis# Cameroon Current Account Balance Cameroon's current account balance stands at -3.9% of GDP in 2026, reflecting a persistent deficit pattern. The country peaked at a surplus of 1.2% in 2007 but has since shifted toward structural imbalances. Since 1980, the metric has deteriorated by 22 percentage points, with the all-time low of -5.5% recorded in 1987. The current deficit remains moderate compared to that historical trough, yet substantially below the brief equilibrium achieved in the mid-2000s. The 2019 downturn to -4.3% marked a significant inflection point, following years of relative stability. Recovery attempts in 2020-2021 proved temporary, with deficits re-widening from 2022 onward. Recent volatility between -3.1% and -4.3% suggests Cameroon faces ongoing external imbalances. The projected 2026 reading of -3.9% indicates no clear resolution, with the economy continuing to import more than it exports relative to overall output.