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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 1.78 times bigger than Zimbabwe's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Cameroon vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Zimbabwe
2100 89,781,496 37,483,053
2099 89,255,966 37,412,398
2098 88,720,337 37,328,255
2097 88,168,066 37,235,542
2096 87,604,050 37,142,915
2095 87,032,145 37,032,129
2094 86,441,720 36,912,747
2093 85,842,389 36,810,893
2092 85,235,505 36,688,511
2091 84,610,360 36,567,262
2090 83,973,967 36,425,606
2089 83,322,813 36,280,973
2088 82,662,944 36,141,446
2087 81,989,354 35,977,638
2086 81,310,407 35,808,135
2085 80,614,775 35,637,092
2084 79,910,947 35,456,207
2083 79,192,092 35,268,035
2082 78,464,535 35,078,904
2081 77,723,079 34,873,129
2080 76,963,821 34,658,962
2079 76,202,603 34,439,720
2078 75,431,803 34,217,295
2077 74,649,057 33,982,909
2076 73,862,841 33,739,228
2075 73,062,202 33,495,867
2074 72,248,179 33,244,838
2073 71,432,221 32,978,488
2072 70,603,305 32,706,059
2071 69,771,981 32,445,747
2070 68,936,208 32,181,119
2069 68,095,292 31,906,793
2068 67,251,348 31,631,000
2067 66,399,507 31,345,338
2066 65,539,313 31,062,884
2065 64,675,474 30,766,830
2064 63,807,579 30,479,939
2063 62,939,156 30,176,104
2062 62,065,714 29,867,679
2061 61,188,220 29,557,068
2060 60,302,920 29,252,423
2059 59,413,352 28,945,088
2058 58,519,385 28,631,679
2057 57,622,572 28,307,305
2056 56,730,793 27,990,713
2055 55,837,458 27,658,887
2054 54,935,159 27,331,920
2053 54,032,780 26,986,935
2052 53,122,812 26,643,553
2051 52,215,921 26,287,592
2050 51,314,050 25,934,893
2049 50,406,453 25,585,239
2048 49,501,629 25,228,082
2047 48,593,064 24,874,649
2046 47,688,721 24,513,443
2045 46,789,773 24,147,637
2044 45,890,362 23,783,088
2043 44,999,297 23,401,965
2042 44,103,714 23,035,288
2041 43,204,033 22,647,950
2040 42,316,677 22,273,520
2039 41,430,803 21,902,980
2038 40,554,253 21,530,130
2037 39,682,947 21,159,664
2036 38,815,989 20,791,034
2035 37,963,436 20,413,656
2034 37,116,013 20,048,019
2033 36,279,025 19,676,339
2032 35,446,827 19,311,985
2031 34,626,572 18,959,300
2030 33,811,853 18,613,738
2029 33,009,874 18,270,049
2028 32,213,983 17,933,466
2027 31,428,884 17,600,984
2026 30,654,707 17,273,208
2025 29,885,995 16,949,303
2024 29,123,744 16,634,373
2023 28,372,687 16,340,822
2022 27,632,771 16,069,056
2021 26,915,758 15,797,210
2020 26,210,558 15,526,888
2019 25,506,095 15,271,368
2018 24,806,383 15,034,452
2017 24,128,601 14,812,482
2016 23,454,161 14,600,294
2015 22,763,414 14,399,013
2014 22,059,893 14,207,359
2013 21,402,376 14,013,808
2012 20,809,529 13,817,887
2011 20,232,304 13,595,424
2010 19,668,066 13,356,548
2009 19,113,974 13,142,790
2008 18,574,056 12,959,149
2007 18,049,896 12,804,058
2006 17,550,407 12,636,445
2005 17,074,594 12,483,432
2004 16,610,487 12,365,896
2003 16,160,340 12,232,323
2002 15,725,528 12,087,653
2001 15,309,490 11,971,901
2000 14,912,631 11,892,055
1999 14,525,140 11,783,458
1998 14,144,860 11,594,297
1997 13,775,214 11,369,827
1996 13,414,757 11,158,360
1995 13,058,516 10,974,599
