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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 12.9 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Cameroon vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Lesotho
2100 89,781,496 3,280,784
2099 89,255,966 3,286,697
2098 88,720,337 3,292,498
2097 88,168,066 3,298,102
2096 87,604,050 3,303,027
2095 87,032,145 3,307,947
2094 86,441,720 3,312,002
2093 85,842,389 3,315,757
2092 85,235,505 3,319,661
2091 84,610,360 3,322,573
2090 83,973,967 3,324,769
2089 83,322,813 3,326,847
2088 82,662,944 3,328,480
2087 81,989,354 3,329,964
2086 81,310,407 3,330,456
2085 80,614,775 3,331,259
2084 79,910,947 3,331,485
2083 79,192,092 3,331,492
2082 78,464,535 3,331,234
2081 77,723,079 3,330,412
2080 76,963,821 3,329,267
2079 76,202,603 3,327,166
2078 75,431,803 3,324,646
2077 74,649,057 3,321,422
2076 73,862,841 3,317,850
2075 73,062,202 3,314,237
2074 72,248,179 3,309,174
2073 71,432,221 3,303,860
2072 70,603,305 3,298,181
2071 69,771,981 3,291,492
2070 68,936,208 3,283,654
2069 68,095,292 3,275,244
2068 67,251,348 3,266,152
2067 66,399,507 3,256,626
2066 65,539,313 3,246,903
2065 64,675,474 3,237,153
2064 63,807,579 3,226,489
2063 62,939,156 3,215,103
2062 62,065,714 3,202,287
2061 61,188,220 3,188,933
2060 60,302,920 3,174,998
2059 59,413,352 3,160,204
2058 58,519,385 3,145,053
2057 57,622,572 3,129,261
2056 56,730,793 3,113,129
2055 55,837,458 3,095,904
2054 54,935,159 3,078,567
2053 54,032,780 3,060,152
2052 53,122,812 3,040,649
2051 52,215,921 3,020,109
2050 51,314,050 2,999,457
2049 50,406,453 2,978,037
2048 49,501,629 2,955,727
2047 48,593,064 2,932,688
2046 47,688,721 2,909,307
2045 46,789,773 2,885,537
2044 45,890,362 2,861,372
2043 44,999,297 2,836,777
2042 44,103,714 2,811,663
2041 43,204,033 2,786,147
2040 42,316,677 2,760,391
2039 41,430,803 2,734,400
2038 40,554,253 2,708,216
2037 39,682,947 2,681,863
2036 38,815,989 2,654,755
2035 37,963,436 2,627,701
2034 37,116,013 2,600,880
2033 36,279,025 2,574,065
2032 35,446,827 2,547,344
2031 34,626,572 2,520,831
2030 33,811,853 2,494,646
2029 33,009,874 2,468,268
2028 32,213,983 2,441,871
2027 31,428,884 2,415,830
2026 30,654,707 2,389,516
2025 29,885,995 2,363,516
2024 29,123,744 2,337,423
2023 28,372,687 2,311,472
2022 27,632,771 2,286,110
2021 26,915,758 2,261,542
2020 26,210,558 2,235,727
2019 25,506,095 2,209,405
2018 24,806,383 2,183,603
2017 24,128,601 2,157,110
2016 23,454,161 2,130,422
2015 22,763,414 2,104,611
2014 22,059,893 2,080,089
2013 21,402,376 2,056,504
2012 20,809,529 2,034,354
2011 20,232,304 2,014,009
2010 19,668,066 1,996,251
2009 19,113,974 1,980,883
2008 18,574,056 1,966,541
2007 18,049,896 1,953,268
2006 17,550,407 1,945,063
2005 17,074,594 1,953,076
2004 16,610,487 1,971,129
2003 16,160,340 1,985,059
2002 15,725,528 1,994,679
2001 15,309,490 2,000,853
2000 14,912,631 2,003,913
1999 14,525,140 2,003,234
1998 14,144,860 1,998,049
1997 13,775,214 1,988,130
1996 13,414,757 1,972,418
1995 13,058,516 1,951,437
1994 12,704,903 1,927,707
1993 12,353,131 1,901,793
1992 12,006,353 1,873,274
