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Population in Cameroon compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,879,337 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 31,045,453 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 2.81 times bigger than Papua New Guinea's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.8% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 31M (76.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Cameroon vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Papua New Guinea
2100 89,761,493 18,798,240
2099 89,236,081 18,786,145
2098 88,700,571 18,772,372
2097 88,148,423 18,755,008
2096 87,584,533 18,733,822
2095 87,012,755 18,710,340
2094 86,422,461 18,683,383
2093 85,823,264 18,654,365
2092 85,216,516 18,621,911
2091 84,591,510 18,586,147
2090 83,955,258 18,545,656
2089 83,304,250 18,506,626
2088 82,644,527 18,464,999
2087 81,971,087 18,420,558
2086 81,292,292 18,372,233
2085 80,596,814 18,321,842
2084 79,893,144 18,270,605
2083 79,174,449 18,214,932
2082 78,447,054 18,159,412
2081 77,705,764 18,100,531
2080 76,946,674 18,035,268
2079 76,185,626 17,972,052
2078 75,414,998 17,904,957
2077 74,632,426 17,837,082
2076 73,846,385 17,768,107
2075 73,045,925 17,695,759
2074 72,232,083 17,621,390
2073 71,416,307 17,544,490
2072 70,587,575 17,463,028
2071 69,756,436 17,377,995
2070 68,920,850 17,291,519
2069 68,080,121 17,201,936
2068 67,236,365 17,108,606
2067 66,384,714 17,011,562
2066 65,524,711 16,911,929
2065 64,661,065 16,809,460
2064 63,793,364 16,705,205
2063 62,925,133 16,600,853
2062 62,051,886 16,493,872
2061 61,174,588 16,383,508
2060 60,289,485 16,267,162
2059 59,400,116 16,149,265
2058 58,506,347 16,029,360
2057 57,609,734 15,906,350
2056 56,718,154 15,781,247
2055 55,825,018 15,653,296
2054 54,922,920 15,519,925
2053 54,020,742 15,386,054
2052 53,110,977 15,247,553
2051 52,204,288 15,107,257
2050 51,302,617 14,965,427
2049 50,395,223 14,818,793
2048 49,490,600 14,670,417
2047 48,582,238 14,519,915
2046 47,678,096 14,367,141
2045 46,779,348 14,210,639
2044 45,880,138 14,053,122
2043 44,989,272 13,894,884
2042 44,093,888 13,735,841
2041 43,194,408 13,574,567
2040 42,307,249 13,410,615
2039 41,421,572 13,244,740
2038 40,545,218 13,076,640
2037 39,674,106 12,907,059
2036 38,807,341 12,735,582
2035 37,954,978 12,563,938
2034 37,107,744 12,389,907
2033 36,270,943 12,215,713
2032 35,438,930 12,039,848
2031 34,618,857 11,862,856
2030 33,804,320 11,683,177
2029 33,002,520 11,502,504
2028 32,206,806 11,320,226
2027 31,421,882 11,136,100
2026 30,647,877 10,950,183
2025 29,879,337 10,762,817
2024 29,123,744 10,576,502
2023 28,372,687 10,389,635
2022 27,632,771 10,203,169
2021 26,915,758 10,012,896
2020 26,210,558 9,815,746
2019 25,506,095 9,609,010
2018 24,806,383 9,394,513
2017 24,128,601 9,178,714
2016 23,454,161 8,961,718
2015 22,763,414 8,743,246
2014 22,059,893 8,523,441
2013 21,402,376 8,302,698
2012 20,809,529 8,081,390
2011 20,232,304 7,859,346
2010 19,668,066 7,633,523
2009 19,113,974 7,406,438
2008 18,574,056 7,183,002
2007 18,049,896 6,963,345
2006 17,550,407 6,747,720
2005 17,074,594 6,535,905
2004 16,610,487 6,328,041
2003 16,160,340 6,123,997
2002 15,725,528 5,924,003
2001 15,309,490 5,728,435
2000 14,912,631 5,537,064
