Cameroon
Region
🌍 Africa
Population
👥 29
Currency
💱 Central African CFA franc
Languages
🗣️ English, French
This mark means a fact is linked to a checked source. Hover or tap it to see the source. 36 of 141 facts on this page are sourced.
Official NameSource: REST Countries
Republic of Cameroon
Continent
Africa
DemonymSource: REST Countries
Cameroonian
Independence
January 1, 1960 (from France)
Top-Level Domain
.cm
Calling CodeSource: REST Countries
+237
Time ZoneSource: REST Countries
UTC+01:00
Capital CitySource: REST Countries
Yaoundé
ISO Alpha-2
CM
ISO Alpha-3
CMR
UN Code
120
Geographic Coordinates
6,12
Area (km²)Source: REST Countries
475,442#54 of 249
PopulationSource: REST Countries
29,442,327#51 of 247
Population Density (per km²)
60.02
Highest Point (m)
4,070 meters (Mount Cameroon)
Lowest Point (m)
Sea level (Atlantic Ocean)
Land Use
Agricultural land, forests, and other uses.
Irrigated Land
Data on irrigated land is variable and subject to change.
Coastline Length
Approximately 402 kilometers.
Climate
Tropical; hot and humid; varies with terrain.
Natural Resources
Petroleum, timber, bauxite, iron ore, and hydropower.
Bordering CountriesSource: REST Countries
Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria
Major Rivers
Sanaga River, Wouri River, and Benue River.
Major Lakes
Lake Chad (shared with other countries) and Lake Ossa.
Government Type
Republic
Administrative Divisions
10 regions
Legal System
Based on French civil law system.
Chief of State
President Paul Biya
Head of Government
Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute
Cabinet
Council of Ministers is appointed by the President.
Elections
Presidential elections are held every seven years.
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court, courts of appeal, and courts of first instance.
Legislative Branch
Parliament (National Assembly and Senate)
Major Political Parties
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) and Social Democratic Front (SDF).
CurrencySource: REST Countries
Central African CFA franc
GDP, Nominal (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: GDP (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
58.93#93 of 211
GDP, PPP (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: GDP, PPP (current international $) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
172.94#86 of 201
GDP per Capita (US$)Source: World Bank: GDP per capita (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
1,972.38#174 of 211
GDP - Agriculture (%)Source: World Bank: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
16.85
GDP - Industry (%)Source: World Bank: Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
24.77
GDP - Services (%)Source: World Bank: Services, value added (% of GDP) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
50.36
Inflation Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
3.4#83 of 191
Labor Force (people)Source: World Bank: Labor force, total (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
11,466,010
Unemployment Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
3.6#125 of 185
Public Debt (% of GDP)Source: World Bank: Central government debt, total (% of GDP) (1999)Checked September 29, 2026
79.46
Budget
Revenues: $5.2 billion; Expenditures: $5.8 billion (2017 est.)
Exports (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: Exports of goods and services (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
7.71#119 of 192
Imports (US$ billion)Source: World Bank: Imports of goods and services (current US$) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
11.96#118 of 192
Foreign Reserves
Approximately $2.5 billion (2021 est.)
Currency Exchange
Currency exchange rates can be found on major financial websites and banks.
GDP by Sector
Agriculture: 19.3%, Industry: 29.5%, Services: 51.2% (2020 est.)
Major Industries
Petroleum production, aluminum, food processing, consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair.
Major Export Partners
Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, China.
Major Import Partners
France, Nigeria, China, Belgium, United States.
Society
Literacy Rate (%)Source: World Bank: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) (2018)Checked September 29, 2026
72.55#133 of 169
Birth Rate (per 1,000 people)Source: World Bank: Birth rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
33.3
Death Rate (per 1,000 people)Source: World Bank: Death rate, crude (per 1,000 people) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
7
Net Migration Rate
-0.2 migrant(s) per 1,000 population (2022 est.)
Median Age
19.2 years (2020 est.)
Urban Population (%)Source: World Bank: Urban population (% of total population) (2025)Checked September 29, 2026
55.67#142 of 214
Urbanization Rate
3.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Life Expectancy (years)Source: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, total (years) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
64#191 of 214
HIV/AIDS Prevalence
3.3% (2021 est.)
Health Expenditures (% of GDP)Source: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP) (2023)Checked September 29, 2026
4.55
Ethnic Groups
Cameroonian Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African 1%.
