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Population in Cameroon compared to China: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 1,408,975,000 people in China in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 1,402,578,808 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 45.4 times bigger than Cameroon's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
  • The countries together account for 17.3% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 16.9% for China.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +0.3% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (6.98% growth).

Cameroon vs China: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon China
2100 89,781,496 633,320,628
2099 89,255,966 643,959,697
2098 88,720,337 654,691,595
2097 88,168,066 665,517,335
2096 87,604,050 676,438,150
2095 87,032,145 687,457,915
2094 86,441,720 698,589,897
2093 85,842,389 709,852,629
2092 85,235,505 721,251,520
2091 84,610,360 732,791,748
2090 83,973,967 744,501,355
2089 83,322,813 756,404,299
2088 82,662,944 768,478,316
2087 81,989,354 780,707,622
2086 81,310,407 793,081,006
2085 80,614,775 805,608,315
2084 79,910,947 818,268,277
2083 79,192,092 830,972,107
2082 78,464,535 843,721,746
2081 77,723,079 856,534,631
2080 76,963,821 869,351,919
2079 76,202,603 882,146,959
2078 75,431,803 894,889,246
2077 74,649,057 907,592,919
2076 73,862,841 920,280,380
2075 73,062,202 932,956,157
2074 72,248,179 945,631,173
2073 71,432,221 958,352,980
2072 70,603,305 971,115,895
2071 69,771,981 983,938,054
2070 68,936,208 996,853,418
2069 68,095,292 1,009,905,851
2068 67,251,348 1,023,081,790
2067 66,399,507 1,036,420,010
2066 65,539,313 1,049,887,382
2065 64,675,474 1,063,477,623
2064 63,807,579 1,077,206,695
2063 62,939,156 1,090,982,303
2062 62,065,714 1,104,833,556
2061 61,188,220 1,118,682,849
2060 60,302,920 1,132,504,136
2059 59,413,352 1,146,199,736
2058 58,519,385 1,159,714,746
2057 57,622,572 1,172,963,523
2056 56,730,793 1,185,938,083
2055 55,837,458 1,198,550,408
2054 54,935,159 1,210,749,681
2053 54,032,780 1,222,500,569
2052 53,122,812 1,233,808,926
2051 52,215,921 1,244,584,333
2050 51,314,050 1,254,824,040
2049 50,406,453 1,264,598,914
2048 49,501,629 1,273,885,471
2047 48,593,064 1,282,701,271
2046 47,688,721 1,291,133,690
2045 46,789,773 1,299,154,327
2044 45,890,362 1,306,805,350
2043 44,999,297 1,314,176,710
2042 44,103,714 1,321,319,298
2041 43,204,033 1,328,219,755
2040 42,316,677 1,334,857,481
2039 41,430,803 1,341,265,381
2038 40,554,253 1,347,407,165
2037 39,682,947 1,353,377,505
2036 38,815,989 1,359,133,287
2035 37,963,436 1,364,651,508
2034 37,116,013 1,369,940,557
2033 36,279,025 1,375,003,005
2032 35,446,827 1,379,784,204
2031 34,626,572 1,384,301,522
2030 33,811,853 1,388,520,533
2029 33,009,874 1,392,490,007
2028 32,213,983 1,396,163,778
2027 31,428,884 1,399,515,824
2026 30,654,707 1,402,578,808
2025 29,885,995 1,405,826,385
2024 29,123,744 1,408,975,000
2023 28,372,687 1,410,710,000
2022 27,632,771 1,412,175,000
2021 26,915,758 1,412,360,000
2020 26,210,558 1,411,100,000
2019 25,506,095 1,407,745,000
2018 24,806,383 1,402,760,000
2017 24,128,601 1,396,215,000
2016 23,454,161 1,387,790,000
2015 22,763,414 1,379,860,000
2014 22,059,893 1,371,860,000
2013 21,402,376 1,363,240,000
2012 20,809,529 1,354,190,000
2011 20,232,304 1,345,035,000
2010 19,668,066 1,337,705,000
2009 19,113,974 1,331,260,000
2008 18,574,056 1,324,655,000
2007 18,049,896 1,317,885,000
2006 17,550,407 1,311,020,000
2005 17,074,594 1,303,720,000
2004 16,610,487 1,296,075,000
2003 16,160,340 1,288,400,000
2002 15,725,528 1,280,400,000
2001 15,309,490 1,271,850,000
2000 14,912,631 1,262,645,000
1999 14,525,140 1,252,735,000
1998 14,144,860 1,241,935,000
1997 13,775,214 1,230,075,000
1996 13,414,757 1,217,550,000
1995 13,058,516 1,204,855,000