1999 14,525,140 5,349,333
1998 14,144,860 5,166,390
1997 13,775,214 4,987,883
1996 13,414,757 4,813,361
1995 13,058,516 4,644,278
1994 12,704,903 4,480,208
1993 12,353,131 4,320,872
1992 12,006,353 4,166,699
1991 11,667,180 4,021,837
1990 11,331,821 3,896,481
1989 11,002,745 3,796,078
1988 10,684,968 3,711,880
1987 10,370,749 3,632,543
1986 10,060,342 3,554,793
1985 9,761,730 3,478,936
1984 9,475,078 3,405,198
1983 9,215,397 3,333,633
1982 9,028,678 3,264,291
1981 8,816,377 3,197,019
1980 8,512,219 3,131,512
1979 8,239,641 3,067,341
1978 8,011,921 3,003,714
1977 7,796,501 2,940,327
1976 7,597,962 2,877,327
1975 7,397,120 2,814,820
1974 7,193,583 2,752,671
1973 6,996,660 2,690,629
1972 6,806,872 2,628,432
1971 6,624,408 2,566,421
1970 6,449,793 2,505,628
1969 6,283,462 2,446,927
1968 6,125,863 2,390,803
1967 5,977,318 2,337,532
1966 5,837,295 2,285,774
1965 5,704,686 2,235,820
1964 5,578,257 2,188,325
1963 5,456,623 2,141,376
1962 5,338,620 2,093,919
1961 5,239,273 2,046,127
1960 5,159,057 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,591,292 people (a 32.4% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Papua New Guinea
2100 0.59% 0.06%
2099 0.6% 0.07%
2098 0.63% 0.09%
2097 0.64% 0.11%
2096 0.66% 0.13%
2095 0.68% 0.14%
2094 0.7% 0.16%
2093 0.71% 0.17%
2092 0.74% 0.19%
2091 0.76% 0.22%
2090 0.78% 0.21%
2089 0.8% 0.23%
2088 0.82% 0.24%
2087 0.84% 0.26%
2086 0.86% 0.28%
2085 0.88% 0.28%
2084 0.91% 0.31%
2083 0.93% 0.31%
2082 0.95% 0.33%
2081 0.99% 0.36%
2080 1% 0.35%
2079 1.02% 0.37%
2078 1.05% 0.38%
2077 1.06% 0.39%
2076 1.1% 0.41%
2075 1.13% 0.42%
2074 1.14% 0.44%
2073 1.17% 0.47%
2072 1.19% 0.49%
2071 1.21% 0.5%
2070 1.23% 0.52%
2069 1.25% 0.55%
2068 1.28% 0.57%
2067 1.31% 0.59%
2066 1.34% 0.61%
2065 1.36% 0.62%
2064 1.38% 0.63%
2063 1.41% 0.65%
2062 1.43% 0.67%
2061 1.47% 0.72%
2060 1.5% 0.73%
2059 1.53% 0.75%
2058 1.56% 0.77%
2057 1.57% 0.79%
2056 1.6% 0.82%
2055 1.64% 0.86%
2054 1.67% 0.87%
2053 1.71% 0.91%
2052 1.74% 0.93%
2051 1.76% 0.95%
2050 1.8% 0.99%
2049 1.83% 1.01%
2048 1.87% 1.04%
2047 1.9% 1.06%
2046 1.92% 1.1%
2045 1.96% 1.12%
2044 1.98% 1.14%
2043 2.03% 1.16%
2042 2.08% 1.19%
2041 2.1% 1.22%
2040 2.14% 1.25%
2039 2.16% 1.29%
2038 2.2% 1.31%
2037 2.23% 1.35%
2036 2.25% 1.37%
2035 2.28% 1.4%
2034 2.31% 1.43%
2033 2.35% 1.46%
2032 2.37% 1.49%
2031 2.41% 1.54%
2030 2.43% 1.57%
2029 2.47% 1.61%
2028 2.5% 1.65%
2027 2.53% 1.7%
2026 2.57% 1.74%
2025 2.59% 1.76%
2024 2.65% 1.8%
2023 2.68% 1.83%
2022 2.66% 1.9%
2021 2.69% 2.01%
2020 2.76% 2.15%
2019 2.82% 2.28%
2018 2.81% 2.35%
2017 2.88% 2.42%
2016 3.03% 2.5%
2015 3.19% 2.58%
2014 3.07% 2.66%
2013 2.85% 2.74%
2012 2.85% 2.83%
2011 2.87% 2.96%
2010 2.9% 3.07%
2009 2.91% 3.11%
2008 2.9% 3.15%
2007 2.85% 3.2%
2006 2.79% 3.24%
2005 2.79% 3.28%
2004 2.79% 3.33%
2003 2.77% 3.38%
2002 2.72% 3.41%
2001 2.66% 3.46%
2000 2.67% 3.51%
1999 2.69% 3.54%
1998 2.68% 3.58%
1997 2.69% 3.63%
1996 2.73% 3.64%
1995 2.78% 3.66%
1994 2.85% 3.69%
1993 2.89% 3.7%
1992 2.91% 3.6%
1991 2.96% 3.22%
1990 2.99% 2.64%
1989 2.97% 2.27%
1988 3.03% 2.18%
1987 3.09% 2.19%
1986 3.06% 2.18%
1985 3.03% 2.17%
1984 2.82% 2.15%
1983 2.07% 2.12%
1982 2.41% 2.1%
1981 3.57% 2.09%
1980 3.31% 2.09%
1979 2.84% 2.12%
1978 2.76% 2.16%
1977 2.61% 2.19%
1976 2.72% 2.22%
