# Demographics of Cameroon

The demographic profile of Cameroon is complex for a country of its population. Cameroon comprises an estimated 250 distinct ethnic groups, which may be formed into five large regional-cultural divisions:
* western highlanders (Semi-Bantu or grassfielders), including the Bamileke, Bamum (or Bamoun), and many smaller Tikar groups in the Northwest (est. 38% of total population);
* coastal tropical forest peoples, including the Bassa, Duala (or Douala), and many smaller groups in the Southwest (12%);
* southern tropical forest peoples, including the Beti-Pahuin, Bulu (a subgroup of Beti-Pahuin), Fang (subgroup of Beti-Pahuin), Maka, Njem, and Baka pygmies (18%);
* predominantly Islamic peoples of the northern semi-arid regions (the Sahel) and central highlands, including the Fulani (French: Peul or Peuhl; Fula: Fulɓe) (14%); and
* the "Kirdi", non-Islamic or recently Islamic peoples of the northern desert and central highlands (18%).
The Cameroon government held two national censuses during the country's first 44 years as an independent country, in 1976 and again in 1987. Results from the second head count were never published. A third census, expected to take years to produce results, began on November 11, 2005, with a three-week interviewing phase. It is one of a series of projects and reforms required by the International Monetary Fund as prerequisites for foreign debt relief. The first results were published in 2010.

## Population

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 27,198,628 in 2021, compared to only 4 466 000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 40.6%, 55.9% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.5% was 65 years or older.
| | Total population | Population aged 0–14 (%) | Population aged 15–64 (%) | Population aged 65+ (%) |
| 1950 | 4 466 000 | 39.6 | 56.9 | 3.5 |
| 1955 | 4 901 000 | 40.1 | 56.4 | 3.5 |
| 1960 | 5 409 000 | 40.6 | 55.9 | 3.6 |
| 1965 | 6 049 000 | 41.5 | 54.9 | 3.6 |
| 1970 | 6 842 000 | 42.4 | 54.0 | 3.6 |
| 1975 | 7 838 000 | 43.6 | 52.7 | 3.7 |
| 1980 | 9 110 000 | 44.6 | 51.8 | 3.6 |
| 1985 | 10 519 000 | 45.2 | 51.2 | 3.6 |
| 1990 | 12 181 000 | 45.2 | 51.3 | 3.6 |
| 1995 | 13 940 000 | 44.4 | 52.1 | 3.5 |
| 2000 | 15 678 000 | 42.8 | 53.7 | 3.5 |
| 2005 | 17 554 000 | 41.6 | 54.9 | 3.5 |
| 2010 | 19 599 000 | 40.6 | 55.9 | 3.5 |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.I.2010) (Data refer to national projections.):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 9 599 224 | 9 806 876 | 19 406 100 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 1 662 298 | 1 624 936 | 3 287 234 | 16.94 |
| 5–9 | 1 412 467 | 1 370 992 | 2 783 459 | 14.34 |
| 10–14 | 1 227 470 | 1 167 201 | 2 394 671 | 12.34 |
| 15–19 | 1 068 509 | 1 101 526 | 2 170 035 | 11.18 |
| 20–24 | 855 334 | 981 955 | 1 837 289 | 9.47 |
| 25–29 | 712 550 | 813 266 | 1 525 816 | 7.86 |
| 30–34 | 588 210 | 621 397 | 1 209 607 | 6.23 |
| 35–39 | 460 394 | 482 319 | 942 713 | 4.86 |
| 40–44 | 388 539 | 405 307 | 793 846 | 4.09 |
| 45–49 | 323 507 | 316 740 | 640 247 | 3.30 |
| 50–54 | 261 626 | 260 284 | 521 910 | 2.69 |
| 55–59 | 178 876 | 159 112 | 337 988 | 1.74 |
| 60–64 | 155 208 | 160 671 | 315 879 | 1.63 |
| 65–69 | 110 645 | 116 645 | 227 290 | 1.17 |
| 70–74 | 88 969 | 100 602 | 189 571 | 0.98 |
| 75–79 | 47 173 | 50 905 | 98 078 | 0.51 |
| 80–84 | 31 609 | 39 976 | 71 585 | 0.37 |
| 85–89 | 12 109 | 14 455 | 26 564 | 0.14 |
| 90–94 | 6 942 | 8 773 | 15 715 | 0.08 |
| 95+ | 6 789 | 9 814 | 16 603 | 0.09 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 4 302 235 | 4 163 129 | 8 465 364 | 43.62 |
| 15–64 | 4 992 753 | 5 302 577 | 10 295 330 | 53.05 |
| 65+ | 304 236 | 341 170 | 645 406 | 3.33 |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2019) (Source: Population projections and estimates of priority targets for the various health programs and interventions, National Institute of Statistics (2016).):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 12 609 256 | 12 883 098 | 25 492 354 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 1 904 057 | 1 975 656 | 3 879 713 | 15.22 |
| 5–9 | 1 720 605 | 1 757 707 | 3 478 312 | 13.64 |
| 10–14 | 1 574 388 | 1 524 415 | 3 098 803 | 12.16 |
| 15–19 | 1 386 436 | 1 346 672 | 2 733 108 | 10.72 |
| 20–24 | 1 213 959 | 1 171 500 | 2 385 459 | 9.36 |
| 25–29 | 1 035 624 | 985 314 | 2 020 938 | 7.93 |
| 30–34 | 888 422 | 967 529 | 1 855 951 | 7.28 |
| 35–39 | 684 460 | 786 728 | 1 471 188 | 5.77 |
| 40–44 | 584 695 | 650 891 | 1 235 586 | 4.85 |
| 45–49 | 438 096 | 447 171 | 885 267 | 3.47 |
| 50–54 | 352 927 | 392 864 | 745 791 | 2.93 |
| 55–59 | 275 690 | 281 896 | 557 586 | 2.19 |
| 60–64 | 220 891 | 242 450 | 463 341 | 1.82 |
| 65–69 | 143 542 | 141 522 | 285 064 | 1.12 |
| 70–74 | 101 474 | 110 948 | 212 422 | 0.83 |
| 75–79 | 49 486 | 55 219 | 104 705 | 0.41 |
| 80+ | 34 504 | 44 616 | 79 120 | 0.31 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 5 199 050 | 5 257 778 | 10 456 828 | 41.02 |
| 15–64 | 7 130 686 | 7 273 015 | 14 403 701 | 56.50 |
| 65+ | 279 520 | 352 305 | 631 825 | 2.48 |

