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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,879,337 in 2025 vs 135,472,051 people in Ethiopia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 31,045,453 people compared to 140,722,974 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 4.53 times bigger than Cameroon's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 2.07% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.8% per year vs +2.69% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 31M (76.9% growth), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 141M (74.4% growth).

Cameroon vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Ethiopia
2100 89,761,493 371,078,260
2099 89,236,081 369,338,252
2098 88,700,571 367,513,542
2097 88,148,423 365,567,496
2096 87,584,533 363,536,294
2095 87,012,755 361,596,042
2094 86,422,461 359,531,317
2093 85,823,264 357,460,480
2092 85,216,516 355,389,829
2091 84,591,510 353,218,632
2090 83,955,258 350,960,021
2089 83,304,250 348,751,618
2088 82,644,527 346,517,326
2087 81,971,087 344,162,324
2086 81,292,292 341,671,994
2085 80,596,814 339,167,930
2084 79,893,144 336,649,520
2083 79,174,449 334,083,247
2082 78,447,054 331,401,460
2081 77,705,764 328,715,487
2080 76,946,674 326,013,981
2079 76,185,626 323,282,865
2078 75,414,998 320,422,535
2077 74,632,426 317,492,915
2076 73,846,385 314,518,328
2075 73,045,925 311,487,723
2074 72,232,083 308,416,133
2073 71,416,307 305,383,505
2072 70,587,575 302,258,564
2071 69,756,436 299,119,280
2070 68,920,850 295,963,235
2069 68,080,121 292,756,723
2068 67,236,365 289,522,748
2067 66,384,714 286,191,689
2066 65,524,711 282,905,709
2065 64,661,065 279,576,283
2064 63,793,364 276,197,958
2063 62,925,133 272,782,685
2062 62,051,886 269,340,926
2061 61,174,588 265,803,351
2060 60,289,485 262,269,354
2059 59,400,116 258,692,767
2058 58,506,347 255,205,644
2057 57,609,734 251,656,356
2056 56,718,154 248,002,497
2055 55,825,018 244,426,069
2054 54,922,920 240,794,405
2053 54,020,742 237,155,110
2052 53,110,977 233,479,314
2051 52,204,288 229,733,593
2050 51,302,617 226,055,085
2049 50,395,223 222,351,471
2048 49,490,600 218,627,197
2047 48,582,238 214,883,954
2046 47,678,096 211,161,780
2045 46,779,348 207,461,987
2044 45,880,138 203,749,820
2043 44,989,272 200,035,613
2042 44,093,888 196,351,202
2041 43,194,408 192,689,672
2040 42,307,249 189,023,384
2039 41,421,572 185,365,776
2038 40,545,218 181,733,067
2037 39,674,106 178,124,993
2036 38,807,341 174,515,366
2035 37,954,978 170,904,339
2034 37,107,744 167,316,305
2033 36,270,943 163,763,376
2032 35,438,930 160,167,364
2031 34,618,857 156,590,018
2030 33,804,320 153,023,174
2029 33,002,520 149,461,578
2028 32,206,806 145,944,350
2027 31,421,882 142,419,893
2026 30,647,877 138,930,724
2025 29,879,337 135,472,051
2024 29,123,744 132,059,767
2023 28,372,687 128,691,692
2022 27,632,771 125,384,287
2021 26,915,758 122,138,588
2020 26,210,558 118,917,671
2019 25,506,095 115,737,383
2018 24,806,383 112,664,152
2017 24,128,601 109,666,481
2016 23,454,161 106,718,162
2015 22,763,414 103,867,135
2014 22,059,893 101,115,610
2013 21,402,376 98,438,751
2012 20,809,529 95,798,767
2011 20,232,304 93,149,970
2010 19,668,066 90,538,514
2009 19,113,974 88,007,636
2008 18,574,056 85,543,668
2007 18,049,896 83,103,217
2006 17,550,407 80,703,490
2005 17,074,594 78,367,470
2004 16,610,487 76,077,206
2003 16,160,340 73,832,663
2002 15,725,528 71,635,517
2001 15,309,490 69,487,762
2000 14,912,631 67,411,494
1999 14,525,140 65,374,561
1998 14,144,860 63,363,524
1997 13,775,214 61,404,539
1996 13,414,757 59,467,635
1995 13,058,516 57,537,335
1994 12,704,903 55,611,508
1993 12,353,131 53,708,891
1992 12,006,353 51,853,747
1991 11,667,180 49,717,198
