Cameroon

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic and linguistic composition
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services, labor, and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Early history
- German Kamerun (1884–1916)
- British Cameroons (1916–61) and French Cameroun (1916–60)
- Moving toward independence
- Ahidjo presidency (1960–82)
- Cameroon under Biya (1982– )
  - Transition
  - Consolidation and challenge
  - Crisis in the Anglophone regions and the 2018 election
  - An aging president, transition concerns, and the 2025 election

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images

Bamenda highlands

Physical features of Cameroon

Cameroon: Mandara Mountains

Cameroon: rainforest

European roller

For Students

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Cameroon summary

Cameroon: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 24, 2025

News •

Ivory Coast starts Africa Cup title defense with a win as proud dad Zidane sees Algeria beat Sudan • Dec. 24, 2025, 5:13 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	République du Cameroun • Kameroon • Republic of Cameroon • Kamerun
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Joseph Dion Ngute
Capital	Yaoundé
Population	(2026 est.) 28,629,000
Head Of State	President: Paul Biya
Form Of Government	unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Senate [100]¹; National Assembly [180])
Official Languages	French; English
Official Religion	none
Official Name	République du Cameroun (French); Republic of Cameroon (English)
Total Area (Sq Km)	466,050
Total Area (Sq Mi)	179,942
Monetary Unit	CFA franc (CFAF)
Population Rank	(2025) 54
Population Projection 2030	31,355,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 159.1
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 61.4
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 59.9% • Rural: (2024) 40.1%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2018) 58 years • Female: (2018) 60 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2020) 83% • Female: (2020) 73%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2023) 47,905
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2023) 1,690
¹Thirty seats are appointed by the president, and 70 seats are indirectly elected; the Senate was provided for under the constitutional revision of 1996 but was not formed until 2013.

Photos

Bamenda highlands

Physical features of Cameroon

Cameroon: Mandara Mountains

Cameroon: rainforest

European roller

National anthem of Cameroon

See All Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

Paul Biya Ahmadou Ahidjo Ferdinand Léopold Oyono Gustav Nachtigal Alfred Saker Africa western Africa nation-state Commonwealth Douala United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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African art: Cameroon grasslands

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