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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,879,337 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 31,045,453 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 2.06 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.55% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.8% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 31M (76.9% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Cameroon vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Rwanda
2100 89,761,493 33,113,283
2099 89,236,081 33,008,545
2098 88,700,571 32,927,982
2097 88,148,423 32,853,307
2096 87,584,533 32,768,037
2095 87,012,755 32,635,508
2094 86,422,461 32,550,001
2093 85,823,264 32,416,870
2092 85,216,516 32,294,333
2091 84,591,510 32,191,262
2090 83,955,258 32,088,747
2089 83,304,250 31,892,591
2088 82,644,527 31,746,789
2087 81,971,087 31,553,150
2086 81,292,292 31,399,004
2085 80,596,814 31,254,597
2084 79,893,144 31,112,448
2083 79,174,449 30,937,106
2082 78,447,054 30,752,861
2081 77,705,764 30,576,992
2080 76,946,674 30,386,351
2079 76,185,626 30,195,560
2078 75,414,998 30,016,688
2077 74,632,426 29,819,259
2076 73,846,385 29,645,610
2075 73,045,925 29,441,964
2074 72,232,083 29,243,980
2073 71,416,307 29,025,977
2072 70,587,575 28,798,822
2071 69,756,436 28,578,302
2070 68,920,850 28,334,300
2069 68,080,121 28,121,174
2068 67,236,365 27,872,383
2067 66,384,714 27,609,059
2066 65,524,711 27,372,823
2065 64,661,065 27,101,698
2064 63,793,364 26,838,144
2063 62,925,133 26,559,838
2062 62,051,886 26,312,631
2061 61,174,588 26,001,660
2060 60,289,485 25,729,037
2059 59,400,116 25,453,407
2058 58,506,347 25,121,995
2057 57,609,734 24,853,512
2056 56,718,154 24,582,198
2055 55,825,018 24,281,895
2054 54,922,920 23,991,958
2053 54,020,742 23,705,290
2052 53,110,977 23,421,032
2051 52,204,288 23,113,700
2050 51,302,617 22,814,556
2049 50,395,223 22,498,806
2048 49,490,600 22,171,841
2047 48,582,238 21,848,486
2046 47,678,096 21,554,082
2045 46,779,348 21,228,573
2044 45,880,138 20,915,810
2043 44,989,272 20,548,490
2042 44,093,888 20,214,283
2041 43,194,408 19,845,021
2040 42,307,249 19,475,227
2039 41,421,572 19,108,842
2038 40,545,218 18,773,398
2037 39,674,106 18,433,422
2036 38,807,341 18,128,058
2035 37,954,978 17,765,049
2034 37,107,744 17,432,165
2033 36,270,943 17,100,072
2032 35,438,930 16,822,053
2031 34,618,857 16,495,903
2030 33,804,320 16,178,061
2029 33,002,520 15,868,812
2028 32,206,806 15,554,713
2027 31,421,882 15,217,275
2026 30,647,877 14,898,118
2025 29,879,337 14,569,341
2024 29,123,744 14,256,567
2023 28,372,687 13,954,471
2022 27,632,771 13,651,030
2021 26,915,758 13,355,260
2020 26,210,558 13,065,837
2019 25,506,095 12,776,103
2018 24,806,383 12,487,996
2017 24,128,601 12,202,060
2016 23,454,161 11,919,183
2015 22,763,414 11,640,022
2014 22,059,893 11,364,757
2013 21,402,376 11,093,340
2012 20,809,529 10,829,901
2011 20,232,304 10,573,733
2010 19,668,066 10,317,553
2009 19,113,974 10,060,432
2008 18,574,056 9,804,269
2007 18,049,896 9,549,933
2006 17,550,407 9,299,246
2005 17,074,594 9,054,528
2004 16,610,487 8,816,844
2003 16,160,340 8,586,875
2002 15,725,528 8,400,180
2001 15,309,490 8,287,094
2000 14,912,631 8,213,931
1999 14,525,140 8,147,912
