Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cameroon
Cameroon: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 53.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cameroon, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cameroon stood at 53.5%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cameroon peaked at 53.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 1950.
That places Cameroon 48th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.2% | — |
| 1955 | 10.3% | +43.5% |
| 1960 | 15.1% | +45.8% |
| 1965 | 18.0% | +19.5% |
| 1970 | 24.8% | +37.7% |
| 1975 | 33.5% | +35.0% |
| 1980 | 35.8% | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 38.0% | +6.4% |
| 1990 | 39.4% | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 44.1% | +11.9% |
| 2000 | 47.5% | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 49.6% | +4.6% |
| 2010 | 51.8% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 53.0% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 53.5% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.8% | 7.2% | 10.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 16.5% | 15.1% | 18.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 29.1% | 24.8% | 33.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 36.9% | 35.8% | 38.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 41.8% | 39.4% | 44.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 48.5% | 47.5% | 49.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 52.4% | 51.8% | 53.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 53.5% | 53.5% | 53.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cameroon?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cameroon was 53.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 53.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 1950.
- How does Cameroon rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Cameroon ranks 48th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.