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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,879,337 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 31,045,453 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 7.89 times bigger than Cameroon's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.32% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.8% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 31M (76.9% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Cameroon vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Nigeria
2100 89,761,493 481,640,156
2099 89,236,081 481,456,918
2098 88,700,571 481,181,892
2097 88,148,423 480,838,161
2096 87,584,533 480,422,467
2095 87,012,755 479,938,579
2094 86,422,461 479,395,022
2093 85,823,264 478,769,369
2092 85,216,516 478,059,864
2091 84,591,510 477,236,907
2090 83,955,258 476,329,495
2089 83,304,250 475,326,347
2088 82,644,527 474,231,442
2087 81,971,087 473,035,563
2086 81,292,292 471,732,001
2085 80,596,814 470,328,175
2084 79,893,144 468,806,172
2083 79,174,449 467,187,453
2082 78,447,054 465,472,417
2081 77,705,764 463,643,190
2080 76,946,674 461,705,493
2079 76,185,626 459,644,523
2078 75,414,998 457,477,264
2077 74,632,426 455,218,871
2076 73,846,385 452,849,991
2075 73,045,925 450,367,356
2074 72,232,083 447,789,885
2073 71,416,307 445,117,028
2072 70,587,575 442,340,440
2071 69,756,436 439,464,323
2070 68,920,850 436,505,329
2069 68,080,121 433,437,998
2068 67,236,365 430,286,232
2067 66,384,714 427,032,499
2066 65,524,711 423,702,640
2065 64,661,065 420,285,359
2064 63,793,364 416,778,394
2063 62,925,133 413,198,800
2062 62,051,886 409,551,159
2061 61,174,588 405,827,482
2060 60,289,485 402,041,765
2059 59,400,116 398,197,311
2058 58,506,347 394,284,767
2057 57,609,734 390,311,065
2056 56,718,154 386,267,580
2055 55,825,018 382,162,992
2054 54,922,920 378,000,511
2053 54,020,742 373,769,779
2052 53,110,977 369,472,476
2051 52,204,288 365,120,741
2050 51,302,617 360,706,317
2049 50,395,223 356,243,287
2048 49,490,600 351,724,743
2047 48,582,238 347,142,279
2046 47,678,096 342,505,549
2045 46,779,348 337,807,869
2044 45,880,138 333,050,132
2043 44,989,272 328,230,652
2042 44,093,888 323,363,366
2041 43,194,408 318,443,989
2040 42,307,249 313,468,061
2039 41,421,572 308,450,008
2038 40,545,218 303,399,842
2037 39,674,106 298,327,800
2036 38,807,341 293,227,654
2035 37,954,978 288,115,630
2034 37,107,744 282,995,818
2033 36,270,943 277,875,880
2032 35,438,930 272,747,599
2031 34,618,857 267,645,657
2030 33,804,320 262,562,767
2029 33,002,520 257,484,616
2028 32,206,806 252,445,821
2027 31,421,882 247,437,680
2026 30,647,877 242,458,365
2025 29,879,337 237,527,782
2024 29,123,744 232,679,478
2023 28,372,687 227,882,945
2022 27,632,771 223,150,896
2021 26,915,758 218,529,286
2020 26,210,558 213,996,181
2019 25,506,095 209,485,641
2018 24,806,383 204,938,755
2017 24,128,601 200,254,579
2016 23,454,161 195,443,700
2015 22,763,414 190,671,878
2014 22,059,893 185,896,915
2013 21,402,376 181,049,443
2012 20,809,529 176,200,625
2011 20,232,304 171,379,598
2010 19,668,066 166,642,886
2009 19,113,974 162,049,464
2008 18,574,056 157,595,014
2007 18,049,896 153,267,261
2006 17,550,407 149,077,334
2005 17,074,594 145,017,253
2004 16,610,487 141,057,045
2003 16,160,340 137,202,644
2002 15,725,528 133,471,989
2001 15,309,490 129,862,595
2000 14,912,631 126,382,494
1999 14,525,140 123,047,320
1998 14,144,860 119,846,254
1997 13,775,214 116,754,792
1996 13,414,757 113,754,779
1995 13,058,516 110,819,428