1994 12,704,903 10,873,148
1993 12,353,131 10,860,288
1992 12,006,353 10,702,700
1991 11,667,180 10,404,816
1990 11,331,821 10,137,281
1989 11,002,745 9,864,798
1988 10,684,968 9,583,094
1987 10,370,749 9,284,644
1986 10,060,342 8,982,578
1985 9,761,730 8,686,813
1984 9,475,078 8,391,488
1983 9,215,397 8,098,404
1982 9,028,678 7,796,496
1981 8,816,377 7,498,635
1980 8,512,219 7,041,303
1979 8,239,641 6,647,556
1978 8,011,921 6,543,575
1977 7,796,501 6,449,512
1976 7,597,962 6,287,105
1975 7,397,120 6,098,658
1974 7,193,583 5,908,328
1973 6,996,660 5,720,404
1972 6,806,872 5,542,445
1971 6,624,408 5,374,712
1970 6,449,793 5,215,918
1969 6,283,462 5,058,181
1968 6,125,863 4,900,440
1967 5,977,318 4,748,307
1966 5,837,295 4,601,217
1965 5,704,686 4,458,462
1964 5,578,257 4,320,006
1963 5,456,623 4,185,877
1962 5,338,620 4,055,959
1961 5,239,273 3,930,401
1960 5,159,057 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 37.5M people in 2100 for Zimbabwe.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Zimbabwe
2100 0.59% 0.19%
2099 0.6% 0.23%
2098 0.63% 0.25%
2097 0.64% 0.25%
2096 0.66% 0.3%
2095 0.68% 0.32%
2094 0.7% 0.28%
2093 0.71% 0.33%
2092 0.74% 0.33%
2091 0.76% 0.39%
2090 0.78% 0.4%
2089 0.8% 0.39%
2088 0.82% 0.46%
2087 0.84% 0.47%
2086 0.86% 0.48%
2085 0.88% 0.51%
2084 0.91% 0.53%
2083 0.93% 0.54%
2082 0.95% 0.59%
2081 0.99% 0.62%
2080 1% 0.64%
2079 1.02% 0.65%
2078 1.05% 0.69%
2077 1.06% 0.72%
2076 1.1% 0.73%
2075 1.13% 0.76%
2074 1.14% 0.81%
2073 1.17% 0.83%
2072 1.19% 0.8%
2071 1.21% 0.82%
2070 1.23% 0.86%
2069 1.25% 0.87%
2068 1.28% 0.91%
2067 1.31% 0.91%
2066 1.34% 0.96%
2065 1.36% 0.94%
2064 1.38% 1.01%
2063 1.41% 1.03%
2062 1.43% 1.05%
2061 1.47% 1.04%
2060 1.5% 1.06%
2059 1.53% 1.09%
2058 1.56% 1.15%
2057 1.57% 1.13%
2056 1.6% 1.2%
2055 1.64% 1.2%
2054 1.67% 1.28%
2053 1.71% 1.29%
2052 1.74% 1.35%
2051 1.76% 1.36%
2050 1.8% 1.37%
2049 1.83% 1.42%
2048 1.87% 1.42%
2047 1.9% 1.47%
2046 1.92% 1.51%
2045 1.96% 1.53%
2044 1.98% 1.63%
2043 2.03% 1.59%
2042 2.08% 1.71%
2041 2.1% 1.68%
2040 2.14% 1.69%
2039 2.16% 1.73%
2038 2.2% 1.75%
2037 2.23% 1.77%
2036 2.25% 1.85%
2035 2.28% 1.82%
2034 2.31% 1.89%
2033 2.35% 1.89%
2032 2.37% 1.86%
2031 2.41% 1.86%
2030 2.43% 1.88%
2029 2.47% 1.88%
2028 2.5% 1.89%
2027 2.53% 1.9%
2026 2.57% 1.91%
2025 2.62% 1.89%
2024 2.65% 1.8%
2023 2.68% 1.69%
2022 2.66% 1.72%
2021 2.69% 1.74%
2020 2.76% 1.67%
2019 2.82% 1.58%
2018 2.81% 1.5%
2017 2.88% 1.45%
2016 3.03% 1.4%
2015 3.19% 1.35%
2014 3.07% 1.38%
2013 2.85% 1.42%
2012 2.85% 1.64%
2011 2.87% 1.79%
2010 2.9% 1.63%
2009 2.91% 1.42%
2008 2.9% 1.21%
2007 2.85% 1.33%
2006 2.79% 1.23%
2005 2.79% 0.95%
2004 2.79% 1.09%
2003 2.77% 1.2%
2002 2.72% 0.97%
2001 2.66% 0.67%
2000 2.67% 0.92%
1999 2.69% 1.63%
1998 2.68% 1.97%
1997 2.69% 1.9%
1996 2.73% 1.67%
1995 2.78% 0.93%
1994 2.85% 0.12%
1993 2.89% 1.47%
1992 2.91% 2.86%
1991 2.96% 2.64%
1990 2.99% 2.76%
1989 2.97% 2.94%
1988 3.03% 3.21%
1987 3.09% 3.36%
1986 3.06% 3.4%
1985 3.03% 3.52%
1984 2.82% 3.62%
1983 2.07% 3.87%
1982 2.41% 3.97%
1981 3.57% 6.49%
1980 3.31% 5.92%
1979 2.84% 1.59%
1978 2.76% 1.46%
1977 2.61% 2.58%
1976 2.72% 3.09%
1975 2.83% 3.22%
1974 2.81% 3.29%
