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Population in Cameroon compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 2.13 times bigger than Cameroon's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.16% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Cameroon vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon South Africa
2100 89,781,496 94,767,727
2099 89,255,966 94,556,931
2098 88,720,337 94,349,546
2097 88,168,066 94,158,472
2096 87,604,050 93,960,605
2095 87,032,145 93,752,736
2094 86,441,720 93,527,902
2093 85,842,389 93,300,398
2092 85,235,505 93,074,837
2091 84,610,360 92,826,204
2090 83,973,967 92,594,033
2089 83,322,813 92,355,184
2088 82,662,944 92,112,914
2087 81,989,354 91,866,024
2086 81,310,407 91,614,165
2085 80,614,775 91,385,350
2084 79,910,947 91,139,318
2083 79,192,092 90,877,425
2082 78,464,535 90,615,359
2081 77,723,079 90,345,492
2080 76,963,821 90,071,835
2079 76,202,603 89,801,998
2078 75,431,803 89,526,224
2077 74,649,057 89,249,206
2076 73,862,841 88,986,114
2075 73,062,202 88,713,215
2074 72,248,179 88,428,616
2073 71,432,221 88,149,885
2072 70,603,305 87,866,246
2071 69,771,981 87,540,177
2070 68,936,208 87,209,425
2069 68,095,292 86,901,512
2068 67,251,348 86,588,742
2067 66,399,507 86,268,392
2066 65,539,313 85,935,310
2065 64,675,474 85,604,376
2064 63,807,579 85,244,950
2063 62,939,156 84,875,503
2062 62,065,714 84,503,237
2061 61,188,220 84,132,885
2060 60,302,920 83,748,999
2059 59,413,352 83,354,923
2058 58,519,385 82,947,675
2057 57,622,572 82,538,045
2056 56,730,793 82,127,477
2055 55,837,458 81,698,196
2054 54,935,159 81,255,867
2053 54,032,780 80,818,632
2052 53,122,812 80,367,409
2051 52,215,921 79,886,672
2050 51,314,050 79,411,977
2049 50,406,453 78,925,493
2048 49,501,629 78,437,677
2047 48,593,064 77,922,211
2046 47,688,721 77,397,298
2045 46,789,773 76,879,838
2044 45,890,362 76,357,155
2043 44,999,297 75,827,709
2042 44,103,714 75,291,615
2041 43,204,033 74,748,408
2040 42,316,677 74,205,530
2039 41,430,803 73,663,047
2038 40,554,253 73,105,930
2037 39,682,947 72,532,742
2036 38,815,989 71,956,247
2035 37,963,436 71,362,555
2034 37,116,013 70,762,815
2033 36,279,025 70,153,205
2032 35,446,827 69,527,410
2031 34,626,572 68,890,002
2030 33,811,853 68,245,372
2029 33,009,874 67,573,179
2028 32,213,983 66,884,377
2027 31,428,884 66,190,258
2026 30,654,707 65,496,277
2025 29,885,995 64,770,314
2024 29,123,744 64,007,187
2023 28,372,687 63,212,384
2022 27,632,771 62,378,410
2021 26,915,758 61,502,603
2020 26,210,558 60,562,381
2019 25,506,095 59,587,885
2018 24,806,383 58,613,001
2017 24,128,601 57,635,162
2016 23,454,161 57,259,551
2015 22,763,414 56,723,537
2014 22,059,893 55,594,838
2013 21,402,376 54,678,791
2012 20,809,529 53,782,567
2011 20,232,304 52,995,205
2010 19,668,066 52,344,051
2009 19,113,974 51,728,516
2008 18,574,056 51,114,599
2007 18,049,896 50,528,584
2006 17,550,407 49,998,277
2005 17,074,594 49,490,033
2004 16,610,487 48,991,421
2003 16,160,340 48,500,348
2002 15,725,528 48,019,415
2001 15,309,490 47,566,800
2000 14,912,631 47,159,719
1999 14,525,140 46,730,335
1998 14,144,860 46,223,880
