2

named rivers from Cameroon among the dataset's top 50 outfalls

Meijer et al. 2021

5,173 mt/yr

combined modeled emission of those named rivers (metric tons per year)

Meijer et al. 2021

0.5%

share of the modeled global total across all 31,819 outfall points

Meijer et al. 2021

#26

highest-ranked: the Wouri River

Meijer et al. 2021

Data Coverage Note

Country attribution in this dataset exists only for the 50 named outfalls from the study's human-reviewed table (Table S5). The figures on this page cover those named rivers only. They are not a national total: the study models thousands of additional outfall points whose country attribution has not been verified on this site.

Named rivers in Cameroon, ranked by modeled emission

Each profile below explains local context, the modeled emission rank, drivers, and caveats for interpreting the data. Values are modeled annual plastic mass reaching the ocean, from Meijer et al. (2021).

Wouri River

Rank #26 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,835 metric tons per year, Atlantic Ocean basin.

Douala Estuary

Rank #43 of 31,819 modeled outfall points. Modeled emission 2,338 metric tons per year, Atlantic Ocean basin.

Cameroon River Plastic FAQ

Which river in Cameroon carries the most plastic to the ocean?

In the Meijer et al. (2021) model, the Wouri River is the highest-ranked named outfall in Cameroon, at rank #26 of 31,819 modeled points with 2,835 metric tons per year. The value is a modeled estimate, not a direct measurement.

How many rivers in Cameroon are among the world's highest-emitting?

Cameroon has 2 rivers among the 50 named highest-emission outfalls in the dataset. The study models many more outfall points whose country attribution has not been verified on this site, so this is a floor, not a national total.

What share of global river plastic emissions comes from Cameroon?

The named rivers from Cameroon in this dataset together represent 0.5% of the modeled global total across all 31,819 outfall points. Because only the top 50 outfalls carry verified country attribution, the country's full share is higher than this named-rivers figure.

Sources

  1. Meijer, L.J.J. et al. (2021). "More than 1000 rivers account for 80% of global riverine plastic emissions into the ocean." Science Advances, 7(18). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz5803
  2. UNEP (2021). "From Pollution to Solution: A Global Assessment of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution." View report

How to Cite This Page

Plastic Bank. "Cameroon: Named High-Emission Rivers (Meijer et al. 2021)." Rivers Carrying Plastic to the Ocean. https://rivers.plasticbank.com/rivers/country/cameroon. Reviewed July 20, 2026.