Total population (thousands) in Cameroon
Cameroon: Total population (thousands) was 29,500 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
29,500 thousands
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
52nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
29,500 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
6,365 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Cameroon, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 29,500 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Cameroon peaked at 29,500 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6,365 thousands, in 1970.
Cameroon ranks 52nd of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6,365 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 6,535 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 6,714 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1973 | 6,900 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 7,093 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 7,294 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 7,500 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1977 | 7,695 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 7,898 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 8,126 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1980 | 8,353 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 8,671 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 8,961 thousands | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 9,096 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 9,335 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 9,615 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 9,908 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 10,213 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 10,529 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 10,841 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 11,164 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 11,499 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 11,835 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 12,178 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 12,529 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 12,881 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 13,236 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 13,594 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 13,957 thousands | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 14,333 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 14,717 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 15,108 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 15,511 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 15,940 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 16,381 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 16,840 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 17,309 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 17,792 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 18,308 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 18,840 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 19,388 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 19,948 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 20,516 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 21,103 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 21,702 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 22,418 thousands | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 23,109 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 23,799 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 24,458 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 25,155 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 25,857 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2021 | 26,564 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 27,268 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 27,998 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 28,748 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 29,500 thousands | +2.6% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 29,500 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 2.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 29,500 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 2.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7,212 thousands | 6,365 thousands | 8,126 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,552 thousands | 8,353 thousands | 10,841 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,721 thousands | 11,164 thousands | 14,333 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 16,675 thousands | 14,717 thousands | 18,840 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 22,160 thousands | 19,388 thousands | 25,155 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 27,656 thousands | 25,857 thousands | 29,500 thousands | 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 total population in Cameroon?
- Total population in Cameroon was 29,500 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 29,500 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,365 thousands in 1970.
- How does Cameroon rank for total population?
- Cameroon ranks 52nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release