1997 13,775,214 45,666,838
1996 13,414,757 45,123,018
1995 13,058,516 44,541,554
1994 12,704,903 44,004,139
1993 12,353,131 43,297,156
1992 12,006,353 42,443,509
1991 11,667,180 41,687,898
1990 11,331,821 40,746,268
1989 11,002,745 39,628,575
1988 10,684,968 38,480,649
1987 10,370,749 37,326,190
1986 10,060,342 36,180,515
1985 9,761,730 35,042,093
1984 9,475,078 33,892,788
1983 9,215,397 32,739,304
1982 9,028,678 31,615,339
1981 8,816,377 30,541,044
1980 8,512,219 29,518,857
1979 8,239,641 28,634,162
1978 8,011,921 27,869,507
1977 7,796,501 27,118,952
1976 7,597,962 26,395,450
1975 7,397,120 25,690,940
1974 7,193,583 24,989,108
1973 6,996,660 24,294,263
1972 6,806,872 23,609,456
1971 6,624,408 22,942,143
1970 6,449,793 22,279,984
1969 6,283,462 21,614,676
1968 6,125,863 20,957,287
1967 5,977,318 20,314,066
1966 5,837,295 19,690,087
1965 5,704,686 19,089,380
1964 5,578,257 18,511,361
1963 5,456,623 17,954,564
1962 5,338,620 17,418,522
1961 5,239,273 16,908,035
1960 5,159,057 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon South Africa
2100 0.59% 0.22%
2099 0.6% 0.22%
2098 0.63% 0.2%
2097 0.64% 0.21%
2096 0.66% 0.22%
2095 0.68% 0.24%
2094 0.7% 0.24%
2093 0.71% 0.24%
2092 0.74% 0.27%
2091 0.76% 0.25%
2090 0.78% 0.26%
2089 0.8% 0.26%
2088 0.82% 0.27%
2087 0.84% 0.27%
2086 0.86% 0.25%
2085 0.88% 0.27%
2084 0.91% 0.29%
2083 0.93% 0.29%
2082 0.95% 0.3%
2081 0.99% 0.3%
2080 1% 0.3%
2079 1.02% 0.31%
2078 1.05% 0.31%
2077 1.06% 0.3%
2076 1.1% 0.31%
2075 1.13% 0.32%
2074 1.14% 0.32%
2073 1.17% 0.32%
2072 1.19% 0.37%
2071 1.21% 0.38%
2070 1.23% 0.35%
2069 1.25% 0.36%
2068 1.28% 0.37%
2067 1.31% 0.39%
2066 1.34% 0.39%
2065 1.36% 0.42%
2064 1.38% 0.44%
2063 1.41% 0.44%
2062 1.43% 0.44%
2061 1.47% 0.46%
2060 1.5% 0.47%
2059 1.53% 0.49%
2058 1.56% 0.5%
2057 1.57% 0.5%
2056 1.6% 0.53%
2055 1.64% 0.54%
2054 1.67% 0.54%
2053 1.71% 0.56%
2052 1.74% 0.6%
2051 1.76% 0.6%
2050 1.8% 0.62%
2049 1.83% 0.62%
2048 1.87% 0.66%
2047 1.9% 0.68%
2046 1.92% 0.67%
2045 1.96% 0.68%
2044 1.98% 0.7%
2043 2.03% 0.71%
2042 2.08% 0.73%
2041 2.1% 0.73%
2040 2.14% 0.74%
2039 2.16% 0.76%
2038 2.2% 0.79%
2037 2.23% 0.8%
2036 2.25% 0.83%
2035 2.28% 0.85%
2034 2.31% 0.87%
2033 2.35% 0.9%
2032 2.37% 0.93%
2031 2.41% 0.94%
2030 2.43% 0.99%
2029 2.47% 1.03%
2028 2.5% 1.05%
2027 2.53% 1.06%
2026 2.57% 1.12%
2025 2.62% 1.19%
2024 2.65% 1.26%
2023 2.68% 1.34%
2022 2.66% 1.42%
2021 2.69% 1.55%
2020 2.76% 1.64%
2019 2.82% 1.66%
2018 2.81% 1.7%
2017 2.88% 0.66%
2016 3.03% 0.94%
2015 3.19% 2.03%
2014 3.07% 1.68%
2013 2.85% 1.67%
2012 2.85% 1.49%
2011 2.87% 1.24%
2010 2.9% 1.19%
2009 2.91% 1.2%
2008 2.9% 1.16%
2007 2.85% 1.06%
2006 2.79% 1.03%
2005 2.79% 1.02%
2004 2.79% 1.01%
2003 2.77% 1%
2002 2.72% 0.95%
2001 2.66% 0.86%
2000 2.67% 0.92%
1999 2.69% 1.1%
1998 2.68% 1.22%
1997 2.69% 1.21%
1996 2.73% 1.31%
1995 2.78% 1.22%
1994 2.85% 1.63%
1993 2.89% 2.01%
1992 2.91% 1.81%
1991 2.96% 2.31%
1990 2.99% 2.82%
1989 2.97% 2.98%
1988 3.03% 3.09%
1987 3.09% 3.17%
1986 3.06% 3.25%
1985 3.03% 3.39%
1984 2.82% 3.52%
1983 2.07% 3.56%
1982 2.41% 3.52%
1981 3.57% 3.46%
1980 3.31% 3.09%
1979 2.84% 2.74%
1978 2.76% 2.77%
1977 2.61% 2.74%
