Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
603,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.cm
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
46.26% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2024 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
67,500 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
108 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
31.5 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, maize, taro, tomatoes, sorghum, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
2.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
45.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$7.624 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$6.385 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$1.128 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.402 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$1.174 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$1.037 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$949.8 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.409 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.695 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$1.512 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.794 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$1.505 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$2.019 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$1.750 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$15.123 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$11.112 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
493.900 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
493.757 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
591.212 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
592.606 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
580.657 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
555.446 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
585.911 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
623.760 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
606.570 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, cocoa beans, wood (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$7.422 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$8.591 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$6.761 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$6.408 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$6.624 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$7.486 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$7.874 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$6.212 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$7.447 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$8.641 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$8.353 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$8.353 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
14.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
10.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
74.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-21.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
21.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
17.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
25.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
49.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$5,589 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$51.327 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$162.772 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
42.2 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
31.1% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.1% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
garments, refined petroleum, plastic products, wheat, rice (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$6.841 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$7.908 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$7.334 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$7.526 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$8.731 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$9.333 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$7.544 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$9.025 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$9.759 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$10.294 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$9.982 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
1.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
2.68% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.87% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
0.64% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.07% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.45% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2.44% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.27% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.25% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
7.38% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.53% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
11.119 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
37.70% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$75.495 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$79.619 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$85.068 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$90.903 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$108.174 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$114.421 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$129.022 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$133.843 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$138.191 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$143.264 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
5.67% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.54% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.54% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.96% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
3.48% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
0.26% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
3.34% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.74% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.35% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.52% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$3,422 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$3,498 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$3,627 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$3,767 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$4,241 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$4,365 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$4,794 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$5,189 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$5,411 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$244.1 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$283.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$241.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$334.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$690.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$3.536 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$2.226 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$3.197 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$3.459 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$3.720 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$3.962 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$4.3 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$5.133 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$4.882 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$5.062 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
11.3% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.63% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
3.88% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.98% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.65% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.61% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.60% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
6.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
5.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
6.2% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
25%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
71% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
94%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
36.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
63.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
6.161 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
60 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
1.798 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
2.238 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
4.271 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
534.691 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
1.821 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
2.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
135.071 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
200 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
200 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
1.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
5.658 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
6.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; poaching; overfishing; overhunting
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
20.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
41% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
38.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
278.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
293.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
24 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
166.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
283.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
737 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
104.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
246.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
55.40% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
3.271 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
4.6% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania
Geography: Area: land
472,710 sq km
Geography: Area: water
2,730 sq km
Geography: Coastline
402 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
667 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
6 00 N, 12 00 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
290 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
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
Geography: Land boundaries: total
5,018 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
20.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
41% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
38.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Lake Chad Basin
Geography: 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: 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
Geography: Population distribution
population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Government: Administrative divisions
10 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extrême-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)
Government: Capital: etymology
Germans founded the city in 1888, but the name comes from the native Ewondo people; the meaning of the name is unclear
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
3 52 N, 11 31 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Cameroon
Government: Country name: 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"
Government: Country name: former
Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
Government: Country name: local long form
République du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)
Government: Country name: local short form
Cameroun/Cameroon
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: branch office(s)
Douala
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
YaoundeACS@state.gov https://cm.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[237] 22251-4000, Ext. 4531
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[237] 22251-4000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
mail@cameroonembassyusa Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 387-3826
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 265-8790
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
October 2032
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
12 October 2025
Government: 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: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
February 2026
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
3/12/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
180 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC/CPDM) (152); Other (28)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
33.9%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Sénat - Senate)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
March 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
33%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parlement - Parliament
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1957; lyrics were changed slightly to the current version in 1978
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME
Government: National color(s)
green, red, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Dja Faunal Reserve (n); Sangha Trinational Forest (n); Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (two natural and one cultural)
Government: National holiday
State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
20 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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 and Security: 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: 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 (Délégation Générale à la Sûreté Nationale or DGSN): Cameroon Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 40-50,000 active FAC, including the Gendarmerie (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
750 (plus about 400 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.10% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.15% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.14% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.08% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.06% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.96% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.99% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.94% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.93% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.01% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
41.5% (male 6,477,438/female 6,364,987)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
55.3% (male 8,488,522/female 8,638,519)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.2% (2024 est.) (male 463,628/female 533,011)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
1.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
30.79 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
2.9% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
10.7% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
29.8% (2018)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.55% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58.1% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
17.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
77.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
71.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 69.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 30.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
13.8% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.84% (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.91 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.8% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
2.50% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
41.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
50.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
40.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
People and Society: Languages: 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)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
66.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
61.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
66.2% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
79.7% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
72.55% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
4.509 million YAOUNDE (capital), 4.063 million Douala (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
258 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
19.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
18.6 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.1 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Cameroonian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
11.4% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
29,123,744 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.61% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
15,835,343
People and Society: Population: male
15,683,611
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 60.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 39.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
10 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.98 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
9.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.26 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
55.40% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
1,058,405 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
443,740 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
37 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TJ
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 2, general cargo 91, oil tanker 42, other 63
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
198 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Douala, Ebome Marine Terminal, Kole Oil Terminal, Kome Kribi 1 Marine Terminal, Kribi Deep Sea Port, Limboh Terminal, Moudi Marine Terminal
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
1
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
7 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
5
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
987 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.