1994 12,704,903 107,935,714
1993 12,353,131 105,122,069
1992 12,006,353 102,372,770
1991 11,667,180 99,720,162
1990 11,331,821 97,120,925
1989 11,002,745 94,531,014
1988 10,684,968 92,020,090
1987 10,370,749 89,591,716
1986 10,060,342 87,235,953
1985 9,761,730 84,897,973
1984 9,475,078 82,526,443
1983 9,215,397 80,438,260
1982 9,028,678 78,378,701
1981 8,816,377 76,068,103
1980 8,512,219 73,764,641
1979 8,239,641 71,498,242
1978 8,011,921 69,326,532
1977 7,796,501 67,234,590
1976 7,597,962 65,258,009
1975 7,397,120 63,410,815
1974 7,193,583 61,679,144
1973 6,996,660 60,082,139
1972 6,806,872 58,601,748
1971 6,624,408 57,214,684
1970 6,449,793 55,893,838
1969 6,283,462 54,631,914
1968 6,125,863 53,432,783
1967 5,977,318 52,293,065
1966 5,837,295 51,188,234
1965 5,704,686 50,086,764
1964 5,578,257 49,012,016
1963 5,456,623 47,973,575
1962 5,338,620 46,965,292
1961 5,239,273 45,989,310
1960 5,159,057 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,591,292 people (a 32.4% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Nigeria
2100 0.59% 0.04%
2099 0.6% 0.06%
2098 0.63% 0.07%
2097 0.64% 0.09%
2096 0.66% 0.1%
2095 0.68% 0.11%
2094 0.7% 0.13%
2093 0.71% 0.15%
2092 0.74% 0.17%
2091 0.76% 0.19%
2090 0.78% 0.21%
2089 0.8% 0.23%
2088 0.82% 0.25%
2087 0.84% 0.28%
2086 0.86% 0.3%
2085 0.88% 0.32%
2084 0.91% 0.35%
2083 0.93% 0.37%
2082 0.95% 0.39%
2081 0.99% 0.42%
2080 1% 0.45%
2079 1.02% 0.47%
2078 1.05% 0.5%
2077 1.06% 0.52%
2076 1.1% 0.55%
2075 1.13% 0.58%
2074 1.14% 0.6%
2073 1.17% 0.63%
2072 1.19% 0.65%
2071 1.21% 0.68%
2070 1.23% 0.71%
2069 1.25% 0.73%
2068 1.28% 0.76%
2067 1.31% 0.79%
2066 1.34% 0.81%
2065 1.36% 0.84%
2064 1.38% 0.87%
2063 1.41% 0.89%
2062 1.43% 0.92%
2061 1.47% 0.94%
2060 1.5% 0.97%
2059 1.53% 0.99%
2058 1.56% 1.02%
2057 1.57% 1.05%
2056 1.6% 1.07%
2055 1.64% 1.1%
2054 1.67% 1.13%
2053 1.71% 1.16%
2052 1.74% 1.19%
2051 1.76% 1.22%
2050 1.8% 1.25%
2049 1.83% 1.28%
2048 1.87% 1.32%
2047 1.9% 1.35%
2046 1.92% 1.39%
2045 1.96% 1.43%
2044 1.98% 1.47%
2043 2.03% 1.51%
2042 2.08% 1.54%
2041 2.1% 1.59%
2040 2.14% 1.63%
2039 2.16% 1.66%
2038 2.2% 1.7%
2037 2.23% 1.74%
2036 2.25% 1.77%
2035 2.28% 1.81%
2034 2.31% 1.84%
2033 2.35% 1.88%
2032 2.37% 1.91%
2031 2.41% 1.94%
2030 2.43% 1.97%
2029 2.47% 2%
2028 2.5% 2.02%
2027 2.53% 2.05%
2026 2.57% 2.08%
2025 2.59% 2.08%
2024 2.65% 2.1%
2023 2.68% 2.12%
2022 2.66% 2.11%
2021 2.69% 2.12%
2020 2.76% 2.15%
2019 2.82% 2.22%
2018 2.81% 2.34%
2017 2.88% 2.46%
2016 3.03% 2.5%
2015 3.19% 2.57%
2014 3.07% 2.68%
2013 2.85% 2.75%
2012 2.85% 2.81%
2011 2.87% 2.84%
2010 2.9% 2.83%
2009 2.91% 2.83%
2008 2.9% 2.82%
2007 2.85% 2.81%
2006 2.79% 2.8%
2005 2.79% 2.81%
2004 2.79% 2.81%
2003 2.77% 2.8%
2002 2.72% 2.78%
2001 2.66% 2.75%
2000 2.67% 2.71%
1999 2.69% 2.67%
1998 2.68% 2.65%
1997 2.69% 2.64%
1996 2.73% 2.65%
1995 2.78% 2.67%
1994 2.85% 2.68%
1993 2.89% 2.69%
1992 2.91% 2.66%
1991 2.96% 2.68%
1990 2.99% 2.74%
1989 2.97% 2.73%
1988 3.03% 2.71%
1987 3.09% 2.7%
1986 3.06% 2.75%
1985 3.03% 2.87%
1984 2.82% 2.6%
1983 2.07% 2.63%
1982 2.41% 3.04%
1981 3.57% 3.12%
1980 3.31% 3.17%
1979 2.84% 3.13%
1978 2.76% 3.11%
1977 2.61% 3.03%
1976 2.72% 2.91%
1975 2.83% 2.81%
1974 2.81% 2.66%
1973 2.79% 2.53%
1972 2.75% 2.42%
1971 2.71% 2.36%
1970 2.65% 2.31%
1969 2.57% 2.24%
1968 2.49% 2.18%
1967 2.4% 2.16%
1966 2.32% 2.2%
1965 2.27% 2.19%
1964 2.23% 2.16%
1963 2.21% 2.15%
1962 1.9% 2.12%
1961 1.55% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.59%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Nigeria
Current population
31045453
245016045