### Demographic and Health Surveys

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
| Year | CBR (Total) | TFR (Total) | CBR (Urban) | TFR (Urban) | CBR (Rural) | TFR (Rural) |
| 1991 | 39 | 5.82 (5.17) | | 5.17 (4.52) | | 6.29 (5.66) |
| 1998 | 37.4 | 5.2 (4.6) | 31.5 | 3.9 (3.4) | 40.1 | 5.8 (5.3) |
| 2004 | 37.8 | 5.0 (4.5) | 34.9 | 4.0 (3.7) | 40.5 | 6.1 (5.6) |
| 2011 | 38.1 | 5.1 (4.5) | 34.6 | 4.0 | 41.3 | 6.4 |
| 2018 | 36.8 | 4.8 (4.3) | 32.9 | 3.8 (3.4) | 40.7 | 6.0 (5.5) |
Fertility data as of 2011 (DHS Program):
| Region | Total fertility rate | Percentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnant | Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49 |
| Adamaoua | 5.2 | 8.6 | 6.5 |
| Centre (except Yaoundé) | 5.6 | 8.8 | 5.5 |
| Douala | 3.2 | 8.1 | 4.5 |
| Est | 5.4 | 12.0 | 5.6 |
| Extrême-Nord | 6.8 | 14.8 | 7.3 |
| Littoral (except Douala) | 4.6 | 8.4 | 5.1 |
| Nord | 6.5 | 12.4 | 7.1 |
| Nord-Ouest | 4.4 | 6.9 | 5.4 |
| Ouest | 6.0 | 10.1 | 5.8 |
| Sud | 4.6 | 9.6 | 5.2 |
| Sud-Ouest | 4.0 | 7.6 | 5.5 |
| Yaoundé | 3.5 | 6.5 | 4.4 |

## Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Cameroon not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.
| Year | Mid-year population | Live births | Deaths per | Natural change | CBR* | CDR* | NC* | IMR* | TFR* | Life expectancy (years) |
| 1950 | 4 316 000 | 187 000 | 121 000 | 66 000 | 43.2 | 28.1 | 15.2 | 194.2 | 5.54 | 34.46 |
| 1951 | 4 382 000 | 189 000 | 122 000 | 67 000 | 43.2 | 27.9 | 15.2 | 193.1 | 5.52 | 34.64 |
| 1952 | 4 450 000 | 192 000 | 123 000 | 68 000 | 43.0 | 27.7 | 15.4 | 190.9 | 5.49 | 35.01 |
| 1953 | 4 519 000 | 194 000 | 123 000 | 71 000 | 43.0 | 27.3 | 15.6 | 188.5 | 5.47 | 35.43 |
| 1954 | 4 592 000 | 197 000 | 122 000 | 76 000 | 42.9 | 26.5 | 16.5 | 182.7 | 5.47 | 36.42 |
| 1955 | 4 671 000 | 201 000 | 120 000 | 81 000 | 43.0 | 25.7 | 17.3 | 177.3 | 5.47 | 37.36 |
| 1956 | 4 754 000 | 205 000 | 119 000 | 86 000 | 43.1 | 25.0 | 18.1 | 172.0 | 5.49 | 38.35 |
| 1957 | 4 841 000 | 209 000 | 122 000 | 88 000 | 43.3 | 25.1 | 18.2 | 167.0 | 5.51 | 38.26 |
| 1958 | 4 932 000 | 214 000 | 121 000 | 94 000 | 43.5 | 24.5 | 19.0 | 162.4 | 5.55 | 39.10 |
| 1959 | 5 028 000 | 220 000 | 121 000 | 99 000 | 43.7 | 24.0 | 19.8 | 158.3 | 5.59 | 39.84 |
| 1960 | 5 118 000 | 226 000 | 147 000 | 80 000 | 44.2 | 28.6 | 15.5 | 154.8 | 5.65 | 34.82 |
| 1961 | 5 200 000 | 232 000 | 146 000 | 86 000 | 44.7 | 28.2 | 16.5 | 151.9 | 5.71 | 35.41 |
| 1962 | 5 304 000 | 239 000 | 118 000 | 121 000 | 45.1 | 22.3 | 22.8 | 149.6 | 5.77 | 42.52 |
| 1963 | 5 428 000 | 246 000 | 120 000 | 126 000 | 45.3 | 22.0 | 23.3 | 147.5 | 5.83 | 42.92 |
| 1964 | 5 556 000 | 252 000 | 121 000 | 131 000 | 45.4 | 21.8 | 23.6 | 145.3 | 5.89 | 43.31 |
| 1965 | 5 690 000 | 258 000 | 122 000 | 137 000 | 45.4 | 21.4 | 24.0 | 142.7 | 5.95 | 43.89 |
| 1966 | 5 830 000 | 265 000 | 122 000 | 142 000 | 45.4 | 21.0 | 24.4 | 139.6 | 6.00 | 44.44 |
| 1967 | 5 975 000 | 271 000 | 122 000 | 149 000 | 45.3 | 20.4 | 24.9 | 135.8 | 6.06 | 45.18 |
| 1968 | 6 127 000 | 277 000 | 121 000 | 156 000 | 45.2 | 19.8 | 25.4 | 131.7 | 6.11 | 45.98 |
| 1969 | 6 286 000 | 283 000 | 121 000 | 163 000 | 45.1 | 19.2 | 25.9 | 127.5 | 6.14 | 46.82 |
| 1970 | 6 453 000 | 291 000 | 120 000 | 171 000 | 45.1 | 18.6 | 26.5 | 123.4 | 6.20 | 47.58 |
| 1971 | 6 627 000 | 299 000 | 120 000 | 179 000 | 45.1 | 18.1 | 27.0 | 119.9 | 6.26 | 48.25 |
| 1972 | 6 809 000 | 306 000 | 120 000 | 186 000 | 45.0 | 17.6 | 27.3 | 117.0 | 6.28 | 48.90 |
| 1973 | 6 999 000 | 315 000 | 121 000 | 193 000 | 44.9 | 17.3 | 27.6 | 115.0 | 6.31 | 49.32 |
| 1974 | 7 195 000 | 323 000 | 123 000 | 200 000 | 44.9 | 17.1 | 27.7 | 113.8 | 6.34 | 49.57 |
| 1975 | 7 397 000 | 332 000 | 126 000 | 206 000 | 44.9 | 17.0 | 27.9 | 113.1 | 6.39 | 49.72 |
| 1976 | 7 598 000 | 344 000 | 129 000 | 215 000 | 45.2 | 16.9 | 28.3 | 112.6 | 6.45 | 49.88 |
| 1977 | 7 797 000 | 355 000 | 132 000 | 223 000 | 45.4 | 16.9 | 28.6 | 111.9 | 6.52 | 50.00 |
| 1978 | 8 013 000 | 365 000 | 134 000 | 232 000 | 45.6 | 16.7 | 28.9 | 110.9 | 6.56 | 50.28 |
| 1979 | 8 243 000 | 378 000 | 136 000 | 242 000 | 45.8 | 16.5 | 29.3 | 109.4 | 6.61 | 50.58 |
| 1980 | 8 520 000 | 390 000 | 137 000 | 253 000 | 45.9 | 16.2 | 29.8 | 107.3 | 6.66 | 51.04 |
| 1981 | 8 829 000 | 407 000 | 139 000 | 267 000 | 46.1 | 15.8 | 30.3 | 104.6 | 6.64 | 51.52 |
| 1982 | 9 047 000 | 421 000 | 141 000 | 281 000 | 46.2 | 15.4 | 30.8 | 101.6 | 6.62 | 52.09 |
| 1983 | 9 241 000 | 422 000 | 138 000 | 284 000 | 45.6 | 14.9 | 30.7 | 98.3 | 6.61 | 52.76 |
| 1984 | 9 509 000 | 431 000 | 138 000 | 293 000 | 45.3 | 14.5 | 30.8 | 95.1 | 6.59 | 53.22 |
| 1985 | 9 804 000 | 444 000 | 138 000 | 306 000 | 45.2 | 14.0 | 31.2 | 92.0 | 6.58 | 53.90 |
| 1986 | 10 113 000 | 459 000 | 140 000 | 318 000 | 45.3 | 13.9 | 31.5 | 89.6 | 6.59 | 54.04 |
