Services Remain Cameroon’s Main Growth Engine in 2025, Led by Telecoms and Finance

Cameroon’s services sector remained the main driver of economic growth in 2025, supported by strong gains in information and communication and financial services despite slower growth in several other activities, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The sector, which covers all service activities, grew 4.3% in 2025 after 4.2% in 2024. “It remains the main driver of national economic growth, with a contribution of 2.2 percentage points to GDP growth,” the INS said in its national accounts report.

By comparison, the primary and secondary sectors contributed 0.3 percentage point and 0.6 percentage point, respectively, to GDP growth over the same period. According to the INS, the services sector’s performance in 2025 was driven by information and communication services, followed by financial activities. Information and communication grew 10.3%, up from 8.2% in 2024.

Financial activities expanded 9.2%, although that represented a slight slowdown from the 9.6% growth recorded in 2024. Other service activities also posted stronger year-over-year growth, though at more moderate rates. Transportation and storage grew 4.1% in 2025, compared with 2.9% in 2024. Public administration and social security services increased 5.9%, up from 5.6%.

Health and social services recorded particularly strong growth of 7.5% in 2025, more than double the 3.5% rate recorded the previous year. The INS noted, however, that weaker performance in other service industries limited the sector’s overall momentum. Education growth slowed sharply to 0.6% from 5.1%, while real estate activities grew 3.6%, down from 5.0%.

Accommodation and food services also slowed slightly to 3.5% from 3.6%, while support activities grew 4.4%, compared with 6.8% in 2024.

BRM