Cameroon

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 603,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), with both TV and radio broadcasts, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until 2007, when the government issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operate under administrative tolerance, meaning the stations could be subject to closure at any time (2023)

Internet country code

.cm

Internet users

percent of population: 42% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 67,500 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 31.5 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, maize, taro, tomatoes, sorghum, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 45.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 2.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $6.385 billion (2021 est.) expenditures: $7.624 billion (2021 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

-$2.019 billion (2023 est.) -$1.505 billion (2022 est.) -$1.794 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$11.112 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

largest CEMAC economy with many natural resources; recent political instability and terrorism reducing economic output; systemic corruption; poor property rights enforcement; increasing poverty in northern regions

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 606.345 (2024 est.) 606.57 (2023 est.) 623.76 (2022 est.) 554.531 (2021 est.) 575.586 (2020 est.)

Exports

$8.353 billion (2023 est.) $8.641 billion (2022 est.) $7.447 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, cocoa beans, wood (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Netherlands 21%, France 14%, UAE 13%, India 9%, China 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$51.327 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 74.5% (2024 est.) government consumption: 10.5% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.4% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 14.7% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -21.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 17.4% (2024 est.) industry: 25.6% (2024 est.) services: 49.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

42.2 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 31.1% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$10.294 billion (2023 est.) $9.759 billion (2022 est.) $9.025 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

garments, refined petroleum, plastic products, wheat, rice (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 43%, France 6%, India 6%, Belgium 4%, UAE 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

1.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2024 est.) 7.4% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

11.119 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$143.264 billion (2024 est.) $138.191 billion (2023 est.) $133.843 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

3.7% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 3.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$4,900 (2024 est.) $4,900 (2023 est.) $4,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.882 billion (2023 est.) $5.133 billion (2022 est.) $4.3 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

11.3% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

3.6% (2024 est.) 3.7% (2023 est.) 3.7% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 6.2% (2024 est.) male: 5.9% (2024 est.) female: 6.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 1.798 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 6.161 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 60 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.238 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 71% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 94% electrification - rural areas: 25%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 36.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 63.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

4.271 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 2.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 534.691 million cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 1.821 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 135.071 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 200 million barrels (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

6.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 200 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.658 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 1.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Environmental issues

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; poaching; overfishing; overhunting

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Land use

agricultural land: 20.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.) forest: 41% (2023 est.) other: 38.1% (2023 est.)

Methane emissions

energy: 293.3 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 278.2 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 166.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 24 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

283.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 246.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 104.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 737 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 59.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.271 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.6% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 475,440 sq km land: 472,710 sq km water: 2,730 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania

Climate

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Coastline

402 km

Elevation

highest point: Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 667 m

Geographic coordinates

6 00 N, 12 00 E

Geography - note

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea; areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano

Irrigated land

290 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 5,018 km border countries (6): Central African Republic 901 km; Chad 1,116 km; Republic of the Congo 494 km; Equatorial Guinea 183 km; Gabon 349 km; Nigeria 1975 km

Land use

agricultural land: 20.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.) forest: 41% (2023 est.) other: 38.1% (2023 est.)

Location

Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Major aquifers

Lake Chad Basin

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km) Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm

Natural hazards

volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in the Oku volcanic field sometimes release fatal levels of gas, which killed about 1,700 people in 1986

Natural resources

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Population distribution

population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Administrative divisions

10 regions ( r gions , singular - r gion ); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extr me-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)

Capital

name: Yaounde geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Germans founded the city in 1888, but the name comes from the native Ewondo people; the meaning of the name is unclear

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon local long form: R publique du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English) local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon former: Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon etymology: in the 16th century, Portuguese explorers named an estuary near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; the name Camaroes evolved into "Cameroon"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022) embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaound mailing address: 2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 22251-4000 FAX: [237] 22251-4000, Ext. 4531 email address and website: YaoundeACS@state.gov https://cm.usembassy.gov/ branch office(s): Douala

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016) chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826 email address and website: mail@cameroonembassyusa Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) head of government: Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019) cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president most recent election date: 12 October 2025 election results: 2025- Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 53.7%, Issa Tchiroma BAKARY (CNSF) 35.2%, Cabral LIBII (PCRN) 3.4%, Bello Boubou MAIGARI (UNDP)2.4%, other 5.3% 2018: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2% (2018) expected date of next election: October 2032

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), red, and yellow, with a small five-pointed yellow star centered in the red band meaning: red stands for unity; yellow for the sun, happiness, and the northern savannahs; green for hope and the southern forests; the star is called the "star of unity;" the vertical tricolor design is similar to the French flag history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for renewable 6-year terms subordinate courts: Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts

Legal system

mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parlement - Parliament legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly) number of seats: 180 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 3/12/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC/CPDM) (152); Other (28) percentage of women in chamber: 33.9% expected date of next election: February 2026

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (S nat - Senate) number of seats: 100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020 percentage of women in chamber: 33% expected date of next election: March 2027