1990 11,331,821 47,609,755
1989 11,002,745 45,879,690
1988 10,684,968 44,150,825
1987 10,370,749 42,460,039
1986 10,060,342 41,037,656
1985 9,761,730 39,842,136
1984 9,475,078 38,735,722
1983 9,215,397 37,740,817
1982 9,028,678 36,701,290
1981 8,816,377 35,304,012
1980 8,512,219 34,428,514
1979 8,239,641 34,238,652
1978 8,011,921 33,734,592
1977 7,796,501 33,167,272
1976 7,597,962 32,534,418
1975 7,397,120 31,723,252
1974 7,193,583 30,957,273
1973 6,996,660 30,166,785
1972 6,806,872 29,374,608
1971 6,624,408 28,600,106
1970 6,449,793 27,829,128
1969 6,283,462 27,072,571
1968 6,125,863 26,337,930
1967 5,977,318 25,620,276
1966 5,837,295 24,952,689
1965 5,704,686 24,310,612
1964 5,578,257 23,666,548
1963 5,456,623 23,051,637
1962 5,338,620 22,465,126
1961 5,239,273 21,906,102
1960 5,159,057 21,376,693

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,591,292 people (a 32.4% growth), while Ethiopia's population increased by 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 65.3% to 51,302,617 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of Ethiopia will increase by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 371M people in 2100 for Ethiopia.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Ethiopia
2100 0.59% 0.47%
2099 0.6% 0.5%
2098 0.63% 0.53%
2097 0.64% 0.56%
2096 0.66% 0.54%
2095 0.68% 0.57%
2094 0.7% 0.58%
2093 0.71% 0.58%
2092 0.74% 0.61%
2091 0.76% 0.64%
2090 0.78% 0.63%
2089 0.8% 0.64%
2088 0.82% 0.68%
2087 0.84% 0.73%
2086 0.86% 0.74%
2085 0.88% 0.75%
2084 0.91% 0.77%
2083 0.93% 0.81%
2082 0.95% 0.82%
2081 0.99% 0.83%
2080 1% 0.84%
2079 1.02% 0.89%
2078 1.05% 0.92%
2077 1.06% 0.95%
2076 1.1% 0.97%
2075 1.13% 1%
2074 1.14% 0.99%
2073 1.17% 1.03%
2072 1.19% 1.05%
2071 1.21% 1.07%
2070 1.23% 1.1%
2069 1.25% 1.12%
2068 1.28% 1.16%
2067 1.31% 1.16%
2066 1.34% 1.19%
2065 1.36% 1.22%
2064 1.38% 1.25%
2063 1.41% 1.28%
2062 1.43% 1.33%
2061 1.47% 1.35%
2060 1.5% 1.38%
2059 1.53% 1.37%
2058 1.56% 1.41%
2057 1.57% 1.47%
2056 1.6% 1.46%
2055 1.64% 1.51%
2054 1.67% 1.53%
2053 1.71% 1.57%
2052 1.74% 1.63%
2051 1.76% 1.63%
2050 1.8% 1.67%
2049 1.83% 1.7%
2048 1.87% 1.74%
2047 1.9% 1.76%
2046 1.92% 1.78%
2045 1.96% 1.82%
2044 1.98% 1.86%
2043 2.03% 1.88%
2042 2.08% 1.9%
2041 2.1% 1.94%
2040 2.14% 1.97%
2039 2.16% 2%
2038 2.2% 2.03%
2037 2.23% 2.07%
2036 2.25% 2.11%
2035 2.28% 2.14%
2034 2.31% 2.17%
2033 2.35% 2.25%
2032 2.37% 2.28%
2031 2.41% 2.33%
2030 2.43% 2.38%
2029 2.47% 2.41%
2028 2.5% 2.47%
2027 2.53% 2.51%
2026 2.57% 2.55%
2025 2.59% 2.58%
2024 2.65% 2.62%
2023 2.68% 2.64%
2022 2.66% 2.66%
2021 2.69% 2.71%
2020 2.76% 2.75%
2019 2.82% 2.73%
2018 2.81% 2.73%
2017 2.88% 2.76%
2016 3.03% 2.74%
2015 3.19% 2.72%
2014 3.07% 2.72%
2013 2.85% 2.76%
2012 2.85% 2.84%
2011 2.87% 2.88%
2010 2.9% 2.88%
2009 2.91% 2.88%
2008 2.9% 2.94%
2007 2.85% 2.97%
2006 2.79% 2.98%
2005 2.79% 3.01%
2004 2.79% 3.04%
2003 2.77% 3.07%
2002 2.72% 3.09%
2001 2.66% 3.08%
2000 2.67% 3.12%
1999 2.69% 3.17%
1998 2.68% 3.19%
1997 2.69% 3.26%
1996 2.73% 3.35%
1995 2.78% 3.46%
1994 2.85% 3.54%
1993 2.89% 3.58%
1992 2.91% 4.3%
1991 2.96% 4.43%
1990 2.99% 3.77%
1989 2.97% 3.92%
1988 3.03% 3.98%
1987 3.09% 3.47%
1986 3.06% 3%
1985 3.03% 2.86%
1984 2.82% 2.64%
1983 2.07% 2.83%
1982 2.41% 3.96%
1981 3.57% 2.54%
1980 3.31% 0.55%
1979 2.84% 1.49%
1978 2.76% 1.71%
1977 2.61% 1.95%
1976 2.72% 2.56%
1975 2.83% 2.47%
1974 2.81% 2.62%
1973 2.79% 2.7%
1972 2.75% 2.71%
1971 2.71% 2.77%
1970 2.65% 2.79%
1969 2.57% 2.79%
1968 2.49% 2.8%
1967 2.4% 2.68%
1966 2.32% 2.64%
1965 2.27% 2.72%
1964 2.23% 2.67%
1963 2.21% 2.61%
1962 1.9% 2.55%
1961 1.55% 2.48%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.59%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.58%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Ethiopia