1994 12,704,903 1,191,835,000
1993 12,353,131 1,178,440,000
1992 12,006,353 1,164,970,000
1991 11,667,180 1,150,780,000
1990 11,331,821 1,135,185,000
1989 11,002,745 1,118,650,000
1988 10,684,968 1,101,630,000
1987 10,370,749 1,084,035,000
1986 10,060,342 1,066,790,000
1985 9,761,730 1,051,040,000
1984 9,475,078 1,036,825,000
1983 9,215,397 1,023,310,000
1982 9,028,678 1,008,630,000
1981 8,816,377 993,885,000
1980 8,512,219 981,235,000
1979 8,239,641 969,005,000
1978 8,011,921 956,165,000
1977 7,796,501 943,455,000
1976 7,597,962 930,685,000
1975 7,397,120 916,395,000
1974 7,193,583 900,350,000
1973 6,996,660 881,940,000
1972 6,806,872 862,030,000
1971 6,624,408 841,105,000
1970 6,449,793 818,315,000
1969 6,283,462 796,025,000
1968 6,125,863 774,510,000
1967 5,977,318 754,550,000
1966 5,837,295 735,400,000
1965 5,704,686 715,185,000
1964 5,578,257 698,355,000
1963 5,456,623 682,335,000
1962 5,338,620 665,770,000
1961 5,239,273 660,330,000
1960 5,159,057 667,070,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/china | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while China's population increased by 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 66.3% to 51,314,050 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon China
2100 0.59% -1.65%
2099 0.6% -1.64%
2098 0.63% -1.63%
2097 0.64% -1.61%
2096 0.66% -1.6%
2095 0.68% -1.59%
2094 0.7% -1.59%
2093 0.71% -1.58%
2092 0.74% -1.57%
2091 0.76% -1.57%
2090 0.78% -1.57%
2089 0.8% -1.57%
2088 0.82% -1.57%
2087 0.84% -1.56%
2086 0.86% -1.56%
2085 0.88% -1.55%
2084 0.91% -1.53%
2083 0.93% -1.51%
2082 0.95% -1.5%
2081 0.99% -1.47%
2080 1% -1.45%
2079 1.02% -1.42%
2078 1.05% -1.4%
2077 1.06% -1.38%
2076 1.1% -1.36%
2075 1.13% -1.34%
2074 1.14% -1.33%
2073 1.17% -1.31%
2072 1.19% -1.3%
2071 1.21% -1.3%
2070 1.23% -1.29%
2069 1.25% -1.29%
2068 1.28% -1.29%
2067 1.31% -1.28%
2066 1.34% -1.28%
2065 1.36% -1.27%
2064 1.38% -1.26%
2063 1.41% -1.25%
2062 1.43% -1.24%
2061 1.47% -1.22%
2060 1.5% -1.19%
2059 1.53% -1.17%
2058 1.56% -1.13%
2057 1.57% -1.09%
2056 1.6% -1.05%
2055 1.64% -1.01%
2054 1.67% -0.96%
2053 1.71% -0.92%
2052 1.74% -0.87%
2051 1.76% -0.82%
2050 1.8% -0.77%
2049 1.83% -0.73%
2048 1.87% -0.69%
2047 1.9% -0.65%
2046 1.92% -0.62%
2045 1.96% -0.59%
2044 1.98% -0.56%
2043 2.03% -0.54%
2042 2.08% -0.52%
2041 2.1% -0.5%
2040 2.14% -0.48%
2039 2.16% -0.46%
2038 2.2% -0.44%
2037 2.23% -0.42%
2036 2.25% -0.4%
2035 2.28% -0.39%
2034 2.31% -0.37%
2033 2.35% -0.35%
2032 2.37% -0.33%
2031 2.41% -0.3%
2030 2.43% -0.29%
2029 2.47% -0.26%
2028 2.5% -0.24%
2027 2.53% -0.22%
2026 2.57% -0.23%
2025 2.62% -0.22%
2024 2.65% -0.12%
2023 2.68% -0.1%
2022 2.66% -0.01%
2021 2.69% 0.09%
2020 2.76% 0.24%
2019 2.82% 0.36%
2018 2.81% 0.47%
2017 2.88% 0.61%
2016 3.03% 0.57%
2015 3.19% 0.58%
2014 3.07% 0.63%
2013 2.85% 0.67%
2012 2.85% 0.68%
2011 2.87% 0.55%
2010 2.9% 0.48%
2009 2.91% 0.5%
2008 2.9% 0.51%
2007 2.85% 0.52%
2006 2.79% 0.56%
2005 2.79% 0.59%
2004 2.79% 0.6%
2003 2.77% 0.62%
2002 2.72% 0.67%
2001 2.66% 0.73%
2000 2.67% 0.79%
1999 2.69% 0.87%
1998 2.68% 0.96%
1997 2.69% 1.03%
1996 2.73% 1.05%
1995 2.78% 1.09%
1994 2.85% 1.14%
1993 2.89% 1.16%
1992 2.91% 1.23%
1991 2.96% 1.37%
1990 2.99% 1.48%
1989 2.97% 1.54%
1988 3.03% 1.62%
1987 3.09% 1.62%
1986 3.06% 1.5%
1985 3.03% 1.37%
1984 2.82% 1.32%
1983 2.07% 1.46%
1982 2.41% 1.48%
1981 3.57% 1.29%
1980 3.31% 1.26%
1979 2.84% 1.34%
1978 2.76% 1.35%
1977 2.61% 1.37%
1976 2.72% 1.56%
1975 2.83% 1.78%
1974 2.81% 2.09%
1973 2.79% 2.31%
1972 2.75% 2.49%
1971 2.71% 2.78%
1970 2.65% 2.8%
1969 2.57% 2.78%
1968 2.49% 2.65%
1967 2.4% 2.6%
1966 2.32% 2.83%
1965 2.27% 2.41%
1964 2.23% 2.35%
1963 2.21% 2.49%
1962 1.9% 0.82%
1961 1.55% -1.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/china | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while China's population declined by 0.12%.

