Country Profile: Cameroon

Cameroon, located in Central Africa, boasts a diverse geography that ranges from tropical coastal areas to semiarid regions in the north. With an estimated population of 31.5 million in 2025, it is home to numerous ethnic groups and languages, reflecting its rich cultural mosaic. The economy, primarily driven by agriculture, services, and industry, faces challenges including political instability and corruption. Governance remains centralized, with President Paul Biya in power since 1982, and the country grapples with ongoing unrest in its English-speaking regions.

Geography

Cameroon is strategically positioned between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria along the Bight of Biafra. It encompasses an area of 475,440 sq km, characterized by a diverse landscape that includes mountains, plateaus, and coastal plains. The country features significant natural resources such as petroleum and timber and experiences a variety of climates across its regions.

Highest Point: Fako on Mont Cameroun at 4,045 m
Coastline: 402 km
Land Boundaries: Totaling 5,018 km
Area Comparison: Slightly larger than California
Natural Hazards: Volcanic activity, particularly from Mt. Cameroon

People and Society

Cameroon has a population of approximately 31.5 million people, with a median age of 19.4 years. The society is ethnically diverse, with various groups including the Bamileke-Bamu and Biu-Mandara. The country recognizes both French and English as official languages, reflecting its colonial history. Urbanization is significant, with 59.3% of the population living in urban areas.

Urban Growth Rate: 3.43% (2020-2025)
Life Expectancy: 64.2 years (2024 est.)
Total Fertility Rate: 3.87 children/woman (2025 est.)
Literacy Rate: 72.6% (2018 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate: 44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Economy

Cameroon is the largest economy in the CEMAC region, with a GDP of approximately $143.3 billion (PPP) in 2024. The economy heavily relies on agriculture, contributing to 17.4% of GDP, and services, which account for 49.9%. However, ongoing political instability and systemic corruption hinder economic progress.

Real GDP Growth Rate: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Exports: Approximately $8.35 billion in 2023
Imports: Roughly $10.29 billion in 2023
Public Debt: 32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Government

Cameroon is a presidential republic with a governance structure dominated by the long-standing leadership of President Paul Biya. The country has a mixed legal system incorporating both French civil law and English common law. Political stability is often challenged by unrest in various regions, particularly among English-speaking populations.

Current President: Paul Biya since 1982
Legislative Branch: Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly and Senate)
Most Recent Election: Presidential elections held on 12 October 2025
Administrative Divisions: Divided into 10 regions
National Holiday: State Unification Day on 20 May

Military and Security

The Cameroon Armed Forces comprise the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with estimated active personnel between 40,000 to 50,000. The military faces challenges from internal unrest and threats from terrorist groups such as Boko Haram.

Military Expenditures: 1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Deployments: Over 750 troops in the Central African Republic
Service Obligation: 4 years for voluntary service (ages 18-23)
Active Conflict Areas: Ongoing issues in the Far North and English-speaking regions
Rapid Intervention Brigade: Specialized counter-terrorism unit

Energy

Cameroon has significant energy resources with an installed electricity generation capacity of 1.798 million kW. The majority of electricity is generated from hydroelectric sources, while access remains limited, especially in rural areas.

Electricity Access: 71% of the population (2022 est.)
Electricity Consumption: 6.161 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Petroleum Production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural Gas Production: 2.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Fossil Fuels: Account for 36.1% of installed capacity (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues in Cameroon include deforestation, soil erosion, and overfishing. The country is a party to several international environmental agreements, indicating its commitment to addressing these challenges.

Forest Coverage: 41% of land use (2023 est.)
Total Renewable Water Resources: 283.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 6.707 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)
Municipal Solid Waste Generation: 3.271 million tons annually (2024 est.)
Recycling Rate: Only 4.6% of municipal waste recycled (2022 est.)

Transportation

Cameroon has a developing transportation infrastructure, including 37 airports and 987 km of railways. The major port, Douala, plays a critical role in trade and commerce.

Railway Total Length: 987 km
Merchant Marine Total: 198 vessels (2023)
Ports: 7, including key ports such as Douala and Kribi
Civil Aircraft Registration Prefix: TJ
Airports: 37 (2025 est.)

Communications

The communications landscape in Cameroon features both fixed and mobile telephony, with 31.5 million mobile subscriptions reported in 2024. Internet access, however, remains limited.

Internet Users: 42% of the population (2023 est.)
Fixed-line Subscriptions: 67,500 (2024 est.)
Broadband Subscriptions: 603,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - Mobile Cellular: 108 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2024 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	31,518,954 (2025 est.)
Area	475,440 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$143.3 billion (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	4.271 million Btu/person	(2023 est.)
Birth Rate	30.79 births/1,000 population	(2025 est.)
Unemployment Rate	3.6% (2024 est.)
Urban Population	59.3% (2023)
Infant Mortality Rate	44.6 deaths/1,000 live births	(2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	64.2 years (2024 est.)
Total Fertility Rate	3.87 children born/woman	(2025 est.)