| 1987 | 10 434 000 | 471 000 | 140 000 | 332 000 | 45.2 | 13.4 | 31.8 | 87.2 | 6.56 | 54.72 |
| 1988 | 10 760 000 | 482 000 | 142 000 | 340 000 | 44.7 | 13.2 | 31.5 | 85.9 | 6.50 | 54.93 |
| 1989 | 11 089 000 | 492 000 | 145 000 | 347 000 | 44.4 | 13.1 | 31.3 | 85.3 | 6.44 | 54.95 |
| 1990 | 11 431 000 | 505 000 | 150 000 | 355 000 | 44.1 | 13.1 | 31.0 | 85.5 | 6.39 | 54.87 |
| 1991 | 11 778 000 | 517 000 | 155 000 | 362 000 | 43.9 | 13.2 | 30.7 | 86.3 | 6.35 | 54.66 |
| 1992 | 12 129 000 | 528 000 | 160 000 | 368 000 | 43.5 | 13.2 | 30.3 | 87.4 | 6.29 | 54.48 |
| 1993 | 12 487 000 | 538 000 | 167 000 | 372 000 | 43.1 | 13.4 | 29.7 | 88.7 | 6.19 | 54.06 |
| 1994 | 12 849 000 | 549 000 | 174 000 | 374 000 | 42.7 | 13.6 | 29.1 | 89.9 | 6.08 | 53.53 |
| 1995 | 13 212 000 | 556 000 | 180 000 | 376 000 | 42.1 | 13.6 | 28.5 | 90.7 | 5.96 | 53.22 |
| 1996 | 13 575 000 | 564 000 | 187 000 | 377 000 | 41.5 | 13.8 | 27.7 | 91.4 | 5.83 | 52.82 |
| 1997 | 13 941 000 | 573 000 | 191 000 | 382 000 | 41.1 | 13.7 | 27.4 | 91.6 | 5.72 | 52.74 |
| 1998 | 14 315 000 | 588 000 | 197 000 | 391 000 | 41.1 | 13.7 | 27.3 | 91.5 | 5.67 | 52.58 |
| 1999 | 14 699 000 | 607 000 | 200 000 | 407 000 | 41.3 | 13.6 | 27.7 | 90.6 | 5.63 | 52.70 |
| 2000 | 15 092 000 | 620 000 | 203 000 | 417 000 | 41.0 | 13.4 | 27.6 | 89.4 | 5.53 | 52.93 |
| 2001 | 15 493 000 | 632 000 | 205 000 | 427 000 | 40.8 | 13.2 | 27.5 | 87.9 | 5.44 | 53.14 |
| 2002 | 15 914 000 | 652 000 | 208 000 | 445 000 | 41.0 | 13.0 | 27.9 | 86.1 | 5.46 | 53.42 |
| 2003 | 16 354 000 | 674 000 | 209 000 | 465 000 | 41.2 | 12.8 | 28.4 | 84.3 | 5.46 | 53.88 |
| 2004 | 16 809 000 | 694 000 | 211 000 | 483 000 | 41.3 | 12.6 | 28.7 | 82.5 | 5.45 | 54.18 |
| 2005 | 17 275 000 | 711 000 | 215 000 | 496 000 | 41.1 | 12.4 | 28.7 | 80.8 | 5.41 | 54.36 |
| 2006 | 17 751 000 | 728 000 | 215 000 | 513 000 | 41.0 | 12.1 | 28.9 | 79.1 | 5.35 | 54.86 |
| 2007 | 18 252 000 | 745 000 | 217 000 | 528 000 | 40.8 | 11.9 | 28.9 | 77.4 | 5.33 | 55.17 |
| 2008 | 18 777 000 | 762 000 | 218 000 | 544 000 | 40.6 | 11.6 | 29.0 | 75.5 | 5.28 | 55.66 |
| 2009 | 19 319 000 | 779 000 | 218 000 | 561 000 | 40.3 | 11.3 | 29.0 | 73.7 | 5.23 | 56.10 |
| 2010 | 19 878 000 | 795 000 | 219 000 | 576 000 | 40.0 | 11.0 | 29.0 | 71.4 | 5.16 | 56.58 |
| 2011 | 20 449 000 | 805 000 | 218 000 | 588 000 | 39.4 | 10.6 | 28.7 | 69.1 | 5.06 | 57.13 |
| 2012 | 21 033 000 | 815 000 | 215 000 | 600 000 | 38.8 | 10.2 | 28.5 | 66.6 | 4.99 | 57.79 |
| 2013 | 21 633 000 | 827 000 | 213 000 | 615 000 | 38.2 | 9.8 | 28.4 | 64.0 | 4.91 | 58.48 |
| 2014 | 22 300 000 | 842 000 | 212 000 | 629 000 | 37.8 | 9.5 | 28.3 | 61.6 | 4.86 | 58.94 |
| 2015 | 23 013 000 | 869 000 | 211 000 | 658 000 | 37.8 | 9.2 | 28.6 | 59.1 | 4.83 | 59.66 |
| 2016 | 23 712 000 | 895 000 | 211 000 | 684 000 | 37.7 | 8.9 | 28.9 | 56.9 | 4.82 | 60.23 |
| 2017 | 24 393 000 | 913 000 | 210 000 | 703 000 | 37.4 | 8.6 | 28.8 | 54.8 | 4.77 | 60.81 |
| 2018 | 25 077 000 | 921 000 | 210 000 | 711 000 | 36.7 | 8.4 | 28.3 | 53.0 | 4.69 | 61.18 |
| 2019 | 25 506 000 | 923 000 | 208 000 | 715 000 | 36.2 | 8.2 | 28.0 | 53.3 | 4.65 | 61.7 |
| 2020 | 26 211 000 | 929 000 | 212 000 | 716 000 | 35.4 | 8.1 | 27.3 | 51.8 | 4.56 | 61.7 |
| 2021 | 26 916 000 | 936 000 | 222 000 | 714 000 | 34.8 | 8.3 | 26.5 | 59.3 | 4.47 | 61.1 |
| 2022 | 27 633 000 | 947 000 | 212 000 | 735 000 | 34.3 | 7.7 | 26.6 | 48.8 | 4.40 | 62.4 |
| 2023 | 28 373 000 | 957 000 | 203 000 | 755 000 | 33.7 | 7.2 | 26.6 | 47.4 | 4.32 | 63.7 |
| * CBR = crude birth rate (per 1,000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1,000); NC = natural change (per 1,000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1,000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman) |||||||||||

