Flag of Cameroon

Cameroon

AfricaCM December 31, 2025
Map of Cameroon
Locator map of Cameroon

Background

Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year, the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Nonetheless, unrest and violence in the country's two western, English-speaking regions have persisted since 2016. Movement toward democratic reform is slow, and political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Quick Facts

Capital
Yaounde
Population
30,966,105
Area
475,440 sq km
GDP
$51.327 billion
GDP per Capita
$4,900
Life Expectancy
64.2 years
Government
Presidential republic
Languages
24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Literacy
72.6%