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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 1.36 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Cameroon vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Zambia
2100 89,781,496 65,217,429
2099 89,255,966 64,871,545
2098 88,720,337 64,515,891
2097 88,168,066 64,148,736
2096 87,604,050 63,777,313
2095 87,032,145 63,393,169
2094 86,441,720 62,992,652
2093 85,842,389 62,590,327
2092 85,235,505 62,175,930
2091 84,610,360 61,750,591
2090 83,973,967 61,321,399
2089 83,322,813 60,880,148
2088 82,662,944 60,434,676
2087 81,989,354 59,970,107
2086 81,310,407 59,499,234
2085 80,614,775 59,023,040
2084 79,910,947 58,535,857
2083 79,192,092 58,040,512
2082 78,464,535 57,538,672
2081 77,723,079 57,027,491
2080 76,963,821 56,506,421
2079 76,202,603 55,983,242
2078 75,431,803 55,449,777
2077 74,649,057 54,906,771
2076 73,862,841 54,361,075
2075 73,062,202 53,806,856
2074 72,248,179 53,246,777
2073 71,432,221 52,677,348
2072 70,603,305 52,101,139
2071 69,771,981 51,519,691
2070 68,936,208 50,931,614
2069 68,095,292 50,334,700
2068 67,251,348 49,737,479
2067 66,399,507 49,135,488
2066 65,539,313 48,530,443
2065 64,675,474 47,918,592
2064 63,807,579 47,299,740
2063 62,939,156 46,677,439
2062 62,065,714 46,048,819
2061 61,188,220 45,416,657
2060 60,302,920 44,777,347
2059 59,413,352 44,137,306
2058 58,519,385 43,494,451
2057 57,622,572 42,851,923
2056 56,730,793 42,206,898
2055 55,837,458 41,558,284
2054 54,935,159 40,906,492
2053 54,032,780 40,255,629
2052 53,122,812 39,603,888
2051 52,215,921 38,949,958
2050 51,314,050 38,294,607
2049 50,406,453 37,634,194
2048 49,501,629 36,971,309
2047 48,593,064 36,309,749
2046 47,688,721 35,645,868
2045 46,789,773 34,981,812
2044 45,890,362 34,316,981
2043 44,999,297 33,652,420
2042 44,103,714 32,990,657
2041 43,204,033 32,329,447
2040 42,316,677 31,664,262
2039 41,430,803 31,001,305
2038 40,554,253 30,335,662
2037 39,682,947 29,668,561
2036 38,815,989 29,000,264
2035 37,963,436 28,333,498
2034 37,116,013 27,671,195
2033 36,279,025 27,011,974
2032 35,446,827 26,356,580
2031 34,626,572 25,702,812
2030 33,811,853 25,055,216
2029 33,009,874 24,414,405
2028 32,213,983 23,780,809
2027 31,428,884 23,151,479
2026 30,654,707 22,529,742
2025 29,885,995 21,918,187
2024 29,123,744 21,314,956
2023 28,372,687 20,723,965
2022 27,632,771 20,152,938
2021 26,915,758 19,603,607
2020 26,210,558 19,059,395
2019 25,506,095 18,513,839
2018 24,806,383 17,973,569
2017 24,128,601 17,441,320
2016 23,454,161 16,914,423
2015 22,763,414 16,399,089
2014 22,059,893 15,895,315
2013 21,402,376 15,398,997
2012 20,809,529 14,913,629
2011 20,232,304 14,437,796
2010 19,668,066 13,965,594
2009 19,113,974 13,490,389
2008 18,574,056 13,021,324
2007 18,049,896 12,565,085
2006 17,550,407 12,129,553
2005 17,074,594 11,718,819
2004 16,610,487 11,338,198
2003 16,160,340 10,983,595
2002 15,725,528 10,647,949
2001 15,309,490 10,325,185
2000 14,912,631 10,017,631
1999 14,525,140 9,740,005
1998 14,144,860 9,482,408
1997 13,775,214 9,237,063
1996 13,414,757 9,004,053