National anthem(s)

title: "O Cameroun, Berceau de Nos Anc tres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers) lyrics/music: Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME history: adopted 1957; lyrics were changed slightly to the current version in 1978

National color(s)

green, red, yellow

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (two natural and one cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Dja Faunal Reserve (n); Sangha Trinational Forest (n); Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (c)

National holiday

State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

National symbol(s)

lion

Political parties

Alliance for Democracy and Development Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM Cameroon People's Party or CPP Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP Progressive Movement or MP Social Democratic Front or SDF Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC Union of Socialist Movements

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Background

Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year, the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Nonetheless, unrest and violence in the country's two western, English-speaking regions have persisted since 2016. Movement toward democratic reform is slow, and political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Military - note

the Cameroon Armed Forces (FAC) are responsible for defending the country's territorial integrity, providing humanitarian assistance, supporting regional peacekeeping operations, and contributing to internal security; key areas of focus are the threat from the terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and, since 2016, an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions; in addition, the FAC often deploys ground units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits; the Navy s missions include protecting Cameroon s oil installations, combatting crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and patrolling the country s lakes and rivers; the FAC's small Air Force supports both the ground and naval forces (2025)

Military and security forces

Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army, Cameroon Navy (includes naval infantry or fusiliers marin), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Firefighting Corps General Delegation for National Security (D l gation G n rale la S ret Nationale or DGSN): Cameroon Police (2025) note 1: the Army includes the Rapid Intervention Brigade (Brigade d Intervention Rapide or BIR), which maintains its own command and control structure and reports directly to the Chief of Defense staff and the Presidency; the BIR includes airborne/airmobile, amphibious, armored reconnaissance, artillery, and counterterrorism forces, as well as support elements, such as intelligence note 2: the Cameroon Police and the National Gendarmerie are responsible for internal security; the Gendarmerie conducts administrative, criminal, and military investigative functions; other missions include customs, air and maritime surveillance, and road traffic control; in times of conflict, it participates in internal defense

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 40-50,000 active FAC, including the Gendarmerie (2025)

Military deployments

750 (plus about 400 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025) note: Cameroon has committed approximately 2,000-2,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations occur occasionally

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAC inventory is comprised of armaments from a variety of countries, including China, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, the US, and some Western European countries, particularly France (2025)

Military expenditures

1% of GDP (2024 est.) 1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (18-28 for medical services); no conscription; service obligation 4 years (2025)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.5% (male 6,477,438/female 6,364,987) 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 8,488,522/female 8,638,519) 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 463,628/female 533,011)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

30.79 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 10.7% (2018) women married by age 18: 29.8% (2018) men married by age 18: 2.9% (2018)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

58.1% (2018 est.)

Death rate

6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 77.6 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 71.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 81.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 69.6% of population (2022 est.) urban: 18.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 30.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

2.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 13.8% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Bamileke-Bamu 22.2%, Biu-Mandara 16.4%, Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri 13.5%, Beti/Bassa, Mbam 13.1%, Grassfields 9.9%, Adamawa-Ubangi, 9.8%, Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko 4.6%, Southwestern Bantu 4.3%, Kako/Meka 2.3%, foreign/other ethnic group 3.8% (2022 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.91 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

3.8% of GDP (2021) 3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 50.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 41.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.2 years (2024 est.) male: 62.3 years female: 66.1 years

Literacy

total population: 72.6% (2018 est.) male: 79.7% (2018 est.) female: 66.2% (2018 est.)

Major urban areas - population

4.509 million YAOUNDE (capital), 4.063 million Douala (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

258 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 19.4 years (2025 est.) male: 18.6 years female: 19.2 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.1 years (2018 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

noun: Cameroonian(s) adjective: Cameroonian

Net migration rate

-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

11.4% (2016)

Physician density

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

total: 31,518,954 (2025 est.) male: 15,683,611 female: 15,835,343

Population distribution

population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

2.37% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 33.1%, Muslim 30.6%, Protestant 27.1% other Christian 6.1%, animist 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 1.2% (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 60.2% of population (2022 est.) urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 39.8% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years (2023 est.) male: 12 years (2023 est.) female: 10 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 5% (2025 est.) male: 9.2% (2025 est.) female: 0.9% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 59.3% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham West Africa note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 443,740 (2024 est.) IDPs: 1,058,405 (2024 est.)

Airports

37 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TJ

Heliports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 198 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 91, oil tanker 42, other 63

Ports

total ports: 7 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 5 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Douala, Ebome Marine Terminal, Kole Oil Terminal, Kome Kribi 1 Marine Terminal, Kribi Deep Sea Port, Limboh Terminal, Moudi Marine Terminal

Railways

total: 987 km (2014) narrow gauge: 987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge note: railway connections generally efficient but limited; rail lines connect major cities of Douala, Yaounde, Ngaoundere, and Garoua; passenger and freight service provided by CAMRAIL