Water withdrawals per capita in Cameroon
Cameroon: Water withdrawals per capita was 38.36 cubic meters per person in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
38.36 cubic meters per person
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
161st
of 180 countries
All-time high
64.8 cubic meters per person
in 2000
All-time low
33.32 cubic meters per person
in 1992
Years of data
37
1987–2023
Water withdrawals per capita in Cameroon, 1987–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for water withdrawals per capita in Cameroon is 38.36 cubic meters per person, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, water withdrawals per capita in Cameroon peaked at 64.8 cubic meters per person in 2000 and was at its lowest, 33.32 cubic meters per person, in 1992.
Cameroon ranks 161st of 180 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Water withdrawals per capita in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | cubic meters per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 38.18 cubic meters per person | — |
| 1988 | 37.14 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 1989 | 36.14 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 35.16 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 34.22 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 33.32 cubic meters per person | -2.6% |
| 1993 | 38.11 cubic meters per person | +14.4% |
| 1994 | 42.63 cubic meters per person | +11.9% |
| 1995 | 46.9 cubic meters per person | +10.0% |
| 1996 | 50.93 cubic meters per person | +8.6% |
| 1997 | 54.74 cubic meters per person | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 58.31 cubic meters per person | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 61.66 cubic meters per person | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 64.8 cubic meters per person | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 64.72 cubic meters per person | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 64.56 cubic meters per person | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 64.33 cubic meters per person | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 64.06 cubic meters per person | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 63.74 cubic meters per person | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 62.02 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 2007 | 60.3 cubic meters per person | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 58.6 cubic meters per person | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 56.94 cubic meters per person | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 55.34 cubic meters per person | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 53.8 cubic meters per person | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 52.3 cubic meters per person | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 50.85 cubic meters per person | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 49.34 cubic meters per person | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 47.81 cubic meters per person | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 46.41 cubic meters per person | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 45.11 cubic meters per person | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 43.88 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 42.67 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 41.53 cubic meters per person | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 40.44 cubic meters per person | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 39.39 cubic meters per person | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 38.36 cubic meters per person | -2.6% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 38.36 cubic meters per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 178.62 cubic meters per person, 21% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 38.36 cubic meters per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59.54 cubic meters per person, 64% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.15 cubic meters per person | 36.14 cubic meters per person | 38.18 cubic meters per person | 3 |
| 1990s | 45.6 cubic meters per person | 33.32 cubic meters per person | 61.66 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.41 cubic meters per person | 56.94 cubic meters per person | 64.8 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.75 cubic meters per person | 42.67 cubic meters per person | 55.34 cubic meters per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.93 cubic meters per person | 38.36 cubic meters per person | 41.53 cubic meters per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 158 Mozambique 43.79 cubic meters per person compare
- 159 Ghana 43.35 cubic meters per person compare
- 160 Rwanda 43.07 cubic meters per person compare
- 162 Papua New Guinea 37.74 cubic meters per person compare
- 163 Gambia 37.66 cubic meters per person compare
- 164 Cote d'Ivoire 37.28 cubic meters per person compare
More environment data for Cameroon
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -8.11 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.68 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.211 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.15 °C (2025)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.0991 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is water withdrawals per capita in Cameroon?
- Water withdrawals per capita in Cameroon was 38.36 cubic meters per person in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest water withdrawals per capita recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 64.8 cubic meters per person in 2000.
- What is the lowest water withdrawals per capita recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.32 cubic meters per person in 1992.
- How does Cameroon rank for water withdrawals per capita?
- Cameroon ranks 161st out of 180 countries with data for 2023.
- Is water withdrawals per capita rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – AQUASTAT (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Water withdrawals per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Water withdrawn each year for agriculture, industry, and municipal uses, divided by the population.