Live population counters

Cameroon China
Current population
30864115
1402578808
Population rank 51/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 16.9%
One net population change
42 seconds
18.2 seconds
One birth every
32.9 seconds
3.5 seconds
One death every
2.59 minutes
2.84 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,058 -4,753
Annual growth/decline +751,057 -1,735,000
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% -0.12%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 173/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
1.97 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 -268,126
Net migration rank 146/196 189/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 1,638,718
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 43/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 192/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
China
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon China
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -268,126
2024 - -13,892 - -318,992
2023 754,486 -4,798 -2,087,851 -567,724
2022 734,893 -4,798 -847,305 -293,846
2021 713,806 -9,888 480,203 -379,749
2020 716,361 -9,888 2,046,095 -91,577
2019 714,681 -12,255 4,673,713 -656,091
2018 706,188 -9,184 5,302,433 -198,206
2017 696,496 -37,912 7,790,880 -94,625
2016 677,051 13,255 9,062,269 -153,056
2015 649,190 42,008 6,788,911 -646,941
2014 619,243 96,599 9,205,180 -371,108
2013 606,072 -6,900 8,043,116 -188,951
2012 594,029 -7,523 10,075,174 -58,864
2011 580,607 -12,669 8,245,065 -416,189
2010 569,921 -9,366 6,407,607 -184,144
2009 557,841 -10,203 6,483,236 -177,135
2008 542,919 -10,720 6,729,247 -764,370
2007 526,949 -10,807 6,813,465 -1,042,019
2006 511,366 -28,528 6,922,185 -759,559
2005 496,547 -27,775 7,678,911 -103,701
2004 478,880 -19,444 7,607,960 -770,977
2003 459,422 -18,568 7,743,284 -613,223
2002 439,544 -10,766 8,258,580 -761,291
2001 422,511 -19,203 8,839,358 -176,419
2000 411,633 -21,221 9,570,849 -62,622
1999 401,969 -17,398 10,247,372 -96,102
1998 388,432 -12,446 11,351,286 -40,472
1997 377,138 -13,842 12,374,554 -279,251
1996 370,355 -12,738 12,686,872 -250,750
1995 367,532 -12,661 12,711,220 -365,986
1994 364,390 -12,028 13,360,470 -723,641
1993 360,785 -9,601 13,493,138 -373,316
1992 356,072 -13,702 13,548,601 -142,985
1991 350,493 -14,520 14,937,124 -544,650
1990 342,901 -8,163 16,335,313 -11,187
1989 334,649 -11,244 16,824,495 -313,476
1988 328,168 -16,016 17,328,640 -282,194
1987 320,134 -3,829 18,005,821 -169,170
1986 308,188 -3,671 16,609,920 -79,190
1985 296,317 -3,604 14,987,830 -60,929
1984 284,110 -3,512 13,561,671 -51,961
1983 276,112 -37,346 13,599,789 -43,756
1982 274,652 -139,974 15,815,318 -36,181
1981 262,076 27,845 14,461,027 -28,016
1980 247,808 70,589 11,647,260 -20,129
1979 238,875 -12,108 11,250,148 -13,704
1978 229,958 -1,282 11,473,980 -9,916
1977 222,785 -20,622 11,378,068 -15,323
1976 214,916 -19,994 11,782,472 -55,109
1975 206,986 -237 14,378,237 -115,173
1974 200,693 -377 15,738,118 -175,239
1973 193,997 -466 18,423,727 -214,997
1972 186,521 -473 19,102,585 -215,650
1971 179,317 -439 19,622,980 -180,153
1970 170,713 -367 21,137,076 -126,510
1969 162,603 -286 20,760,332 -72,836
1968 153,080 -204 21,206,083 -37,290
1967 144,370 -148 19,263,662 1,246,654
1966 135,927 -96 19,282,187 4,165
1965 129,428 -39 20,296,950 -130,900
1964 123,469 0 19,302,532 -1,250,441
1963 119,784 0 22,742,225 -31,383
1962 116,232 0 17,969,132 -31,305
1961 82,471 0 2,496,047 -25,578
1960 77,948 0 -3,048,510 -16,927

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/china | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 6,982,395 people) and 0.9% is from migration (a gain of 63,139 people). In China 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/china | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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