1998 14,144,860 8,081,681
1997 13,775,214 7,755,238
1996 13,414,757 6,708,764
1995 13,058,516 5,674,118
1994 12,704,903 6,792,352
1993 12,353,131 7,981,132
1992 12,006,353 7,683,266
1991 11,667,180 7,526,966
1990 11,331,821 7,375,307
1989 11,002,745 7,184,706
1988 10,684,968 6,968,071
1987 10,370,749 6,749,493
1986 10,060,342 6,531,881
1985 9,761,730 6,317,228
1984 9,475,078 6,107,627
1983 9,215,397 5,905,311
1982 9,028,678 5,711,549
1981 8,816,377 5,527,230
1980 8,512,219 5,353,259
1979 8,239,641 5,189,541
1978 8,011,921 5,035,171
1977 7,796,501 4,888,240
1976 7,597,962 4,745,954
1975 7,397,120 4,607,728
1974 7,193,583 4,474,228
1973 6,996,660 4,345,047
1972 6,806,872 4,220,335
1971 6,624,408 4,100,044
1970 6,449,793 3,980,669
1969 6,283,462 3,861,271
1968 6,125,863 3,744,010
1967 5,977,318 3,629,577
1966 5,837,295 3,521,626
1965 5,704,686 3,423,210
1964 5,578,257 3,334,834
1963 5,456,623 3,258,890
1962 5,338,620 3,186,025
1961 5,239,273 3,106,779
1960 5,159,057 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,591,292 people (a 32.4% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Rwanda
2100 0.59% 0.32%
2099 0.6% 0.24%
2098 0.63% 0.23%
2097 0.64% 0.26%
2096 0.66% 0.41%
2095 0.68% 0.26%
2094 0.7% 0.41%
2093 0.71% 0.38%
2092 0.74% 0.32%
2091 0.76% 0.32%
2090 0.78% 0.62%
2089 0.8% 0.46%
2088 0.82% 0.61%
2087 0.84% 0.49%
2086 0.86% 0.46%
2085 0.88% 0.46%
2084 0.91% 0.57%
2083 0.93% 0.6%
2082 0.95% 0.58%
2081 0.99% 0.63%
2080 1% 0.63%
2079 1.02% 0.6%
2078 1.05% 0.66%
2077 1.06% 0.59%
2076 1.1% 0.69%
2075 1.13% 0.68%
2074 1.14% 0.75%
2073 1.17% 0.79%
2072 1.19% 0.77%
2071 1.21% 0.86%
2070 1.23% 0.76%
2069 1.25% 0.89%
2068 1.28% 0.95%
2067 1.31% 0.86%
2066 1.34% 1%
2065 1.36% 0.98%
2064 1.38% 1.05%
2063 1.41% 0.94%
2062 1.43% 1.2%
2061 1.47% 1.06%
2060 1.5% 1.08%
2059 1.53% 1.32%
2058 1.56% 1.08%
2057 1.57% 1.1%
2056 1.6% 1.24%
2055 1.64% 1.21%
2054 1.67% 1.21%
2053 1.71% 1.21%
2052 1.74% 1.33%
2051 1.76% 1.31%
2050 1.8% 1.4%
2049 1.83% 1.47%
2048 1.87% 1.48%
2047 1.9% 1.37%
2046 1.92% 1.53%
2045 1.96% 1.5%
2044 1.98% 1.79%
2043 2.03% 1.65%
2042 2.08% 1.86%
2041 2.1% 1.9%
2040 2.14% 1.92%
2039 2.16% 1.79%
2038 2.2% 1.84%
2037 2.23% 1.68%
2036 2.25% 2.04%
2035 2.28% 1.91%
2034 2.31% 1.94%
2033 2.35% 1.65%
2032 2.37% 1.98%
2031 2.41% 1.96%
2030 2.43% 1.95%
2029 2.47% 2.02%
2028 2.5% 2.22%
2027 2.53% 2.14%
2026 2.57% 2.26%
2025 2.59% 2.19%
2024 2.65% 2.16%
2023 2.68% 2.22%
2022 2.66% 2.21%
2021 2.69% 2.22%
2020 2.76% 2.27%
2019 2.82% 2.31%
2018 2.81% 2.34%
2017 2.88% 2.37%
2016 3.03% 2.4%
2015 3.19% 2.42%
2014 3.07% 2.45%
2013 2.85% 2.43%
2012 2.85% 2.42%
2011 2.87% 2.48%
2010 2.9% 2.56%
2009 2.91% 2.61%
2008 2.9% 2.66%
2007 2.85% 2.7%
2006 2.79% 2.7%
2005 2.79% 2.7%
2004 2.79% 2.68%
2003 2.77% 2.22%
2002 2.72% 1.36%
2001 2.66% 0.89%
2000 2.67% 0.81%
1999 2.69% 0.82%
1998 2.68% 4.21%
1997 2.69% 15.6%
1996 2.73% 18.2%
1995 2.78% -16.5%
1994 2.85% -14.9%
1993 2.89% 3.88%
1992 2.91% 2.08%
1991 2.96% 2.06%
1990 2.99% 2.65%
1989 2.97% 3.11%
1988 3.03% 3.24%
1987 3.09% 3.33%
1986 3.06% 3.4%
1985 3.03% 3.43%
1984 2.82% 3.43%
1983 2.07% 3.39%
1982 2.41% 3.33%
1981 3.57% 3.25%
1980 3.31% 3.15%
1979 2.84% 3.07%
1978 2.76% 3.01%
1977 2.61% 3%
1976 2.72% 3%
1975 2.83% 2.98%
1974 2.81% 2.97%
1973 2.79% 2.96%
1972 2.75% 2.93%
1971 2.71% 3%
1970 2.65% 3.09%
