Population in Cameroon
Cameroon: Population was 28.37 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population in Cameroon, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in Cameroon stood at 28.37 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Cameroon peaked at 28.37 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.33 million people, in 1950.
Cameroon ranks 52nd of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.68 million people | 4.33 million people | 5.07 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.67 million people | 5.16 million people | 6.28 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.31 million people | 6.45 million people | 8.24 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.69 million people | 8.51 million people | 11.00 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.90 million people | 11.33 million people | 14.53 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.91 million people | 14.91 million people | 19.11 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.48 million people | 19.67 million people | 25.51 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.28 million people | 26.21 million people | 28.37 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 49 Madagascar 31.20 million people compare
- 50 Cote d'Ivoire 31.17 million people compare
- 51 Nepal 29.69 million people compare
- 53 Venezuela 28.30 million people compare
- 54 Australia 26.45 million people compare
- 55 North Korea 26.42 million people compare
More population data for Cameroon
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.6% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 6.42 million people (2100)
- Population density 188.01 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.6% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 4.26 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 427,706 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 4.26 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 4.26 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 2.7% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 4.32 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Cameroon?
- Population in Cameroon was 28.37 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 28.37 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.33 million people in 1950.
- How does Cameroon rank for population?
- Cameroon ranks 52nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.