Population by income level in Cameroon
Cameroon: Population by income level was 29.88 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
29.88 million
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
51st
of 215 countries
All-time high
29.88 million
in 2025
All-time low
5.16 million
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population by income level in Cameroon, 1960–2025
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 29.88 million for population by income level in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 31.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by income level in Cameroon peaked at 29.88 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.16 million, in 1960.
That places Cameroon 51st out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population by income level in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5.16 million | — |
| 1961 | 5.24 million | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 5.34 million | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 5.46 million | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 5.58 million | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 5.70 million | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 5.84 million | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 5.98 million | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 6.13 million | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 6.28 million | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 6.45 million | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 6.62 million | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 6.81 million | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 7.00 million | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 7.19 million | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 7.40 million | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 7.60 million | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 7.80 million | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 8.01 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 8.24 million | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 8.51 million | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 8.82 million | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 9.03 million | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 9.22 million | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 9.48 million | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 9.76 million | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 10.06 million | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 10.37 million | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 10.69 million | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 11.00 million | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 11.33 million | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 11.67 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 12.01 million | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 12.35 million | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 12.70 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 13.06 million | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 13.41 million | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 13.78 million | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 14.14 million | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 14.53 million | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 14.91 million | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 15.31 million | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 15.73 million | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 16.16 million | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 16.61 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 17.07 million | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 17.55 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 18.05 million | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 18.57 million | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 19.11 million | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 19.67 million | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 20.23 million | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 20.81 million | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 21.40 million | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 22.06 million | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 22.76 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 23.45 million | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 24.13 million | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 24.81 million | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 25.51 million | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 26.21 million | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 26.92 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 27.63 million | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 28.37 million | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 29.12 million | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 29.88 million | +2.6% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 29.88 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.35 million, 2.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 29.88 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.96 million, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5.67 million | 5.16 million | 6.28 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.31 million | 6.45 million | 8.24 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.69 million | 8.51 million | 11.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.90 million | 11.33 million | 14.53 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.91 million | 14.91 million | 19.11 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.48 million | 19.67 million | 25.51 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.02 million | 26.21 million | 29.88 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More population data for Cameroon
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 1.75 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5077 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 51,280 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1831 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Population density 188.01 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.42 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by income level in Cameroon?
- Population by income level in Cameroon was 29.88 million in 2025, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by income level recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 29.88 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population by income level recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.16 million in 1960.
- How does Cameroon rank for population by income level?
- Cameroon ranks 51st out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by income level rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by income level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, differentiated by World Bank income level.