## Ethnic groups

* Cameroon Highlanders 31%
* Equatorial Bantu 19%
* Kirdi 11%
* Fulani 10%
* Baggara Arabs (also called Arab Shuwa)
* Hausa
* Mafa
* Kanuri
* Northwestern Bantu 8%
* Eastern Nigritic 7%
* Other African 13%
* Non-African less than 1%

## Languages

There are 24 major African language groups in Cameroon; additionally, English and French are official languages. Cameroonian Pidgin English is also widely spoken.
Peoples concentrated in the Southwest and Northwest Provinces—around Buea and Bamenda—use standard English and Cameroonian Pidgin English, as well as their local languages. In the three northern provinces—Adamawa, North, and Far North—either French or Fulfulde (the language of the Fulani) is widely spoken. Elsewhere, French is the principal second language, although pidgin and some local languages such as Ewondo, the dialect of a Beti clan from the Yaoundé area, have a wide currency. In Far North Region the northernmost constituent province of Cameroon, Mafa Language Arab Shuwa (an Arab dialect) and is spoken by the Baggara Arabs (also called Arab Shuwa).
Indigenous languages of Cameroon include:
* Arab Shuwa
* Bamum
* Basaa
* Bikya
* Bung
* Kanuri
* Ngumba
* Yeni
* Lamnso
* Meta'
* Mafa

## Religion

Roman Catholic 38.3%, Protestant 25.5%, other Christian 6.9%, Muslim 24.4%, animist 2.2%, other 0.5%, none 2.2% (2018 est.)