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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 3.97 times bigger than Cameroon's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.85% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Cameroon vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Japan
2100 89,781,496 76,978,998
2099 89,255,966 77,363,458
2098 88,720,337 77,742,445
2097 88,168,066 78,118,375
2096 87,604,050 78,498,614
2095 87,032,145 78,875,245
2094 86,441,720 79,250,325
2093 85,842,389 79,628,057
2092 85,235,505 80,007,967
2091 84,610,360 80,383,529
2090 83,973,967 80,760,724
2089 83,322,813 81,140,553
2088 82,662,944 81,521,696
2087 81,989,354 81,908,373
2086 81,310,407 82,304,497
2085 80,614,775 82,709,534
2084 79,910,947 83,123,058
2083 79,192,092 83,544,006
2082 78,464,535 83,980,325
2081 77,723,079 84,429,305
2080 76,963,821 84,899,768
2079 76,202,603 85,387,247
2078 75,431,803 85,897,934
2077 74,649,057 86,434,291
2076 73,862,841 86,993,007
2075 73,062,202 87,577,777
2074 72,248,179 88,190,392
2073 71,432,221 88,834,763
2072 70,603,305 89,499,356
2071 69,771,981 90,184,464
2070 68,936,208 90,899,136
2069 68,095,292 91,625,421
2068 67,251,348 92,367,969
2067 66,399,507 93,113,499
2066 65,539,313 93,869,240
2065 64,675,474 94,633,430
2064 63,807,579 95,391,433
2063 62,939,156 96,148,081
2062 62,065,714 96,902,907
2061 61,188,220 97,654,031
2060 60,302,920 98,400,894
2059 59,413,352 99,144,216
2058 58,519,385 99,868,968
2057 57,622,572 100,585,601
2056 56,730,793 101,295,868
2055 55,837,458 101,989,736
2054 54,935,159 102,683,462
2053 54,032,780 103,359,083
2052 53,122,812 104,036,901
2051 52,215,921 104,706,698
2050 51,314,050 105,377,283
2049 50,406,453 106,053,011
2048 49,501,629 106,731,207
2047 48,593,064 107,419,237
2046 47,688,721 108,115,358
2045 46,789,773 108,820,982
2044 45,890,362 109,529,333
2043 44,999,297 110,245,586
2042 44,103,714 110,968,174
2041 43,204,033 111,704,629
2040 42,316,677 112,438,759
2039 41,430,803 113,175,948
2038 40,554,253 113,915,783
2037 39,682,947 114,662,374
2036 38,815,989 115,410,956
2035 37,963,436 116,162,381
2034 37,116,013 116,911,001
2033 36,279,025 117,652,676
2032 35,446,827 118,393,188
2031 34,626,572 119,127,425
2030 33,811,853 119,856,131
2029 33,009,874 120,574,242
2028 32,213,983 121,287,543
2027 31,428,884 121,989,133
2026 30,654,707 122,677,250
2025 29,885,995 123,339,586
2024 29,123,744 123,975,371
2023 28,372,687 124,516,650
2022 27,632,771 125,124,989
2021 26,915,758 125,681,593
2020 26,210,558 126,261,000
2019 25,506,095 126,633,000
2018 24,806,383 126,811,000
2017 24,128,601 126,972,000
2016 23,454,161 127,076,000
2015 22,763,414 127,141,000
2014 22,059,893 127,276,000
2013 21,402,376 127,445,000
2012 20,809,529 127,629,000
2011 20,232,304 127,833,000
2010 19,668,066 128,070,000
2009 19,113,974 128,047,000
2008 18,574,056 128,063,000
2007 18,049,896 128,001,000
2006 17,550,407 127,854,000
2005 17,074,594 127,773,000
2004 16,610,487 127,761,000
2003 16,160,340 127,718,000
2002 15,725,528 127,445,000
2001 15,309,490 127,149,000
2000 14,912,631 126,843,000
1999 14,525,140 126,631,000
1998 14,144,860 126,400,000
1997 13,775,214 126,057,000
1996 13,414,757 125,757,000
1995 13,058,516 125,472,000
1994 12,704,903 125,178,000
1993 12,353,131 124,829,000
1992 12,006,353 124,425,000
