01
Physical geography
Diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north.
Local timeYaoundé ·
Africa / Middle Africa · Card 008
Cameroon
Cameroon is a country in Middle Africa. Its capital is Yaoundé.
Find Cameroon
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Yaoundé
- Languages
- English & French
- Currency
- Central African CFA franc (XAF)
- Population
- 29.9 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 475,442 km²183,569 square miles
- Independence
- 1960
Cameroon in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Yaoundé; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include English, French.
03
Location
Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria.
Flag
Three equal vertical bands of green (left side), red, and yellow, with a small five-pointed yellow star centered in the red band
History & independence
French-administered Cameroon became independent on 1 January 1960. In UN-supervised plebiscites in 1961, the southern part of British Cameroons chose to join Cameroon, while the northern part joined Nigeria. A federal arrangement was replaced by a unitary state in 1972.
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French-administered Cameroon becomes independent
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Southern Cameroons joins the republic
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A unitary state replaces the federation
Economy
Main activities
Agriculture, petroleum, timber and services all contribute to production. Cocoa, coffee and other crops support rural livelihoods; ports connect Cameroon and neighboring landlocked countries to international trade.
Industry and production
petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people29.92025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 6,449,793 | 6.450 |
| 1980 | 8,512,219 | 8.512 |
| 1990 | 11,331,821 | 11.332 |
| 2000 | 14,912,631 | 14.913 |
| 2010 | 19,668,066 | 19.668 |
| 2020 | 26,210,558 | 26.211 |
| 2025 | 29,879,337 | 29.879 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars44.52025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15,416,689,238 | 15.417 |
| 1991 | 14,829,529,308 | 14.830 |
| 1992 | 14,369,813,424 | 14.370 |
| 1993 | 13,229,990,256 | 13.230 |
| 1994 | 13,478,291,934 | 13.478 |
| 1995 | 13,868,353,888 | 13.868 |
| 1996 | 14,452,915,010 | 14.453 |
| 1997 | 15,107,243,821 | 15.107 |
| 1998 | 15,821,141,893 | 15.821 |
| 1999 | 16,534,881,735 | 16.535 |
| 2000 | 17,168,567,485 | 17.169 |
| 2001 | 17,910,981,186 | 17.911 |
| 2002 | 18,712,860,619 | 18.713 |
| 2003 | 19,733,301,669 | 19.733 |
| 2004 | 21,124,275,033 | 21.124 |
| 2005 | 21,594,980,960 | 21.595 |
| 2006 | 22,417,659,743 | 22.418 |
| 2007 | 23,387,803,923 | 23.388 |
| 2008 | 24,053,813,244 | 24.054 |
| 2009 | 24,674,221,649 | 24.674 |
| 2010 | 25,389,533,435 | 25.390 |
| 2011 | 26,247,499,414 | 26.247 |
| 2012 | 27,461,703,152 | 27.462 |
| 2013 | 28,833,560,541 | 28.834 |
| 2014 | 30,482,787,768 | 30.483 |
| 2015 | 32,210,233,020 | 32.210 |
| 2016 | 33,671,222,913 | 33.671 |
| 2017 | 34,863,580,363 | 34.864 |
| 2018 | 36,242,614,249 | 36.243 |
| 2019 | 37,502,066,833 | 37.502 |
| 2020 | 37,599,547,049 | 37.600 |
| 2021 | 38,854,942,335 | 38.855 |
| 2022 | 40,306,867,605 | 40.307 |
| 2023 | 41,656,165,354 | 41.656 |
| 2024 | 43,124,429,829 | 43.124 |
| 2025 | 44,504,411,651 | 44.504 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.588Medium human developmentRank 155 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.448
20000.439
20100.529
20200.579
20230.588
63.7 yearsLife expectancy at birth
6.6 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. Parlement - Parliament has two chambers (a bicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Cameroon.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
How many chambers does Cameroon’s national parliament have?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.