Religions
Christian 67.3%, Muslim 24.3%, other 1.8%, none 6.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2018 est.)
LanguagesSource: REST Countries
English, French
Education
Education System
The education system is structured with primary, secondary, and higher education. There's a mix of public and private schools, with French and English as official languages affecting the language of instruction.
School Life Expectancy (years)Source: World Bank: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (2016)Checked September 29, 2026
12.1
Government Education Spending
Government spending on education is a significant portion of the budget, but funding levels are often insufficient to meet demands.
Primary Education Access
—
Secondary Education Access
—
Higher Education Access
—
Major Universities
Major universities include the University of Yaoundé I, University of Yaoundé II, and the University of Buea.
Culture
Cultural Overview
Cameroon's culture is diverse, with over 200 ethnic groups, each with its own traditions and languages. The country is often referred to as 'Africa in miniature' due to its cultural and geographical diversity.
National HolidaysSource: Nager.Date
- New Year's Day (2026-01-01)
- Youth Day (2026-02-11)
- Good Friday (2026-04-03)
- Labour Day (2026-05-01)
- Ascension Day (2026-05-14)
- National Day (2026-05-20)
- Assumption Day (2026-08-15)
- Christmas Day (2026-12-25)
Popular Music
Popular music genres include Makossa, Bikutsi, and Afrobeat.
Traditional Food
Traditional foods include Ndole, a stew made with bitter leaves, and Fufu corn.
Sports
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport. Cameroon has a strong footballing history.
Major Festivals
Major festivals include the Ngondo Festival and the Foumban cultural festival.
Famous People
Famous people include Samuel Eto'o, Manu Dibango, and Francis Bebey.
Cultural Heritage Sites
Cameroon has a rich cultural heritage with various traditional sites.
UNESCO Sites
Cameroon has UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Dja Faunal Reserve.
Annual Tourist Visits
—
Tourism Overview
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Top Tourist Attractions
—
Famous Cities
—
National Parks
—
Protected Areas
—
Best Time to Visit
—
Tourist Visa Info
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Visa Requirements Overview
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Travel Advisory
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Healthcare
Healthcare Quality
The healthcare quality index is moderate; access and quality vary.
Medical Cost
Medical costs vary, but can be high, particularly for specialized care. Public healthcare is available, but often under-resourced.
Number of Hospitals
There are numerous hospitals and clinics; exact numbers vary and can be difficult to ascertain.
Universal Healthcare
Cameroon's healthcare system is a mix of public and private providers, with limited universal coverage. Access to quality healthcare is a challenge, particularly in rural areas.
Medical Services Overview
Medical services range from public to private, with hospitals and clinics. Access to specialized care is limited in some areas.
Emergency Medical Access
Emergency services are available, but response times and resources can vary significantly depending on location.
Emergency & Safety
Emergency Number (Police)
—
Emergency Number (Ambulance)
—
Emergency Number (Fire)
—
Crime Rate
—
Safety Index
—
Military Expenditure
—
Emergency Services Overview
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Safety Overview
—
Military Branches
—
Infrastructure
Electricity Access
—
Water Access
—
Sanitation Access
—
Railways
Cameroon has a railway system that connects major cities, but it's limited in scope and requires upgrades.
Roadways
—
Transportation System
The transportation system includes roads, railways, and air travel. Road infrastructure varies in quality.
AirportsSource: OurAirports
Douala International Airport (DLA), Garoua International Airport (GOU), Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport (NSI), Bafoussam Airport (BFX), Bamenda Airport (BPC), Foumban Nkounja Airport (FOM)
Ports
—
Public Transit
—
Technology & Communication
Internet Penetration (%)Source: World Bank: Individuals using the Internet (% of population) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
46.26#163 of 211
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100)
—
Tech Startups
—
Innovation Index
—
ICT Development Index
—
TV Broadcast Stations
—
Radio Broadcast Stations
—
Plug Type & Voltage
—
CO2 Emissions (t per capita)Source: World Bank: Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions excluding LULUCF per capita (t CO2e/capita) (2024)Checked September 29, 2026
0.35#168 of 202
Air Quality Index
—
Water Pollution Level
—
Renewable Energy Usage
—
Environmental Issues
—
Natural Hazards
—
Waste Management
—
Environmental Agreements
—
UN MembershipSource: REST Countries
Yes
Diplomatic Missions
—
International OrganizationsSource: REST Countries
Commonwealth, African Union
Major Treaties
—
Visa-Free Countries
—