1995 13,058,516 8,785,763
1994 12,704,903 8,576,269
1993 12,353,131 8,373,921
1992 12,006,353 8,176,680
1991 11,667,180 7,981,650
1990 11,331,821 7,786,169
1989 11,002,745 7,589,216
1988 10,684,968 7,391,440
1987 10,370,749 7,191,282
1986 10,060,342 6,986,471
1985 9,761,730 6,780,953
1984 9,475,078 6,580,490
1983 9,215,397 6,381,038
1982 9,028,678 6,178,637
1981 8,816,377 5,983,289
1980 8,512,219 5,802,833
1979 8,239,641 5,631,728
1978 8,011,921 5,465,374
1977 7,796,501 5,302,480
1976 7,597,962 5,143,842
1975 7,397,120 4,990,086
1974 7,193,583 4,842,746
1973 6,996,660 4,702,693
1972 6,806,872 4,569,309
1971 6,624,408 4,442,525
1970 6,449,793 4,321,718
1969 6,283,462 4,197,116
1968 6,125,863 4,065,593
1967 5,977,318 3,936,343
1966 5,837,295 3,812,003
1965 5,704,686 3,692,086
1964 5,578,257 3,577,017
1963 5,456,623 3,465,907
1962 5,338,620 3,358,099
1961 5,239,273 3,254,086
1960 5,159,057 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Zambia
2100 0.59% 0.53%
2099 0.6% 0.55%
2098 0.63% 0.57%
2097 0.64% 0.58%
2096 0.66% 0.61%
2095 0.68% 0.64%
2094 0.7% 0.64%
2093 0.71% 0.67%
2092 0.74% 0.69%
2091 0.76% 0.7%
2090 0.78% 0.72%
2089 0.8% 0.74%
2088 0.82% 0.77%
2087 0.84% 0.79%
2086 0.86% 0.81%
2085 0.88% 0.83%
2084 0.91% 0.85%
2083 0.93% 0.87%
2082 0.95% 0.9%
2081 0.99% 0.92%
2080 1% 0.93%
2079 1.02% 0.96%
2078 1.05% 0.99%
2077 1.06% 1%
2076 1.1% 1.03%
2075 1.13% 1.05%
2074 1.14% 1.08%
2073 1.17% 1.11%
2072 1.19% 1.13%
2071 1.21% 1.15%
2070 1.23% 1.19%
2069 1.25% 1.2%
2068 1.28% 1.23%
2067 1.31% 1.25%
2066 1.34% 1.28%
2065 1.36% 1.31%
2064 1.38% 1.33%
2063 1.41% 1.37%
2062 1.43% 1.39%
2061 1.47% 1.43%
2060 1.5% 1.45%
2059 1.53% 1.48%
2058 1.56% 1.5%
2057 1.57% 1.53%
2056 1.6% 1.56%
2055 1.64% 1.59%
2054 1.67% 1.62%
2053 1.71% 1.65%
2052 1.74% 1.68%
2051 1.76% 1.71%
2050 1.8% 1.75%
2049 1.83% 1.79%
2048 1.87% 1.82%
2047 1.9% 1.86%
2046 1.92% 1.9%
2045 1.96% 1.94%
2044 1.98% 1.97%
2043 2.03% 2.01%
2042 2.08% 2.05%
2041 2.1% 2.1%
2040 2.14% 2.14%
2039 2.16% 2.19%
2038 2.2% 2.25%
2037 2.23% 2.3%
2036 2.25% 2.35%
2035 2.28% 2.39%
2034 2.31% 2.44%
2033 2.35% 2.49%
2032 2.37% 2.54%
2031 2.41% 2.58%
2030 2.43% 2.62%
2029 2.47% 2.66%
2028 2.5% 2.72%
2027 2.53% 2.76%
2026 2.57% 2.79%
2025 2.62% 2.83%
2024 2.65% 2.85%
2023 2.68% 2.83%
2022 2.66% 2.8%
2021 2.69% 2.86%
2020 2.76% 2.95%
2019 2.82% 3.01%
2018 2.81% 3.05%
2017 2.88% 3.12%
2016 3.03% 3.14%
2015 3.19% 3.17%
2014 3.07% 3.22%
2013 2.85% 3.25%
2012 2.85% 3.3%
2011 2.87% 3.38%
2010 2.9% 3.52%
2009 2.91% 3.6%
2008 2.9% 3.63%
2007 2.85% 3.59%
2006 2.79% 3.5%
2005 2.79% 3.36%
2004 2.79% 3.23%
2003 2.77% 3.15%
2002 2.72% 3.13%
2001 2.66% 3.07%
2000 2.67% 2.85%
1999 2.69% 2.72%
1998 2.68% 2.66%
1997 2.69% 2.59%
1996 2.73% 2.48%
1995 2.78% 2.44%
1994 2.85% 2.42%
1993 2.89% 2.41%
1992 2.91% 2.44%
1991 2.96% 2.51%
1990 2.99% 2.6%
1989 2.97% 2.68%
1988 3.03% 2.78%
1987 3.09% 2.93%
1986 3.06% 3.03%
1985 3.03% 3.05%
1984 2.82% 3.13%
1983 2.07% 3.28%
1982 2.41% 3.26%
1981 3.57% 3.11%
1980 3.31% 3.04%
1979 2.84% 3.04%
1978 2.76% 3.07%
1977 2.61% 3.08%
1976 2.72% 3.08%
1975 2.83% 3.04%
