Updated
Overview
Cameroon has 12 times the population of Gabon: 29.88 million people against 2.59 million (2025).
Cameroon's economy is 2.8 times the size of Gabon's, at $58.93B versus $21.43B.
Per person, Gabon is the wealthier of the two: $8,263 against $1,972 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Cameroon | Gabon | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $58.93B | $21.43B | 2025 | $51.33B / $20.87B |
| GDP per capita | $1,972 | Higher: $8,263 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.2% | 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.4% | Lower: 1.8% | 2025 | 4.5% / 1.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.6% | 20.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 34 | 37 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $73 | Higher: $247 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 29.88 million | 2.59 million | 2025 | 31.52 million / 2.51 million |
| Population growth | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 18.0 yrs | 21.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 4.19 | 3.54 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 64.0 yrs | Higher: 68.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 46% | Higher: 69% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 475,442 km² | 267,668 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 62.8/km² | 9.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 9.63 Mt | Lower: 5.40 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.3 t | 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $534.85M | $319.10M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.5% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 34,000 | 7,000 | 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
Cameroon is growing faster: 3.2% annual GDP growth versus 2.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.4% in Cameroon and 1.8% in Gabon.
People and society
Cameroon is the younger society: median age 18.0 versus 21.5 years.
Life expectancy is 4.5 years longer in Gabon (68.5 vs 64.0).
Gabon is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Gabon (69% vs 46% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Cameroon is 78% larger than Gabon: 475,442 km² versus 267,668 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 10.
Military
Cameroon spends about 70% more on defence than Gabon: $534.85M versus $319.10M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Cameroon fields the larger armed forces: 34,000 personnel against 7,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Cameroon bigger than Gabon?
- Cameroon is larger by land area. Cameroon covers 475,442 km² while Gabon covers 267,668 km², so Cameroon is 78% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Cameroon or Gabon?
- Cameroon has the larger population: 29.88 million versus 2.59 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Cameroon richer than Gabon?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Gabon is richer: $8,263 against $1,972. Total GDP tells a different story: $58.93B for Cameroon versus $21.43B for Gabon.
- Who spends more on their military, Cameroon or Gabon?
- Cameroon spends more: $534.85M versus $319.10M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).