Updated
Overview
Cameroon has about 40% more people than Chad: 29.88 million against 21.00 million (2025).
Cameroon's economy is 2.7 times the size of Chad's, at $58.93B versus $21.47B.
Per person, Cameroon is the wealthier of the two: $1,972 against $1,022 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Cameroon | Chad | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $58.93B | $21.47B | 2025 | $51.33B / $20.63B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $1,972 | $1,022 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.2% | Higher: 5.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.4% | Lower: -3.9% | 2025 | 4.5% / 8.9% |
| Unemployment | 3.6% | Lower: 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 34 | 35 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $206 | — / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $73 | Higher: $99 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 29.88 million | 21.00 million | 2025 | 31.52 million / 19.67 million |
| Population growth | 2.6% | 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 18.0 yrs | 15.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.19 | 5.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 64.0 yrs | 55.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 28% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 46% | 13% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 475,442 km² | 1,284,000 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 62.8/km² | 16.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 9.63 Mt | Lower: 2.83 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.3 t | Lower: 0.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $534.85M | $557.71M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 3.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 34,000 | 45,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Chad is growing faster: 5.6% annual GDP growth versus 3.2%.
Cameroon runs the hotter price environment: 3.4% inflation versus -3.9%.
People and society
Chad is the younger society: median age 15.8 versus 18.0 years.
Life expectancy is 8.7 years longer in Cameroon (64.0 vs 55.2).
Cameroon is considerably more urbanized: 56% of people live in cities, against 28%.
Internet adoption is higher in Cameroon (46% vs 13% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Cameroon is 63% smaller than Chad: 475,442 km² versus 1,284,000 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Cameroon is far more densely settled: 63 people per km² against 16.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $534.85M (Cameroon) and $557.71M (Chad).
Relative to its economy, Chad carries the heavier military burden: 3.0% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Chad fields the larger armed forces: 45,000 personnel against 34,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Cameroon bigger than Chad?
- Chad is larger by land area. Cameroon covers 475,442 km² while Chad covers 1,284,000 km², so Chad is 2.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Cameroon or Chad?
- Cameroon has the larger population: 29.88 million versus 21.00 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Cameroon richer than Chad?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Cameroon is richer: $1,972 against $1,022. Total GDP tells the same story: $58.93B for Cameroon versus $21.47B for Chad.
- Who spends more on their military, Cameroon or Chad?
- Chad spends more: $557.71M versus $534.85M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).