Cameroon vs Nigeria
Cameroon vs Nigeria: Life expectancy
Life expectancy in 2023: 63.7 years in Cameroon and 54.5 years in Nigeria, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Cameroon, by 9.2 years, or 1.17 times that in Nigeria.
years · UN
What the numbers say
- Cameroon has been higher since 1962, when it overtook Nigeria.
- In 2023, Cameroon ranked 207 and Nigeria ranked 229 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Cameroon at 77.1 years and Nigeria at 64.7 years in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 73.2 years in 2023.
Every year
years · UN
| Year | Cameroon | Nigeria | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 63.7 | 54.5 | 73.2 |
| 2022 | 62.4 | 54.1 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 61.2 | 53.5 | 70.9 |
| 2020 | 61.7 | 53.1 | 71.9 |
| 2019 | 61.7 | 53 | 72.6 |
| 2018 | 61.2 | 52.7 | 72.4 |
| 2017 | 60.8 | 52.4 | 72.1 |
| 2016 | 60.3 | 52.2 | 71.9 |
| 2015 | 59.7 | 51.9 | 71.6 |
| 2014 | 59.1 | 51.9 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 58.7 | 51.8 | 71.1 |
| 2012 | 58.2 | 51.7 | 70.8 |
| 2011 | 57.5 | 51.5 | 70.4 |
| 2010 | 57 | 51.3 | 70.1 |
| 2009 | 56.5 | 51.1 | 69.7 |
| 2008 | 56.1 | 50.8 | 69.3 |
| 2007 | 55.7 | 50.4 | 69 |
| 2006 | 55.3 | 49.9 | 68.6 |
| 2005 | 54.9 | 49.5 | 68.1 |
| 2004 | 54.6 | 49.2 | 67.7 |
| 2003 | 54.3 | 48.6 | 67.4 |
| 2002 | 53.9 | 48 | 67.1 |
| 2001 | 53.6 | 47.6 | 66.8 |
| 2000 | 53.3 | 47.1 | 66.4 |
| 1999 | 53.2 | 46.6 | 66 |
| 1998 | 53 | 46.2 | 65.7 |
| 1997 | 53.1 | 46 | 65.5 |
| 1996 | 53.2 | 45.8 | 65.2 |
| 1995 | 53.4 | 45.9 | 64.9 |
| 1994 | 53.5 | 45.8 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 53.9 | 45.8 | 64.4 |
| 1992 | 54.1 | 45.6 | 64.3 |
| 1991 | 54.2 | 45.5 | 64.1 |
| 1990 | 54.4 | 45.7 | 64 |
| 1989 | 54.4 | 45.8 | 63.8 |
| 1988 | 54.4 | 45.8 | 63.4 |
| 1987 | 54.2 | 45.9 | 63.2 |
| 1986 | 53.6 | 46 | 62.7 |
| 1985 | 53.5 | 46.2 | 62.2 |
| 1984 | 52.9 | 46.3 | 61.9 |
| 1983 | 52.5 | 46.4 | 61.5 |
| 1982 | 51.8 | 46.4 | 61.3 |
| 1981 | 51.2 | 46.3 | 60.9 |
| 1980 | 50.9 | 46 | 60.5 |
| 1979 | 50.5 | 45.7 | 60.2 |
| 1978 | 50.3 | 45.4 | 59.5 |
| 1977 | 50.1 | 44.9 | 59.2 |
| 1976 | 50 | 44.2 | 58.6 |
| 1975 | 49.9 | 43.1 | 58.3 |
| 1974 | 49.7 | 42.5 | 58.1 |
| 1973 | 49.5 | 41.8 | 57.7 |
| 1972 | 49.1 | 41.3 | 57.2 |
| 1971 | 48.6 | 40.6 | 56 |
| 1970 | 48 | 40 | 56.3 |
| 1969 | 47.2 | 39 | 56 |
| 1968 | 46.4 | 38.6 | 55.6 |
| 1967 | 45.6 | 37.5 | 55.1 |
| 1966 | 44.8 | 38.4 | 54.6 |
| 1965 | 44.2 | 38.2 | 54 |
| 1964 | 43.6 | 38 | 54.3 |
| 1963 | 43.1 | 37.8 | 53.7 |
| 1962 | 42.6 | 37.6 | 53.2 |
| 1961 | 35.2 | 37.4 | 50.4 |
| 1960 | 34.7 | 37.2 | 47.8 |
| 1959 | 39.8 | 37 | 49.6 |
| 1958 | 39.1 | 36.8 | 51.6 |
| 1957 | 38.3 | 36.6 | 51.1 |
| 1956 | 38.4 | 36.5 | 50.7 |
| 1955 | 37.5 | 36.3 | 50.2 |
| 1954 | 36.5 | 36.2 | 49.7 |
| 1953 | 35.5 | 36 | 48.8 |
| 1952 | 34.6 | 35.9 | 48.2 |
| 1951 | 33.9 | 35.7 | 47.1 |
| 1950 | 33.1 | 35.5 | 46.4 |