1969 2.57% 3.13%
1968 2.49% 3.15%
1967 2.4% 3.07%
1966 2.32% 2.87%
1965 2.27% 2.65%
1964 2.23% 2.33%
1963 2.21% 2.29%
1962 1.9% 2.55%
1961 1.55% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.59%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Rwanda
Current population
31045453
15062056
Population rank 51/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.18%
One net population change
41.9 seconds
1.69 minutes
One birth every
32.5 seconds
1.31 minutes
One death every
2.57 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,070 +857
Annual growth/decline +755,593 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +2.59% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 22/197 40/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -15,379 +6,282
Net migration rank 146/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - 6,282
2024 766,304 -13,892 316,025 -15,582
2023 754,486 -4,798 312,762 -9,001
2022 734,893 -4,798 312,145 -9,001
2021 713,806 -9,888 309,895 -21,492
2020 716,361 -9,888 312,692 -22,251
2019 714,681 -12,255 313,525 -24,492
2018 706,188 -9,184 312,512 -25,323
2017 696,496 -37,912 310,323 -25,634
2016 677,051 13,255 305,549 -24,474
2015 649,190 42,008 299,114 -21,862
2014 619,243 96,599 292,779 -19,505
2013 606,072 -6,900 286,331 -16,779
2012 594,029 -7,523 282,584 -25,260
2011 580,607 -12,669 282,922 -27,915
2010 569,921 -9,366 286,848 -29,501
2009 557,841 -10,203 287,034 -30,128
2008 542,919 -10,720 287,334 -31,913
2007 526,949 -10,807 285,791 -32,537
2006 511,366 -28,528 282,149 -34,008
2005 496,547 -27,775 275,121 -33,830
2004 478,880 -19,444 265,273 -31,214
2003 459,422 -18,568 251,243 -25,355
2002 439,544 -10,766 239,036 -91,518
2001 422,511 -19,203 230,845 -152,197
2000 411,633 -21,221 221,276 -153,588
1999 401,969 -17,398 210,518 -146,162
1998 388,432 -12,446 197,185 -129,089
1997 377,138 -13,842 174,687 410,106
1996 370,355 -12,738 140,455 1,367,700
1995 367,532 -12,661 121,137 439,995
1994 364,390 -12,028 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 360,785 -9,601 183,926 236,110
1992 356,072 -13,702 188,025 -12,334
1991 350,493 -14,520 196,431 -59,519
1990 342,901 -8,163 207,895 -41,483
1989 334,649 -11,244 217,632 -2,826
1988 328,168 -16,016 223,759 -5,285
1987 320,134 -3,829 225,744 -7,062
1986 308,188 -3,671 225,526 -8,982
1985 296,317 -3,604 223,794 -11,031
1984 284,110 -3,512 219,337 -12,899
1983 276,112 -37,346 212,750 -14,560
1982 274,652 -139,974 205,147 -15,818
1981 262,076 27,845 195,769 -16,453
1980 247,808 70,589 184,988 -16,359
1979 238,875 -12,108 174,477 -15,669
1978 229,958 -1,282 163,779 -13,838
1977 222,785 -20,622 155,011 -11,084
1976 214,916 -19,994 147,665 -7,027
1975 206,986 -237 140,596 -4,791
1974 200,693 -377 135,743 -4,535
1973 193,997 -466 131,021 -3,862
1972 186,521 -473 126,403 -4,156
1971 179,317 -439 122,567 -4,230
1970 170,713 -367 119,273 1,149
1969 162,603 -286 115,394 2,983
1968 153,080 -204 111,422 4,728
1967 144,370 -148 108,053 4,655
1966 135,927 -96 105,128 -1,930
1965 129,428 -39 103,422 -9,774
1964 123,469 0 102,562 -19,458
1963 119,784 0 94,296 -25,524
1962 116,232 0 102,548 -25,594
1961 82,471 0 102,051 -20,508
1960 77,948 0 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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