Urban and rural population in Cameroon
Cameroon: Urban and rural population was 16.63 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
16.63 million
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
54th
of 236 countries
All-time high
16.63 million
in 2025
All-time low
470,684
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Cameroon, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Cameroon is 16.63 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 38.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Cameroon peaked at 16.63 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 470,684, in 1950.
That places Cameroon 54th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 470,684 | — |
| 1951 | 484,493 | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 500,840 | +3.4% |
| 1953 | 519,645 | +3.8% |
| 1954 | 540,878 | +4.1% |
| 1955 | 564,492 | +4.4% |
| 1956 | 590,382 | +4.6% |
| 1957 | 618,184 | +4.7% |
| 1958 | 648,436 | +4.9% |
| 1959 | 679,389 | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 702,246 | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 730,275 | +4.0% |
| 1962 | 767,115 | +5.0% |
| 1963 | 812,680 | +5.9% |
| 1964 | 864,676 | +6.4% |
| 1965 | 923,060 | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 987,825 | +7.0% |
| 1967 | 1.06 million | +7.2% |
| 1968 | 1.14 million | +7.3% |
| 1969 | 1.22 million | +7.4% |
| 1970 | 1.31 million | +7.3% |
| 1971 | 1.42 million | +8.1% |
| 1972 | 1.55 million | +9.3% |
| 1973 | 1.70 million | +9.6% |
| 1974 | 1.85 million | +9.3% |
| 1975 | 2.01 million | +8.5% |
| 1976 | 2.16 million | +7.2% |
| 1977 | 2.29 million | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 2.44 million | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 2.59 million | +6.1% |
| 1980 | 2.75 million | +6.4% |
| 1981 | 2.93 million | +6.4% |
| 1982 | 3.08 million | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 3.22 million | +4.6% |
| 1984 | 3.39 million | +5.2% |
| 1985 | 3.56 million | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 3.75 million | +5.2% |
| 1987 | 3.94 million | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 4.13 million | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 4.33 million | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 4.54 million | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 4.76 million | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 4.98 million | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 5.20 million | +4.5% |
| 1994 | 5.43 million | +4.4% |
| 1995 | 5.66 million | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 5.90 million | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 6.14 million | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 6.39 million | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 6.64 million | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 6.90 million | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 7.16 million | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 7.43 million | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 7.71 million | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 8.00 million | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 8.30 million | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 8.64 million | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 8.97 million | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 9.30 million | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 9.65 million | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 10.00 million | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 10.36 million | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 10.74 million | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 11.12 million | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 11.54 million | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 11.98 million | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 12.43 million | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 12.86 million | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 13.30 million | +3.4% |
| 2019 | 13.76 million | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 14.22 million | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 14.68 million | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 15.16 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 15.64 million | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 16.14 million | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 16.63 million | +3.1% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 16.63 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 16.63 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million, 3.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 561,742 | 470,684 | 679,389 | 10 |
| 1960s | 920,316 | 702,246 | 1.22 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.93 million | 1.31 million | 2.59 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.51 million | 2.75 million | 4.33 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.56 million | 4.54 million | 6.64 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.21 million | 6.90 million | 9.65 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.81 million | 10.00 million | 13.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.41 million | 14.22 million | 16.63 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 51 Netherlands 17.60 million compare
- 52 North Korea 17.06 million compare
- 53 Myanmar 16.78 million compare
- 55 Uganda 16.41 million compare
- 56 Yemen 15.47 million compare
- 57 Mozambique 13.26 million compare
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)
- Population growth rate 0.571 (2100)
- Population density 188.01 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 6.42 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Cameroon?
- Urban and rural population in Cameroon was 16.63 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 16.63 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 470,684 in 1950.
- How does Cameroon rank for urban and rural population?
- Cameroon ranks 54th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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