1973 2.79% 3.21%
1972 2.75% 3.12%
1971 2.71% 3.04%
1970 2.65% 3.12%
1969 2.57% 3.22%
1968 2.49% 3.2%
1967 2.4% 3.2%
1966 2.32% 3.2%
1965 2.27% 3.2%
1964 2.23% 3.2%
1963 2.21% 3.2%
1962 1.9% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Zimbabwe
Current population
30864115
17361868
Population rank 51/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.21%
One net population change
42 seconds
1.79 minutes
One birth every
32.9 seconds
1.06 minutes
One death every
2.59 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +804
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 60/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -15,379 -54,555
Net migration rank 146/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -54,555
2024 - -13,892 - -60,528
2023 754,486 -4,798 372,505 -97,380
2022 734,893 -4,798 371,243 -102,828
2021 713,806 -9,888 349,908 -74,623
2020 716,361 -9,888 354,790 -89,440
2019 714,681 -12,255 348,798 -103,107
2018 706,188 -9,184 345,883 -117,758
2017 696,496 -37,912 344,035 -128,241
2016 677,051 13,255 348,772 -140,181
2015 649,190 42,008 356,203 -162,220
2014 619,243 96,599 366,350 -177,029
2013 606,072 -6,900 374,757 -176,972
2012 594,029 -7,523 371,135 -177,061
2011 580,607 -12,669 359,572 -108,714
2010 569,921 -9,366 335,570 -108,671
2009 557,841 -10,203 309,316 -108,689
2008 542,919 -10,720 280,527 -113,858
2007 526,949 -10,807 261,805 -118,299
2006 511,366 -28,528 248,963 -57,257
2005 496,547 -27,775 248,545 -134,212
2004 478,880 -19,444 248,307 -127,550
2003 459,422 -18,568 243,057 -96,667
2002 439,544 -10,766 244,170 -101,212
2001 422,511 -19,203 227,909 -139,361
2000 411,633 -21,221 236,343 -165,181
1999 401,969 -17,398 232,393 -86,343
1998 388,432 -12,446 225,614 6,645
1997 377,138 -13,842 216,288 395
1996 370,355 -12,738 205,269 978
1995 367,532 -12,661 206,695 -45,428
1994 364,390 -12,028 216,343 -174,723
1993 360,785 -9,601 228,045 -243,947
1992 356,072 -13,702 255,291 75,788
1991 350,493 -14,520 260,943 3,749
1990 342,901 -8,163 265,444 4,948
1989 334,649 -11,244 270,838 3,736
1988 328,168 -16,016 277,498 11,327
1987 320,134 -3,829 286,766 21,308
1986 308,188 -3,671 289,894 6,154
1985 296,317 -3,604 290,756 4,718
1984 284,110 -3,512 290,052 5,124
1983 276,112 -37,346 286,545 4,456
1982 274,652 -139,974 279,934 32,899
1981 262,076 27,845 271,361 11,523
1980 247,808 70,589 241,179 390,593
1979 238,875 -12,108 223,657 -67,937
1978 229,958 -1,282 222,979 -170,727
1977 222,785 -20,622 225,139 -89,270
1976 214,916 -19,994 221,419 -32,495
1975 206,986 -237 216,947 -28,988
1974 200,693 -377 208,806 -16,105
1973 193,997 -466 201,885 -18,733
1972 186,521 -473 193,725 -20,959
1971 179,317 -439 185,427 -22,719
1970 170,713 -367 178,979 -24,102
1969 162,603 -286 172,626 -12,028
1968 153,080 -204 166,865 -11,997
1967 144,370 -148 161,205 -11,814
1966 135,927 -96 156,014 -11,211
1965 129,428 -39 151,164 -10,465
1964 123,469 0 145,848 -9,631
1963 119,784 0 140,984 -8,936
1962 116,232 0 136,317 -8,529
1961 82,471 0 131,531 -8,204
1960 77,948 0 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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