1991 11,667,180 123,964,000
1990 11,331,821 123,478,000
1989 11,002,745 123,069,000
1988 10,684,968 122,578,000
1987 10,370,749 122,069,000
1986 10,060,342 121,482,000
1985 9,761,730 120,837,000
1984 9,475,078 120,083,000
1983 9,215,397 119,307,000
1982 9,028,678 118,480,000
1981 8,816,377 117,661,000
1980 8,512,219 116,807,000
1979 8,239,641 115,890,000
1978 8,011,921 114,913,000
1977 7,796,501 113,872,000
1976 7,597,962 112,775,000
1975 7,397,120 111,573,000
1974 7,193,583 110,162,000
1973 6,996,660 108,707,000
1972 6,806,872 107,188,000
1971 6,624,408 105,697,000
1970 6,449,793 103,403,000
1969 6,283,462 102,219,000
1968 6,125,863 101,011,000
1967 5,977,318 99,879,000
1966 5,837,295 98,851,000
1965 5,704,686 97,952,000
1964 5,578,257 96,903,000
1963 5,456,623 95,900,000
1962 5,338,620 94,933,000
1961 5,239,273 94,055,000
1960 5,159,057 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Japan
2100 0.59% -0.5%
2099 0.6% -0.49%
2098 0.63% -0.48%
2097 0.64% -0.48%
2096 0.66% -0.48%
2095 0.68% -0.47%
2094 0.7% -0.47%
2093 0.71% -0.47%
2092 0.74% -0.47%
2091 0.76% -0.47%
2090 0.78% -0.47%
2089 0.8% -0.47%
2088 0.82% -0.47%
2087 0.84% -0.48%
2086 0.86% -0.49%
2085 0.88% -0.5%
2084 0.91% -0.5%
2083 0.93% -0.52%
2082 0.95% -0.53%
2081 0.99% -0.55%
2080 1% -0.57%
2079 1.02% -0.59%
2078 1.05% -0.62%
2077 1.06% -0.64%
2076 1.1% -0.67%
2075 1.13% -0.69%
2074 1.14% -0.73%
2073 1.17% -0.74%
2072 1.19% -0.76%
2071 1.21% -0.79%
2070 1.23% -0.79%
2069 1.25% -0.8%
2068 1.28% -0.8%
2067 1.31% -0.81%
2066 1.34% -0.81%
2065 1.36% -0.79%
2064 1.38% -0.79%
2063 1.41% -0.78%
2062 1.43% -0.77%
2061 1.47% -0.76%
2060 1.5% -0.75%
2059 1.53% -0.73%
2058 1.56% -0.71%
2057 1.57% -0.7%
2056 1.6% -0.68%
2055 1.64% -0.68%
2054 1.67% -0.65%
2053 1.71% -0.65%
2052 1.74% -0.64%
2051 1.76% -0.64%
2050 1.8% -0.64%
2049 1.83% -0.64%
2048 1.87% -0.64%
2047 1.9% -0.64%
2046 1.92% -0.65%
2045 1.96% -0.65%
2044 1.98% -0.65%
2043 2.03% -0.65%
2042 2.08% -0.66%
2041 2.1% -0.65%
2040 2.14% -0.65%
2039 2.16% -0.65%
2038 2.2% -0.65%
2037 2.23% -0.65%
2036 2.25% -0.65%
2035 2.28% -0.64%
2034 2.31% -0.63%
2033 2.35% -0.63%
2032 2.37% -0.62%
2031 2.41% -0.61%
2030 2.43% -0.6%
2029 2.47% -0.59%
2028 2.5% -0.58%
2027 2.53% -0.56%
2026 2.57% -0.54%
2025 2.62% -0.51%
2024 2.65% -0.43%
2023 2.68% -0.49%
2022 2.66% -0.44%
2021 2.69% -0.46%
2020 2.76% -0.29%
2019 2.82% -0.14%
2018 2.81% -0.13%
2017 2.88% -0.08%
2016 3.03% -0.05%
2015 3.19% -0.11%
2014 3.07% -0.13%
2013 2.85% -0.14%
2012 2.85% -0.16%
2011 2.87% -0.19%
2010 2.9% 0.02%
2009 2.91% -0.01%
2008 2.9% 0.05%
2007 2.85% 0.11%
2006 2.79% 0.06%
2005 2.79% 0.009%
2004 2.79% 0.03%
2003 2.77% 0.21%
2002 2.72% 0.23%
2001 2.66% 0.24%
2000 2.67% 0.17%
1999 2.69% 0.18%
1998 2.68% 0.27%
1997 2.69% 0.24%
1996 2.73% 0.23%
1995 2.78% 0.23%
1994 2.85% 0.28%
1993 2.89% 0.32%
1992 2.91% 0.37%
1991 2.96% 0.39%
1990 2.99% 0.33%
1989 2.97% 0.4%
1988 3.03% 0.42%
1987 3.09% 0.48%
1986 3.06% 0.53%
1985 3.03% 0.63%
1984 2.82% 0.65%
1983 2.07% 0.7%
1982 2.41% 0.7%
1981 3.57% 0.73%
1980 3.31% 0.79%
1979 2.84% 0.85%
1978 2.76% 0.91%
1977 2.61% 0.97%
1976 2.72% 1.08%
1975 2.83% 1.28%
1974 2.81% 1.34%
1973 2.79% 1.42%
1972 2.75% 1.41%
1971 2.71% 2.22%
1970 2.65% 1.16%
1969 2.57% 1.2%
1968 2.49% 1.13%
1967 2.4% 1.04%
1966 2.32% 0.92%
1965 2.27% 1.08%
1964 2.23% 1.05%
1963 2.21% 1.02%
