Share of population living in the capital city in Cameroon
Cameroon: Share of population living in the capital city was 16.9% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in the capital city in Cameroon, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in the capital city in Cameroon stood at 16.9%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Cameroon peaked at 16.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.0%, in 1950.
Cameroon ranks 78th of 170 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in the capital city in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 2.0% | — |
| 1955 | 2.5% | +28.2% |
| 1960 | 3.2% | +26.8% |
| 1965 | 3.9% | +22.0% |
| 1970 | 4.9% | +27.1% |
| 1975 | 6.2% | +24.8% |
| 1980 | 7.1% | +15.8% |
| 1985 | 8.0% | +11.6% |
| 1990 | 8.6% | +8.3% |
| 1995 | 9.5% | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 10.6% | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | +14.2% |
| 2010 | 13.5% | +12.1% |
| 2015 | 15.2% | +12.3% |
| 2020 | 16.9% | +11.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.5% | 4.9% | 6.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 7.5% | 7.1% | 8.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 9.1% | 8.6% | 9.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.3% | 10.6% | 12.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.4% | 13.5% | 15.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.9% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 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 the capital city in Cameroon?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Cameroon was 16.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 16.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.0% in 1950.
- How does Cameroon rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Cameroon ranks 78th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.