| 1931 | 28.8 | – | – |
- 12.3Estimates, Our World in Data
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Cameroon | Nigeria | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6462.4–65.4 | 54.653–56.3 | 73.3 |
| 2025 | 64.362.1–66.4 | 54.852.5–57.2 | 73.5 |
| 2026 | 64.562–67.2 | 5552–57.9 | 73.8 |
| 2027 | 64.861.8–67.9 | 55.151.6–58.5 | 73.9 |
| 2028 | 6561.8–68.6 | 55.351.5–59 | 74.1 |
| 2029 | 65.361.6–69.1 | 55.451.3–59.5 | 74.2 |
| 2030 | 65.561.6–69.6 | 55.651–60 | 74.4 |
| 2031 | 65.861.7–70.1 | 55.750.8–60.5 | 74.5 |
| 2032 | 6661.8–70.4 | 55.950.5–60.9 | 74.7 |
| 2033 | 66.261.7–70.8 | 5650.4–61.4 | 74.8 |
| 2034 | 66.461.7–71.4 | 56.250.2–61.8 | 75 |
| 2035 | 66.661.6–71.7 | 56.350.1–62.2 | 75.1 |
| 2036 | 66.961.6–72.1 | 56.549.9–62.7 | 75.3 |
| 2037 | 67.161.7–72.5 | 56.649.8–62.9 | 75.4 |
| 2038 | 67.361.9–72.8 | 56.849.8–62.8 | 75.5 |
| 2039 | 67.561.8–73.1 | 56.949.7–63.4 | 75.7 |
| 2040 | 67.761.8–73.5 | 57.150–63.8 | 75.8 |
| 2041 | 67.861.8–74 | 57.249.7–64 | 75.9 |
| 2042 | 6861.8–74.2 | 57.449.9–64.3 | 76.1 |
| 2043 | 68.261.8–74.4 | 57.549.7–64.6 | 76.2 |
| 2044 | 68.461.7–74.9 | 57.749.7–65.3 | 76.3 |
| 2045 | 68.661.7–75.4 | 57.849.7–65.5 | 76.5 |
| 2046 | 68.861.8–75.7 | 5849.7–65.8 | 76.6 |
| 2047 | 6961.7–76.1 | 58.149.7–66.1 | 76.7 |
| 2048 | 69.262.1–76.2 | 58.349.6–66.3 | 76.8 |
| 2049 | 69.361.7–76.8 | 58.449.7–66.5 | 76.9 |
| 2050 | 69.561.7–77.2 | 58.549.7–67 | 77 |
| 2051 | 69.761.9–77.4 | 58.749.4–67.2 | 77.1 |
| 2052 | 69.961.9–77.6 | 58.849.3–67.5 | 77.2 |
| 2053 | 7061.8–77.8 | 5949.3–67.7 | 77.3 |
| 2054 | 70.261.9–78.2 | 59.149.1–67.6 | 77.4 |
| 2055 | 70.362–78.5 | 59.249.2–68.1 | 77.6 |
| 2056 | 70.561.9–79 | 59.449.2–68.6 | 77.7 |
| 2057 | 70.761.8–79.2 | 59.549–68.9 | 77.8 |
| 2058 | 70.861.9–79.2 | 59.648.9–69.2 | 77.9 |
| 2059 | 7161.9–79.5 | 59.848.8–69.2 | 78 |
| 2060 | 71.162–79.7 | 59.948.6–69.1 | 78.1 |
| 2061 | 71.362.2–79.8 | 60.148.7–69.2 | 78.2 |
| 2062 | 71.462.2–80.1 | 60.248.5–69.6 | 78.3 |
| 2063 | 71.662.2–80.5 | 60.348.8–69.7 | 78.4 |
| 2064 | 71.862.4–80.7 | 60.549–69.8 | 78.5 |
| 2065 | 71.962.4–81 | 60.649–70.3 | 78.6 |
| 2066 | 72.162.5–81.3 | 60.748.7–70.4 | 78.7 |
| 2067 | 72.262.5–81.6 | 60.849.2–70.8 | 78.8 |
| 2068 | 72.462.6–81.8 | 6149–71 | 78.9 |
| 2069 | 72.562.5–82.1 | 61.149.1–71.3 | 79 |
| 2070 | 72.762.5–82.5 | 61.248.9–71.6 | 79.1 |
| 2071 | 72.962.7–82.8 | 61.348.8–71.7 | 79.2 |
| 2072 | 7363–82.9 | 61.548.7–72.2 | 79.3 |
| 2073 | 73.262.8–83 | 61.648.6–72.2 | 79.4 |
| 2074 | 73.362.6–83.3 | 61.748.7–72.6 | 79.4 |
| 2075 | 73.562.8–83.5 | 61.948.6–72.6 | 79.5 |
| 2076 | 73.662.8–83.8 | 6248.7–72.9 | 79.6 |
| 2077 | 73.862.8–84.2 | 62.148.6–73.1 | 79.7 |
| 2078 | 73.963–84.2 | 62.248.4–73.3 | 79.8 |
| 2079 | 74.162.9–84.5 | 62.348.5–73.8 | 79.9 |
| 2080 | 74.263.1–84.7 | 62.548.4–73.7 | 80 |
| 2081 | 74.363.4–84.7 | 62.648.9–73.9 | 80.1 |
| 2082 | 74.563.2–84.9 | 62.748.6–74.1 | 80.2 |
