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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 7.9 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 3.31% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Cameroon vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Nigeria
2100 89,781,496 481,678,166
2099 89,255,966 481,494,914
2098 88,720,337 481,219,866
2097 88,168,066 480,876,108
2096 87,604,050 480,460,381
2095 87,032,145 479,976,454
2094 86,441,720 479,432,855
2093 85,842,389 478,807,152
2092 85,235,505 478,097,591
2091 84,610,360 477,274,569
2090 83,973,967 476,367,086
2089 83,322,813 475,363,859
2088 82,662,944 474,268,867
2087 81,989,354 473,072,894
2086 81,310,407 471,769,229
2085 80,614,775 470,365,292
2084 79,910,947 468,843,169
2083 79,192,092 467,224,322
2082 78,464,535 465,509,151
2081 77,723,079 463,679,779
2080 76,963,821 461,741,930
2079 76,202,603 459,680,797
2078 75,431,803 457,513,367
2077 74,649,057 455,254,796
2076 73,862,841 452,885,729
2075 73,062,202 450,402,898
2074 72,248,179 447,825,224
2073 71,432,221 445,152,156
2072 70,603,305 442,375,349
2071 69,771,981 439,499,004
2070 68,936,208 436,539,777
2069 68,095,292 433,472,204
2068 67,251,348 430,320,190
2067 66,399,507 427,066,199
2066 65,539,313 423,736,078
2065 64,675,474 420,318,527
2064 63,807,579 416,811,285
2063 62,939,156 413,231,409
2062 62,065,714 409,583,480
2061 61,188,220 405,859,509
2060 60,302,920 402,073,494
2059 59,413,352 398,228,736
2058 58,519,385 394,315,883
2057 57,622,572 390,341,867
2056 56,730,793 386,298,064
2055 55,837,458 382,193,151
2054 54,935,159 378,030,342
2053 54,032,780 373,799,276
2052 53,122,812 369,501,634
2051 52,215,921 365,149,555
2050 51,314,050 360,734,783
2049 50,406,453 356,271,401
2048 49,501,629 351,752,501
2047 48,593,064 347,169,674
2046 47,688,721 342,532,578
2045 46,789,773 337,834,528
2044 45,890,362 333,076,416
2043 44,999,297 328,256,555
2042 44,103,714 323,388,886
2041 43,204,033 318,469,120
2040 42,316,677 313,492,800
2039 41,430,803 308,474,350
2038 40,554,253 303,423,786
2037 39,682,947 298,351,344
2036 38,815,989 293,250,795
2035 37,963,436 288,138,368
2034 37,116,013 283,018,151
2033 36,279,025 277,897,810
2032 35,446,827 272,769,123
2031 34,626,572 267,666,779
2030 33,811,853 262,583,487
2029 33,009,874 257,504,936
2028 32,213,983 252,465,743
2027 31,428,884 247,457,208
2026 30,654,707 242,477,499
2025 29,885,995 237,546,527
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% 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 66.3% to 51,314,050 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 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 2.62% 2.09%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Nigeria
Current population
30864115
243824469
Population rank 51/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 2.94%
One net population change
42 seconds
6.58 seconds
One birth every
32.9 seconds
4.2 seconds
One death every
2.59 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +13,141
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 48/197
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 - -13,892 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 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 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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