1976 2.72% 2.74%
1975 2.83% 2.81%
1974 2.81% 2.86%
1973 2.79% 2.9%
1972 2.75% 2.91%
1971 2.71% 2.97%
1970 2.65% 3.08%
1969 2.57% 3.14%
1968 2.49% 3.17%
1967 2.4% 3.17%
1966 2.32% 3.15%
1965 2.27% 3.12%
1964 2.23% 3.1%
1963 2.21% 3.08%
1962 1.9% 3.02%
1961 1.55% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Cameroon South Africa
Current population
30864115
65683993
Population rank 51/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.79%
One net population change
42 seconds
39.7 seconds
One birth every
32.9 seconds
26.6 seconds
One death every
2.59 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 85/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 +146,370
Net migration rank 146/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - 146,370
2024 - -13,892 - 166,972
2023 754,486 -4,798 602,793 228,222
2022 734,893 -4,798 603,636 233,284
2021 713,806 -9,888 456,411 458,246
2020 716,361 -9,888 595,873 369,901
2019 714,681 -12,255 652,130 331,124
2018 706,188 -9,184 648,319 318,260
2017 696,496 -37,912 645,975 343,146
2016 677,051 13,255 641,365 -879,235
2015 649,190 42,008 668,771 641,150
2014 619,243 96,599 674,754 272,697
2013 606,072 -6,900 652,427 232,230
2012 594,029 -7,523 643,723 264,091
2011 580,607 -12,669 601,708 65,166
2010 569,921 -9,366 566,834 68,563
2009 557,841 -10,203 554,115 41,528
2008 542,919 -10,720 595,332 36,869
2007 526,949 -10,807 503,567 36,339
2006 511,366 -28,528 487,584 33,159
2005 496,547 -27,775 464,464 31,286
2004 478,880 -19,444 442,540 58,924
2003 459,422 -18,568 415,018 65,604
2002 439,544 -10,766 430,926 50,313
2001 422,511 -19,203 484,801 -60,793
2000 411,633 -21,221 526,963 -136,794
1999 401,969 -17,398 594,643 -126,011
1998 388,432 -12,446 627,027 -82,722
1997 377,138 -13,842 667,969 -98,181
1996 370,355 -12,738 710,868 -193,007
1995 367,532 -12,661 743,488 -98,403
1994 364,390 -12,028 698,609 -268,849
1993 360,785 -9,601 789,220 194,977
1992 356,072 -13,702 794,415 -71,342
1991 350,493 -14,520 827,296 -39,131
1990 342,901 -8,163 835,421 259,718
1989 334,649 -11,244 884,629 255,605
1988 328,168 -16,016 909,221 246,382
1987 320,134 -3,829 922,330 231,009
1986 308,188 -3,671 903,644 234,378
1985 296,317 -3,604 893,889 244,940
1984 284,110 -3,512 869,011 290,789
1983 276,112 -37,346 837,013 310,172
1982 274,652 -139,974 807,550 293,195
1981 262,076 27,845 767,833 279,985
1980 247,808 70,589 738,415 258,127
1979 238,875 -12,108 716,541 56,323
1978 229,958 -1,282 694,341 62,121
1977 222,785 -20,622 680,929 63,739
1976 214,916 -19,994 675,011 27,333
1975 206,986 -237 667,862 38,809
1974 200,693 -377 658,438 38,518
1973 193,997 -466 651,596 41,125
1972 186,521 -473 638,754 38,163
1971 179,317 -439 624,761 32,961
1970 170,713 -367 605,102 61,514
1969 162,603 -286 590,794 73,225
1968 153,080 -204 571,841 78,932
1967 144,370 -148 553,741 81,932
1966 135,927 -96 534,862 77,417
1965 129,428 -39 506,632 82,514
1964 123,469 0 490,606 76,298
1963 119,784 0 473,821 72,844
1962 116,232 0 455,634 69,771
1961 82,471 0 437,851 57,728
1960 77,948 0 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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