Population in largest city in Cameroon
Cameroon: Population in largest city was 4.85 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
4.85 million
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
43rd
of 153 countries
All-time high
4.85 million
in 2025
All-time low
152,612
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Cameroon, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 4.85 million for population in largest city in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 56.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Cameroon peaked at 4.85 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 152,612, in 1960.
Cameroon ranks 43rd of 153 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 152,612 | — |
| 1961 | 161,214 | +5.6% |
| 1962 | 170,313 | +5.6% |
| 1963 | 179,927 | +5.6% |
| 1964 | 190,097 | +5.7% |
| 1965 | 204,834 | +7.8% |
| 1966 | 220,736 | +7.8% |
| 1967 | 237,873 | +7.8% |
| 1968 | 256,366 | +7.8% |
| 1969 | 276,241 | +7.8% |
| 1970 | 297,687 | +7.8% |
| 1971 | 320,797 | +7.8% |
| 1972 | 345,738 | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 372,541 | +7.8% |
| 1974 | 401,463 | +7.8% |
| 1975 | 432,630 | +7.8% |
| 1976 | 463,848 | +7.2% |
| 1977 | 488,495 | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 514,489 | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 541,866 | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 570,741 | +5.3% |
| 1981 | 601,068 | +5.3% |
| 1982 | 633,052 | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 666,739 | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 702,267 | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 739,584 | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 778,939 | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 819,198 | +5.2% |
| 1988 | 857,837 | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 898,184 | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 940,489 | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 984,786 | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 1.03 million | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 1.08 million | +4.7% |
| 1994 | 1.13 million | +4.7% |
| 1995 | 1.18 million | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 1.24 million | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 1.30 million | +4.7% |
| 1998 | 1.36 million | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 1.42 million | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 1.49 million | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 1.56 million | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 1.63 million | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 1.71 million | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 1.79 million | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 1.88 million | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 1.96 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 2.06 million | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 2.15 million | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 2.25 million | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 2.36 million | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 2.48 million | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 2.62 million | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 2.77 million | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 2.93 million | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 3.10 million | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 3.27 million | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 3.46 million | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 3.66 million | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 3.82 million | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 3.99 million | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 4.16 million | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 4.34 million | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 4.51 million | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 4.68 million | +3.8% |
| 2025 | 4.85 million | +3.7% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 4.85 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.61 million, 1.9× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 4.85 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.18 million, 2.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 205,021 | 152,612 | 276,241 | 10 |
| 1970s | 417,955 | 297,687 | 541,866 | 10 |
| 1980s | 726,761 | 570,741 | 898,184 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.17 million | 940,489 | 1.42 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.85 million | 1.49 million | 2.25 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.05 million | 2.36 million | 3.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.42 million | 3.99 million | 4.85 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More urban development data for Cameroon
- Population in the largest city 29.2% (2025)
- Population density 60.02 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.3079 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 9.20 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 18.13 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.2 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 73.21 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Cameroon?
- Population in largest city in Cameroon was 4.85 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 4.85 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 152,612 in 1960.
- How does Cameroon rank for population in largest city?
- Cameroon ranks 43rd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.