Recently, social media influencers Steve Fah and Camille Makosso sparked a debate about Debundscha, a coastal village in Cameroon, claiming it was the second most rainy region in the world. This claim was made during their "Challenge découverte Cameroun" expedition, aimed at promoting Cameroon's cultural, tourist, and economic potential. However, a thorough investigation by DataCheck found no evidence to support this claim.
According to DataCheck's research, Debundscha is indeed one of the rainiest places in the world, but its ranking is not as high as claimed. An article by Stopblablacam in 2016 stated that Debundscha receives an average of 9 meters (9000 mm) of rainfall per year. A YouTube video by Alain Foka Officiel in 2024 claimed Debundscha was the 6th most rainy locality globally. Explore Edge, another YouTube channel, described Debundscha as the most rainy destination in Africa.
Further investigation by DataCheck found that Debundscha is ranked 6th in the world for precipitation, with an estimated 10,299 mm/an, according to Futura. It is preceded by San Antonio de Ureca in Equatorial Guinea, which records 10,450 mm/an. WorldAtlas' 2019 ranking listed Mawsynram in India as the city with the highest precipitation globally, with only Guinea Equatorial and Cameroon having cities in the top 10.
DataCheck's search for more recent rankings found WorldAtlas' 2019 ranking still referenced in 2025. However, Discover Top 10 Places' July 2025 ranking of the most rainy countries globally did not include Cameroon. According to Trading Economics, Cameroon ranks 39th globally in average precipitation, with 1,605 mm/an, making it the 5th African country on the list.
The National Meteorological Directorate of Cameroon was contacted for clarification. Director Gervais Didier Yontchang stated that there is no documentation to confirm Debundscha's ranking as the second most rainy region globally. According to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) official table, Records of Weather and Climate Extremes, Debundscha does not have a global ranking.
Yontchang further explained that the WMO only compares precipitation by continent, not globally. He acknowledged that Debundscha is indeed one of the rainiest localities on the planet. However, its ranking is not as high as claimed by social media influencers.
In conclusion, while Debundscha is a very rainy region, the claims made by Steve Fah and Camille Makosso about its global ranking are unfounded. DataCheck's investigation highlights the importance of verifying information, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like climate and weather.
Key points
- Debundscha is not the second most rainy region globally.
- The village receives an estimated 10,299 mm/an of rainfall.
- Cameroon ranks 39th globally in average precipitation, with 1,605 mm/an.