1991 11,667,180 1,842,379
1990 11,331,821 1,809,696
1989 11,002,745 1,775,436
1988 10,684,968 1,739,841
1987 10,370,749 1,703,390
1986 10,060,342 1,666,138
1985 9,761,730 1,624,379
1984 9,475,078 1,578,986
1983 9,215,397 1,534,413
1982 9,028,678 1,490,732
1981 8,816,377 1,448,069
1980 8,512,219 1,406,521
1979 8,239,641 1,366,169
1978 8,011,921 1,327,240
1977 7,796,501 1,289,967
1976 7,597,962 1,253,214
1975 7,397,120 1,213,643
1974 7,193,583 1,172,420
1973 6,996,660 1,132,697
1972 6,806,872 1,094,063
1971 6,624,408 1,056,246
1970 6,449,793 1,019,273
1969 6,283,462 983,202
1968 6,125,863 948,105
1967 5,977,318 913,982
1966 5,837,295 881,870
1965 5,704,686 854,090
1964 5,578,257 829,437
1963 5,456,623 805,373
1962 5,338,620 781,814
1961 5,239,273 758,824
1960 5,159,057 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Lesotho
2100 0.59% -0.18%
2099 0.6% -0.18%
2098 0.63% -0.17%
2097 0.64% -0.15%
2096 0.66% -0.15%
2095 0.68% -0.12%
2094 0.7% -0.11%
2093 0.71% -0.12%
2092 0.74% -0.09%
2091 0.76% -0.07%
2090 0.78% -0.06%
2089 0.8% -0.05%
2088 0.82% -0.04%
2087 0.84% -0.01%
2086 0.86% -0.02%
2085 0.88% -0.007%
2084 0.91% -0%
2083 0.93% 0.008%
2082 0.95% 0.02%
2081 0.99% 0.03%
2080 1% 0.06%
2079 1.02% 0.08%
2078 1.05% 0.1%
2077 1.06% 0.11%
2076 1.1% 0.11%
2075 1.13% 0.15%
2074 1.14% 0.16%
2073 1.17% 0.17%
2072 1.19% 0.2%
2071 1.21% 0.24%
2070 1.23% 0.26%
2069 1.25% 0.28%
2068 1.28% 0.29%
2067 1.31% 0.3%
2066 1.34% 0.3%
2065 1.36% 0.33%
2064 1.38% 0.35%
2063 1.41% 0.4%
2062 1.43% 0.42%
2061 1.47% 0.44%
2060 1.5% 0.47%
2059 1.53% 0.48%
2058 1.56% 0.5%
2057 1.57% 0.52%
2056 1.6% 0.56%
2055 1.64% 0.56%
2054 1.67% 0.6%
2053 1.71% 0.64%
2052 1.74% 0.68%
2051 1.76% 0.69%
2050 1.8% 0.72%
2049 1.83% 0.75%
2048 1.87% 0.79%
2047 1.9% 0.8%
2046 1.92% 0.82%
2045 1.96% 0.84%
2044 1.98% 0.87%
2043 2.03% 0.89%
2042 2.08% 0.92%
2041 2.1% 0.93%
2040 2.14% 0.95%
2039 2.16% 0.97%
2038 2.2% 0.98%
2037 2.23% 1.02%
2036 2.25% 1.03%
2035 2.28% 1.03%
2034 2.31% 1.04%
2033 2.35% 1.05%
2032 2.37% 1.05%
2031 2.41% 1.05%
2030 2.43% 1.07%
2029 2.47% 1.08%
2028 2.5% 1.08%
2027 2.53% 1.1%
2026 2.57% 1.1%
2025 2.62% 1.12%
2024 2.65% 1.12%
2023 2.68% 1.11%
2022 2.66% 1.09%
2021 2.69% 1.15%
2020 2.76% 1.19%
2019 2.82% 1.18%
2018 2.81% 1.23%
2017 2.88% 1.25%
2016 3.03% 1.23%
2015 3.19% 1.18%
2014 3.07% 1.15%
2013 2.85% 1.09%
2012 2.85% 1.01%
2011 2.87% 0.89%
2010 2.9% 0.78%
2009 2.91% 0.73%
2008 2.9% 0.68%
2007 2.85% 0.42%
2006 2.79% -0.41%
2005 2.79% -0.92%
2004 2.79% -0.7%
2003 2.77% -0.48%
2002 2.72% -0.31%
2001 2.66% -0.15%
2000 2.67% 0.03%
1999 2.69% 0.26%
1998 2.68% 0.5%
1997 2.69% 0.8%
1996 2.73% 1.08%
1995 2.78% 1.23%
1994 2.85% 1.36%
1993 2.89% 1.52%
1992 2.91% 1.68%
1991 2.96% 1.81%
1990 2.99% 1.93%
1989 2.97% 2.05%
1988 3.03% 2.14%
1987 3.09% 2.24%
1986 3.06% 2.57%
1985 3.03% 2.87%
1984 2.82% 2.9%
1983 2.07% 2.93%
1982 2.41% 2.95%
1981 3.57% 2.95%
1980 3.31% 2.95%
1979 2.84% 2.93%
1978 2.76% 2.89%
1977 2.61% 2.93%
1976 2.72% 3.26%
1975 2.83% 3.52%
1974 2.81% 3.51%
1973 2.79% 3.53%
1972 2.75% 3.58%
1971 2.71% 3.63%
1970 2.65% 3.67%
1969 2.57% 3.7%
1968 2.49% 3.73%