1975 2.83% 2.26%
1974 2.81% 2.31%
1973 2.79% 2.37%
1972 2.75% 2.42%
1971 2.71% 2.43%
1970 2.65% 2.4%
1969 2.57% 2.35%
1968 2.49% 2.28%
1967 2.4% 2.26%
1966 2.32% 2.23%
1965 2.27% 2.17%
1964 2.23% 2.19%
1963 2.21% 2.27%
1962 1.9% 2.34%
1961 1.55% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.59%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Papua New Guinea
Current population
31045453
11045681
Population rank 51/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.13%
One net population change
41.9 seconds
2.83 minutes
One birth every
32.5 seconds
2.05 minutes
One death every
2.57 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,070 +510
Annual growth/decline +755,593 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 22/197 59/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -15,379 -284
Net migration rank 146/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -284
2024 766,304 -13,892 187,595 -707
2023 754,486 -4,798 187,637 -787
2022 734,893 -4,798 186,861 -787
2021 713,806 -9,888 183,766 10,703
2020 716,361 -9,888 189,130 10,703
2019 714,681 -12,255 190,662 22,978
2018 706,188 -9,184 190,662 24,684
2017 696,496 -37,912 189,715 26,513
2016 677,051 13,255 189,281 28,473
2015 649,190 42,008 188,600 30,580
2014 619,243 96,599 187,592 32,840
2013 606,072 -6,900 185,790 35,280
2012 594,029 -7,523 183,658 37,893
2011 580,607 -12,669 181,842 40,690
2010 569,921 -9,366 178,998 50,106
2009 557,841 -10,203 175,421 49,647
2008 542,919 -10,720 172,823 48,985
2007 526,949 -10,807 169,306 48,203
2006 511,366 -28,528 166,540 47,191
2005 496,547 -27,775 163,888 46,014
2004 478,880 -19,444 161,023 44,811
2003 459,422 -18,568 158,611 43,639
2002 439,544 -10,766 155,091 42,657
2001 422,511 -19,203 151,431 41,962
2000 411,633 -21,221 147,496 41,855
1999 401,969 -17,398 143,592 42,519
1998 388,432 -12,446 136,677 43,091
1997 377,138 -13,842 134,458 42,787
1996 370,355 -12,738 129,802 41,994
1995 367,532 -12,661 125,410 40,962
1994 364,390 -12,028 122,113 39,669
1993 360,785 -9,601 118,668 38,220
1992 356,072 -13,702 114,818 36,622
1991 350,493 -14,520 111,453 26,830
1990 342,901 -8,163 110,033 2,398
1989 334,649 -11,244 108,199 -19,824
1988 328,168 -16,016 106,256 -26,232
1987 320,134 -3,829 104,367 -25,720
1986 308,188 -3,671 102,346 -25,495
1985 296,317 -3,604 100,333 -25,470
1984 284,110 -3,512 98,103 -25,487
1983 276,112 -37,346 95,982 -25,465
1982 274,652 -139,974 93,522 -25,355
1981 262,076 27,845 91,767 -25,383
1980 247,808 70,589 90,266 -25,638
1979 238,875 -12,108 89,330 -25,618
1978 229,958 -1,282 88,747 -25,208
1977 222,785 -20,622 87,954 -24,722
1976 214,916 -19,994 86,965 -24,198
1975 206,986 -237 85,809 -23,562
1974 200,693 -377 84,829 -22,771
1973 193,997 -466 83,821 -21,803
1972 186,521 -473 82,672 -20,303
1971 179,317 -439 80,599 -18,945
1970 170,713 -367 78,712 -18,773
1969 162,603 -286 76,454 -18,994
1968 153,080 -204 73,983 -19,188
1967 144,370 -148 71,519 -19,767
1966 135,927 -96 69,206 -17,454
1965 129,428 -39 66,693 -18,532
1964 123,469 0 64,558 -17,730
1963 119,784 0 62,260 -15,189
1962 116,232 0 59,974 -12,141
1961 82,471 0 58,151 -10,409
1960 77,948 0 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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