Population in Cameroon
Cameroon: Population was 28.37 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
28.37 million people
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
52nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
28.37 million people
in 2023
All-time low
4.33 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Cameroon, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Cameroon is 28.37 million people, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of 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.
That places Cameroon 52nd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.33 million people | — |
| 1951 | 4.40 million people | +1.5% |
| 1952 | 4.46 million people | +1.6% |
| 1953 | 4.54 million people | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 4.62 million people | +1.7% |
| 1955 | 4.70 million people | +1.8% |
| 1956 | 4.79 million people | +1.9% |
| 1957 | 4.88 million people | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 4.97 million people | +1.9% |
| 1959 | 5.07 million people | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 5.16 million people | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 5.24 million people | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 5.34 million people | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 5.46 million people | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 5.58 million people | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 5.70 million people | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 5.84 million people | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 5.98 million people | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 6.13 million people | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 6.28 million people | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 6.45 million people | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 6.62 million people | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 6.81 million people | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 7.00 million people | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 7.19 million people | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 7.40 million people | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 7.60 million people | +2.7% |
| 1977 | 7.80 million people | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 8.01 million people | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 8.24 million people | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 8.51 million people | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 8.82 million people | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 9.03 million people | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 9.22 million people | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 9.48 million people | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 9.76 million people | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 10.06 million people | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 10.37 million people | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 10.69 million people | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 11.00 million people | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 11.33 million people | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 11.67 million people | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 12.01 million people | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 12.35 million people | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 12.70 million people | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 13.06 million people | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 13.41 million people | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 13.78 million people | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 14.14 million people | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 14.53 million people | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 14.91 million people | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 15.31 million people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 15.73 million people | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 16.16 million people | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 16.61 million people | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 17.07 million people | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 17.55 million people | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 18.05 million people | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 18.57 million people | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 19.11 million people | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 19.67 million people | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 20.23 million people | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 20.81 million people | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 21.40 million people | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 22.06 million people | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 22.76 million people | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 23.45 million people | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 24.13 million people | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 24.81 million people | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 25.51 million people | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 26.21 million people | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 26.92 million people | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 27.63 million people | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 28.37 million people | +2.7% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 28.37 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 2.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 28.37 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.5077 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1831 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.39 Percent per annum (2030)
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
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.