| 2083 | 74.663.5–85 | 62.848.7–74.6 | 80.3 |
| 2084 | 74.863.6–85.1 | 62.948.7–74.6 | 80.3 |
| 2085 | 74.963.7–85.3 | 6349.2–74.7 | 80.4 |
| 2086 | 75.163.8–85.4 | 63.148.8–74.8 | 80.5 |
| 2087 | 75.263.8–85.4 | 63.348.7–74.9 | 80.6 |
| 2088 | 75.464.1–85.8 | 63.449–75.1 | 80.7 |
| 2089 | 75.564.2–86 | 63.549–75.1 | 80.8 |
| 2090 | 75.764.1–86.1 | 63.649.3–75.5 | 80.9 |
| 2091 | 75.864.1–86.4 | 63.749.1–75.6 | 81 |
| 2092 | 75.964.1–86.6 | 63.949.2–75.6 | 81 |
| 2093 | 76.164.3–86.9 | 6449–75.9 | 81.1 |
| 2094 | 76.264.3–86.8 | 64.149.3–76.3 | 81.2 |
| 2095 | 76.464.3–86.9 | 64.249.2–76.4 | 81.3 |
| 2096 | 76.564.3–87 | 64.349.3–76.7 | 81.4 |
| 2097 | 76.764.3–87.1 | 64.449–77 | 81.5 |
| 2098 | 76.864.2–87.3 | 64.549.3–77.3 | 81.6 |
| 2099 | 7764.1–87.5 | 64.649.3–77.5 | 81.7 |
| 2100 | 77.164.2–87.9 | 64.749.6–77.8 | 81.7 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How long a newborn would live on average if the year’s death rates held all its life.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- Before 1950: Our World in Data, long-run life expectancy.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Cameroon vs Nigeria
Health
- Child mortalityCameroon: 6.5 per 100 live births in 2024Nigeria: 11.6 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityCameroon: 47.4 per 1,000 live births in 2023Nigeria: 69.5 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- DepressionCameroon: 3.75% in 2017Nigeria: 3.92% in 2017
- Suicide rateCameroon: 14 per 100,000 people in 2017Nigeria: 7.5 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationCameroon: 28.4 million people in 2023Nigeria: 228 million people in 2023
- Population growthCameroon: 2.64% a year in 2023Nigeria: 2.1% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateCameroon: 4.32 births per woman in 2023Nigeria: 4.48 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationCameroon: 55.7% in 2025Nigeria: 63.8% in 2025
- Median ageCameroon: 17.8 years in 2023Nigeria: 17.8 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overCameroon: 2.8% in 2023Nigeria: 3% in 2023
- Net migration rateCameroon: -0.2 per 1,000 people in 2023Nigeria: -0.3 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingCameroon: 1.06% of GDP in 2025Nigeria: 0.91% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsCameroon: $580M in 2025Nigeria: $1.76B in 2025
- Military spending per personCameroon: $21 in 2025Nigeria: $9 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingCameroon: 6.5% of government spending in 2025Nigeria: 5.9% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelCameroon: 34,000 people in 2020Nigeria: 223,000 people in 2020
- National powerCameroon: 0.16% of world capability in 2022Nigeria: 1.16% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersCameroon: 0.34% of the labour force in 2020Nigeria: 0.23% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsCameroon: 2 million TIV in 2023Nigeria: 21 million TIV in 2025