Democracy Index in Cameroon
Cameroon: Democracy Index was -5 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Cameroon, 1960–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, democracy index in Cameroon stood at -5.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Cameroon peaked at 4 in 1960 and was at its lowest, -9, in 1984.
That places Cameroon 145th out of 168 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy Index in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 4 | — |
| 1961 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | -7 | -275.0% |
| 1967 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1968 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1969 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1970 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1971 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1972 | -8 | +14.3% |
| 1973 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1974 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1975 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1976 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -8 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -7 | -12.5% |
| 1983 | -7 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -9 | +28.6% |
| 1985 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1986 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -9 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -6 | -33.3% |
| 1989 | -6 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -3 | -50.0% |
| 1991 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1992 | -5 | +66.7% |
| 1993 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1994 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1995 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1996 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1998 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 1999 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2000 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2002 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2010 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -5 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -5 | -0.0% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's -5 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5. (43 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's -5 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.5. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.4 | -7 | 4 | 10 |
| 1970s | -7.8 | -8 | -7 | 10 |
| 1980s | -7.8 | -9 | -6 | 10 |
| 1990s | -4.6 | -5 | -3 | 10 |
| 2000s | -5 | -5 | -5 | 10 |
| 2010s | -5 | -5 | -5 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 145 Cuba -5 compare
- 147 Bangladesh -6 compare
- 147 Equatorial Guinea -6 compare
- 147 Kazakhstan -6 compare
More social development data for Cameroon
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 408,613 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 140,366 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0047 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 140,366 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0137 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Cameroon?
- Democracy index in Cameroon was -5 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy index recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 4 in 1960.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was -9 in 1984.
- How does Cameroon rank for democracy index?
- Cameroon ranks 145th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 59 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from -10 to 10 (fully democratic).