If you lived in Cameroon instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

be 67.4% less likely to be obese

In French Polynesia, 49.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Cameroon, that number is 16.0% of people as of 2024.

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live 20.2 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 years for women) as of 2024. In Cameroon, that number is 64 years (62 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2024.

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Economy

be 69.1% less likely to be unemployed

In French Polynesia, 11.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Cameroon, that number is 3.6% as of 2025.

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make 91.2% less money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in Cameroon, the GDP per capita is $1,972 as of 2025.

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Life

have 3.1 times more children

In French Polynesia, there are approximately 10.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Cameroon, there are 33.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 9.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Cameroon, on the other hand, 40.2 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 28.0% less likely to have access to electricity

In French Polynesia, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Cameroon, that number is 72% of people on average (96% in urban areas, and 26% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 36.4% less likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Cameroon, about 46.3% do as of 2024.

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be 28.6% less likely to have access to drinking water

In French Polynesia, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Cameroon, 71% of people do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 84.1% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In Cameroon, that number is 402 km.

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Infrastructure

find 94.0% less home broadband

French Polynesia has 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Cameroon has 2.1 as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 89.9% less CO2

French Polynesia emits 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Cameroon emits 0.3 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Cameroon: At a glance

Cameroon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 472,710 sq km. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.
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How big is Cameroon compared to French Polynesia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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