Malaria and HIV are the main causes of death in Cameroon between 2018 and 2022

Malaria is the leading cause of death, responsible for 46,9 % deaths in 2021 and approximately 51,7 % in 2022.

The National Institute of Statistics (INS) recently published its first report on vital statistics in Cameroon, covering the period from 2018 to 2022. Made public on September 28, 2024, this document reveals worrying trends in public health, with malaria and HIV-related diseases leading causes of death in the country.

We learn that malaria was responsible for 46.9% of deaths in 2021 and approximately 51.7% in 2022. HIV-related illnesses follow, causing 10% of deaths in 2021 and 12.6%. in 2022. Acute malnutrition and infectious intestinal diseases occupy third and fourth place, respectively, being responsible for 5.6% and 4.2% of deaths in 2021, and 3.0% and 2.9% in 2022 .

The data also shows variation in causes of death by age. In 2022, these five main causes were responsible for 80.9% of deaths among children under 5 years old, 23% among 5-14 year olds and 74.1% among people aged 15 and over.

Malaria remains the leading cause of death at all ages, with a particularly high impact: it represents 60% of deaths among children under 5 years old, 19.4% among 5-14 year olds and 43.5% among 15 year olds. years and older. Cameroon recorded 2,481 deaths from the disease in 2022, marking a slight decrease compared to the 4,000 deaths reported in 2021, according to statistics from the Ministry of Public Health.

This report is the result of a collaboration between the INS, the National Civil Status Office (Bunec) and the Ministry of Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies partners Data for Health Initiative and Vital Strategies, an international organization of researchers and public health experts who work to solve complex public health problems alongside governments and civil society actors, provided support technical and financial. This report therefore aims to contribute to the reflection on the actions to be taken to improve vital statistics in Cameroon.