Population rank 51/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 2.95%
One net population change
41.9 seconds
6.52 seconds
One birth every
32.5 seconds
4.17 seconds
One death every
2.57 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,070 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +755,593 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 22/197 45/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 -15,258
Net migration rank 146/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -15,258
2024 766,304 -13,892 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 754,486 -4,798 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 734,893 -4,798 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 713,806 -9,888 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 716,361 -9,888 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 714,681 -12,255 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 706,188 -9,184 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 696,496 -37,912 4,706,183 78,685
2016 677,051 13,255 4,761,594 75,265
2015 649,190 42,008 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 619,243 96,599 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 606,072 -6,900 4,811,751 40,201
2012 594,029 -7,523 4,774,508 71,138
2011 580,607 -12,669 4,728,363 67,808
2010 569,921 -9,366 4,629,173 47,966
2009 557,841 -10,203 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 542,919 -10,720 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 526,949 -10,807 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 511,366 -28,528 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 496,547 -27,775 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 478,880 -19,444 3,877,376 46,370
2003 459,422 -18,568 3,751,120 33,857
2002 439,544 -10,766 3,606,814 69,594
2001 422,511 -19,203 3,478,370 64,163
2000 411,633 -21,221 3,343,196 74,535
1999 401,969 -17,398 3,155,425 97,195
1998 388,432 -12,446 3,003,946 145,575
1997 377,138 -13,842 2,936,500 96,885
1996 370,355 -12,738 2,882,205 84,448
1995 367,532 -12,661 2,830,771 73,243
1994 364,390 -12,028 2,735,198 128,134
1993 360,785 -9,601 2,673,675 90,200
1992 356,072 -13,702 2,596,173 138,412
1991 350,493 -14,520 2,527,807 42,760
1990 342,901 -8,163 2,491,928 135,959
1989 334,649 -11,244 2,452,324 99,588
1988 328,168 -16,016 2,376,419 93,510
1987 320,134 -3,829 2,322,397 64,418
1986 308,188 -3,671 2,295,003 29,682
1985 296,317 -3,604 2,289,784 61,514
1984 284,110 -3,512 2,278,060 113,758
1983 276,112 -37,346 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 274,652 -139,974 2,233,401 101,116
1981 262,076 27,845 2,179,884 106,723
1980 247,808 70,589 2,121,618 198,672
1979 238,875 -12,108 2,074,807 137,721
1978 229,958 -1,282 2,019,621 111,258
1977 222,785 -20,622 1,923,917 129,075
1976 214,916 -19,994 1,827,289 72,889
1975 206,986 -237 1,718,623 75,603
1974 200,693 -377 1,624,813 44,281
1973 193,997 -466 1,525,485 -618
1972 186,521 -473 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 179,317 -439 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 170,713 -367 1,295,507 7,953
1969 162,603 -286 1,213,484 6,912
1968 153,080 -204 1,168,254 9,615
1967 144,370 -148 1,082,884 18,683
1966 135,927 -96 1,095,582 12,513
1965 129,428 -39 1,061,840 32,988
1964 123,469 0 1,028,272 26,411
1963 119,784 0 995,116 27,115
1962 116,232 0 966,452 27,906
1961 82,471 0 932,111 25,515
1960 77,948 0 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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