Urban Population: Cameroon
Cameroon's urban population is currently 55.4% as of 2024. # Cameroon Urban Population Cameroon's urban population reached 55.
Current (2024)
55.4%
+0.5% y/y
Peak (2024)
55.4%
Low (1960)
13.6%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — Cameroon
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — Cameroon
Analysis# Cameroon Urban Population
Cameroon's urban population reached 55.403% in 2024, marking the country's all-time peak. This represents a dramatic transformation from 1960, when only 13.612% of Cameroonians lived in urban areas—a 307% increase over six decades. The shift reflects broader patterns of African urbanization driven by rural-to-urban migration, economic development, and infrastructure expansion.
The consistent upward trajectory since 2015 reveals accelerating urbanization. Annual growth averaged roughly 0.5 percentage points between 2015 and 2024, with the rate holding steady through recent years. Cameroon's urban population now exceeds its rural population for the first time in recorded history, suggesting continued metropolitan growth as economic opportunities concentrate in cities like Douala and Yaoundé.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 55.4% | +0.50% |
| 2023 | 55.1% | +0.52% |
| 2022 | 54.8% | +0.53% |
| 2021 | 54.6% | +0.55% |
| 2020 | 54.3% | +0.57% |
| 2019 | 53.9% | +0.59% |
| 2018 | 53.6% | +0.60% |
| 2017 | 53.3% | +0.62% |
| 2016 | 53.0% | +0.64% |
| 2015 | 52.6% | +0.66% |
| 2014 | 52.3% | +0.68% |
| 2013 | 51.9% | +0.70% |
| 2012 | 51.6% | +0.71% |
| 2011 | 51.2% | +0.73% |
| 2010 | 50.9% | +0.75% |
| 2009 | 50.5% | +0.77% |
| 2008 | 50.1% | +0.77% |
| 2007 | 49.7% | +1.01% |
| 2006 | 49.2% | +1.28% |
| 2005 | 48.6% | +0.83% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 48.2% | +0.94% |
| 2003 | 47.7% | +1.00% |
| 2002 | 47.3% | +1.06% |
| 2001 | 46.8% | +1.12% |
| 2000 | 46.2% | +1.18% |
| 1999 | 45.7% | +1.24% |
| 1998 | 45.1% | +1.29% |
| 1997 | 44.6% | +1.35% |
| 1996 | 44.0% | +1.41% |
| 1995 | 43.4% | +1.47% |
| 1994 | 42.7% | +1.53% |
| 1993 | 42.1% | +1.58% |
| 1992 | 41.4% | +1.64% |
| 1991 | 40.8% | +1.70% |
| 1990 | 40.1% | +1.76% |
| 1989 | 39.4% | +1.82% |
| 1988 | 38.7% | +1.87% |
| 1987 | 38.0% | +1.95% |
| 1986 | 37.3% | +2.05% |
| 1985 | 36.5% | +2.16% |
| 1984 | 35.7% | +2.29% |
| 1983 | 34.9% | +2.44% |
| 1982 | 34.1% | +2.60% |
| 1981 | 33.2% | +2.78% |
| 1980 | 32.3% | +2.98% |
| 1979 | 31.4% | +3.20% |
| 1978 | 30.4% | +3.45% |
| 1977 | 29.4% | +3.71% |
| 1976 | 28.4% | +4.38% |
| 1975 | 27.2% | +5.50% |
| 1974 | 25.8% | +6.30% |
| 1973 | 24.2% | +6.63% |
| 1972 | 22.7% | +6.34% |
| 1971 | 21.4% | +5.30% |
| 1970 | 20.3% | +4.56% |
| 1969 | 19.4% | +4.66% |
| 1968 | 18.6% | +4.71% |
| 1967 | 17.7% | +4.69% |
| 1966 | 16.9% | +4.59% |
| 1965 | 16.2% | +4.39% |
| 1964 | 15.5% | +4.08% |
| 1963 | 14.9% | +3.65% |
| 1962 | 14.4% | +3.09% |
| 1961 | 13.9% | +2.39% |
| 1960 | 13.6% | — |
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