1962 1.9% 0.93%
1961 1.55% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Japan
Current population
30864115
122677250
Population rank 51/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 1.48%
One net population change
42 seconds
58.3 seconds
One birth every
32.9 seconds
42.2 seconds
One death every
2.59 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,058 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +751,057 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 185/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 +140,579
Net migration rank 146/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - 140,579
2024 - -13,892 - 153,357
2023 754,486 -4,798 -871,617 175,003
2022 734,893 -4,798 -825,825 175,003
2021 713,806 -9,888 -640,976 -34,996
2020 716,361 -9,888 -542,923 42,001
2019 714,681 -12,255 -531,858 318,190
2018 706,188 -9,184 -456,520 320,601
2017 696,496 -37,912 -406,310 322,564
2016 677,051 13,255 -343,106 314,732
2015 649,190 42,008 -292,424 168,896
2014 619,243 96,599 -267,279 58,109
2013 606,072 -6,900 -242,146 66,449
2012 594,029 -7,523 -229,733 67,904
2011 580,607 -12,669 -204,533 97,720
2010 569,921 -9,366 -128,070 131,860
2009 557,841 -10,203 -76,828 125,450
2008 542,919 -10,720 -51,225 142,605
2007 526,949 -10,807 -25,600 138,024
2006 511,366 -28,528 12,785 130,065
2005 496,547 -27,775 -25,554 113,017
2004 478,880 -19,444 76,656 69,014
2003 459,422 -18,568 114,946 74,875
2002 439,544 -10,766 178,423 60,864
2001 422,511 -19,203 203,438 59,563
2000 411,633 -21,221 228,317 23,468
1999 401,969 -17,398 202,610 56,901
1998 388,432 -12,446 265,440 45,912
1997 377,138 -13,842 277,325 43,366
1996 370,355 -12,738 314,392 25,030
1995 367,532 -12,661 276,039 87,714
1994 364,390 -12,028 363,017 154,214
1993 360,785 -9,601 312,073 168,836
1992 356,072 -13,702 360,833 170,878
1991 350,493 -14,520 396,685 161,331
1990 342,901 -8,163 407,478 124,582
1989 334,649 -11,244 467,662 31,202
1988 328,168 -16,016 527,085 51,154
1987 320,134 -3,829 598,138 28,001
1986 308,188 -3,671 631,706 27,987
1985 296,317 -3,604 676,687 -141,323
1984 284,110 -3,512 756,523 -273,686
1983 276,112 -37,346 775,495 -269,755
1982 274,652 -139,974 805,664 -288,550
1981 262,076 27,845 811,861 -278,525
1980 247,808 70,589 864,372 -92,314
1979 238,875 -12,108 950,298 -57,692
1978 229,958 -1,282 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 222,785 -20,622 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 214,916 -19,994 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 206,986 -237 1,204,989 107
1974 200,693 -377 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 193,997 -466 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 186,521 -473 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 179,317 -439 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 170,713 -367 1,230,496 33,731
1969 162,603 -286 1,195,962 49,447
1968 153,080 -204 1,191,930 43,593
1967 144,370 -148 1,258,475 29,632
1966 135,927 -96 682,072 68,934
1965 129,428 -39 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 123,469 0 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 119,784 0 987,770 -100,742
1962 116,232 0 901,864 -57,075
1961 82,471 0 893,522 -58,882
1960 77,948 0 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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