1974 2.81% 2.98%
1973 2.79% 2.92%
1972 2.75% 2.85%
1971 2.71% 2.8%
1970 2.65% 2.97%
1969 2.57% 3.24%
1968 2.49% 3.28%
1967 2.4% 3.26%
1966 2.32% 3.25%
1965 2.27% 3.22%
1964 2.23% 3.21%
1963 2.21% 3.21%
1962 1.9% 3.2%
1961 1.55% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Zambia
Current population
30864115
22697916
Population rank 51/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.27%
One net population change
42 seconds
53.4 seconds
One birth every
32.9 seconds
46 seconds
One death every
2.59 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 21/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -15,379 +6,562
Net migration rank 146/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - 6,562
2024 - -13,892 - 7,381
2023 754,486 -4,798 577,660 9,521
2022 734,893 -4,798 563,456 -8,566
2021 713,806 -9,888 535,629 8,143
2020 716,361 -9,888 536,484 8,156
2019 714,681 -12,255 528,089 18,385
2018 706,188 -9,184 515,644 18,431
2017 696,496 -37,912 504,630 25,789
2016 677,051 13,255 497,521 25,860
2015 649,190 42,008 491,021 16,261
2014 619,243 96,599 483,663 16,574
2013 606,072 -6,900 476,846 15,542
2012 594,029 -7,523 469,406 8,958
2011 580,607 -12,669 459,743 13,569
2010 569,921 -9,366 448,337 22,761
2009 557,841 -10,203 434,458 44,867
2008 542,919 -10,720 419,560 39,249
2007 526,949 -10,807 403,729 49,945
2006 511,366 -28,528 387,891 29,517
2005 496,547 -27,775 368,756 35,316
2004 478,880 -19,444 349,352 7,819
2003 459,422 -18,568 331,189 20,845
2002 439,544 -10,766 316,041 3,206
2001 422,511 -19,203 302,682 23,582
2000 411,633 -21,221 293,186 -4,338
1999 401,969 -17,398 283,297 -16,888
1998 388,432 -12,446 275,568 -26,796
1997 377,138 -13,842 268,198 -26,276
1996 370,355 -12,738 262,468 -38,358
1995 367,532 -12,661 257,897 -45,423
1994 364,390 -12,028 252,023 -45,504
1993 360,785 -9,601 245,917 -47,739
1992 356,072 -13,702 239,953 -43,656
1991 350,493 -14,520 237,957 -44,203
1990 342,901 -8,163 235,835 -38,619
1989 334,649 -11,244 233,429 -36,736
1988 328,168 -16,016 230,118 -31,270
1987 320,134 -3,829 227,813 -26,338
1986 308,188 -3,671 224,768 -16,610
1985 296,317 -3,604 221,351 -18,474
1984 284,110 -3,512 216,695 -18,652
1983 276,112 -37,346 212,712 -11,849
1982 274,652 -139,974 207,621 -3,676
1981 262,076 27,845 202,822 -16,072
1980 247,808 70,589 198,817 -24,664
1979 238,875 -12,108 197,578 -29,515
1978 229,958 -1,282 194,933 -30,284
1977 222,785 -20,622 191,557 -30,423
1976 214,916 -19,994 186,762 -30,612
1975 206,986 -237 182,258 -30,886
1974 200,693 -377 174,484 -31,178
1973 193,997 -466 168,258 -31,472
1972 186,521 -473 161,648 -31,672
1971 179,317 -439 155,249 -31,651
1970 170,713 -367 149,380 -31,370
1969 162,603 -286 142,660 -11,469
1968 153,080 -204 137,315 -5,447
1967 144,370 -148 131,938 -5,298
1966 135,927 -96 127,164 -5,129
1965 129,428 -39 122,814 -5,023
1964 123,469 0 117,197 -4,851
1963 119,784 0 114,555 -4,676
1962 116,232 0 110,173 -4,428
1961 82,471 0 106,318 -4,043
1960 77,948 0 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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