Current population
31045453
140722974
Population rank 51/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 1.69%
One net population change
41.9 seconds
9.27 seconds
One birth every
32.5 seconds
7.59 seconds
One death every
2.57 minutes
40.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,070 +9,349
Annual growth/decline +755,593 +3,412,284
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +2.58%
Population growth rate rank 22/197 24/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 +24,054
Net migration rank 146/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - 24,054
2024 766,304 -13,892 3,379,409 30,069
2023 754,486 -4,798 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 734,893 -4,798 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 713,806 -9,888 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 716,361 -9,888 3,199,718 38,866
2019 714,681 -12,255 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 706,188 -9,184 3,015,231 9,302
2017 696,496 -37,912 2,899,143 71,766
2016 677,051 13,255 2,809,889 115,823
2015 649,190 42,008 2,713,529 62,785
2014 619,243 96,599 2,623,647 103,122
2013 606,072 -6,900 2,546,020 80,955
2012 594,029 -7,523 2,533,398 119,517
2011 580,607 -12,669 2,527,811 116,793
2010 569,921 -9,366 2,498,048 80,213
2009 557,841 -10,203 2,467,118 16,315
2008 542,919 -10,720 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 526,949 -10,807 2,436,753 -381
2006 511,366 -28,528 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 496,547 -27,775 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 478,880 -19,444 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 459,422 -18,568 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 439,544 -10,766 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 422,511 -19,203 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 411,633 -21,221 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 401,969 -17,398 2,010,987 29,142
1998 388,432 -12,446 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 377,138 -13,842 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 370,355 -12,738 1,896,364 41,456
1995 367,532 -12,661 1,831,068 91,727
1994 364,390 -12,028 1,788,133 140,715
1993 360,785 -9,601 1,734,851 141,545
1992 356,072 -13,702 1,673,839 160,106
1991 350,493 -14,520 1,579,416 859,737
1990 342,901 -8,163 1,479,663 296,014
1989 334,649 -11,244 1,441,769 242,614
1988 328,168 -16,016 1,393,356 379,966
1987 320,134 -3,829 1,356,853 251,387
1986 308,188 -3,671 1,050,277 186,227
1985 296,317 -3,604 997,050 157,476
1984 284,110 -3,512 920,670 137,632
1983 276,112 -37,346 863,472 68,022
1982 274,652 -139,974 1,080,853 66,702
1981 262,076 27,845 1,018,838 628,135
1980 247,808 70,589 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 238,875 -12,108 987,203 -711,455
1978 229,958 -1,282 943,388 -210,991
1977 222,785 -20,622 929,381 -527,133
1976 214,916 -19,994 899,577 -36,125
1975 206,986 -237 801,425 -42,540
1974 200,693 -377 777,306 -4,232
1973 193,997 -466 807,535 347
1972 186,521 -473 779,808 -3,375
1971 179,317 -439 787,047 -14,510
1970 170,713 -367 760,821 8,589
1969 162,603 -286 736,428 7,258
1968 153,080 -204 715,602 9,992
1967 144,370 -148 695,283 14,437
1966 135,927 -96 616,281 9,160
1965 129,428 -39 642,359 16,348
1964 123,469 0 618,667 10,749
1963 119,784 0 590,998 9,418
1962 116,232 0 563,650 8,960
1961 82,471 0 538,518 6,938
1960 77,948 0 511,694 1,696

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 99.3% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 7,129,456 people) and 0.66% is from migration (a loss of 47,352 people). In Ethiopia 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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