1967 2.4% 3.64%
1966 2.32% 3.25%
1965 2.27% 2.97%
1964 2.23% 2.99%
1963 2.21% 3.01%
1962 1.9% 3.03%
1961 1.55% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Lesotho
Current population
30864115
2396633
Population rank 51/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.03%
One net population change
42 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
32.9 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
2.59 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +71
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 93/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -15,379 -5,192
Net migration rank 146/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -5,192
2024 - -13,892 - -5,107
2023 754,486 -4,798 31,115 -5,168
2022 734,893 -4,798 30,803 -6,023
2021 713,806 -9,888 27,806 -3,449
2020 716,361 -9,888 30,721 -3,449
2019 714,681 -12,255 32,279 -6,896
2018 706,188 -9,184 33,112 -6,892
2017 696,496 -37,912 33,601 -6,850
2016 677,051 13,255 33,390 -6,766
2015 649,190 42,008 32,087 -7,087
2014 619,243 96,599 30,922 -6,877
2013 606,072 -6,900 29,789 -6,659
2012 594,029 -7,523 27,592 -6,425
2011 580,607 -12,669 25,647 -6,118
2010 569,921 -9,366 21,877 -5,886
2009 557,841 -10,203 20,335 -5,599
2008 542,919 -10,720 19,349 -5,392
2007 526,949 -10,807 17,763 -5,179
2006 511,366 -28,528 15,234 -11,416
2005 496,547 -27,775 15,831 -35,679
2004 478,880 -19,444 17,271 -33,530
2003 459,422 -18,568 20,133 -31,723
2002 439,544 -10,766 22,274 -29,924
2001 422,511 -19,203 23,190 -27,874
2000 411,633 -21,221 24,786 -26,220
1999 401,969 -17,398 27,393 -24,610
1998 388,432 -12,446 30,889 -23,299
1997 377,138 -13,842 34,637 -22,396
1996 370,355 -12,738 36,228 -17,042
1995 367,532 -12,661 37,370 -14,588
1994 364,390 -12,028 38,629 -13,953
1993 360,785 -9,601 40,505 -13,347
1992 356,072 -13,702 42,579 -12,707
1991 350,493 -14,520 44,026 -12,114
1990 342,901 -8,163 45,060 -11,598
1989 334,649 -11,244 46,264 -11,207
1988 328,168 -16,016 47,158 -11,028
1987 320,134 -3,829 47,718 -10,946
1986 308,188 -3,671 45,232 -7,501
1985 296,317 -3,604 44,575 1,222
1984 284,110 -3,512 43,785 1,199
1983 276,112 -37,346 42,899 1,253
1982 274,652 -139,974 41,941 1,281
1981 262,076 27,845 40,808 1,307
1980 247,808 70,589 39,617 1,361
1979 238,875 -12,108 38,440 1,285
1978 229,958 -1,282 37,084 1,047
1977 222,785 -20,622 35,654 746
1976 214,916 -19,994 34,117 2,986
1975 206,986 -237 32,311 9,723
1974 200,693 -377 30,444 9,972
1973 193,997 -466 28,859 10,183
1972 186,521 -473 27,841 10,386
1971 179,317 -439 26,838 10,563
1970 170,713 -367 25,935 10,605
1969 162,603 -286 25,137 10,465
1968 153,080 -204 24,490 10,108
1967 144,370 -148 23,911 9,734
1966 135,927 -96 23,326 7,248
1965 129,428 -39 22,755 2,239
1964 123,469 0 22,116 2,198
1963 119,784 0 21,585 2,220
1962 116,232 0 21,132 2,172
1961 82,471 0 20,581 2,100
1960 77,948 0 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

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/lesotho | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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