MigrantoCameroonian Diaspora
409.7K Cameroonians live abroad — 1% of the population of Cameroon
Cameroonian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 58% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| France | 127995 |
| Nigeria | 56288 |
| Gabon | 54949 |
| Canada | 43662 |
| Chad | 40472 |
| Belgium | 30634 |
| Italy | 16244 |
| Republic of Congo | 11167 |
| South Africa | 4916 |
| Mali | 2339 |
| China | 2133 |
| Cyprus | 2001 |
| Greece | 1641 |
| Luxembourg | 1425 |
| Japan | 1290 |
| Finland | 1288 |
| Senegal | 1076 |
| Denmark | 1048 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 1033 |
| Norway | 905 |
| Tunisia | 797 |
| Brazil | 723 |
| Togo | 707 |
| Australia | 695 |
| Niger | 685 |
| Mexico | 680 |
| Mauritania | 460 |
| Zambia | 396 |
| Hungary | 380 |
| Egypt | 327 |
| Chile | 281 |
| India | 236 |
| Guinea | 181 |
| Ghana | 147 |
| Namibia | 129 |
| Portugal | 92 |
| Estonia | 82 |
| Bulgaria | 33 |
| Lithuania | 32 |
| Dominican Republic | 25 |
| Slovenia | 24 |
| Slovakia | 16 |
| Bolivia | 15 |
| Costa Rica | 13 |
| Iceland | 8 |
| Latvia | 4 |
| Liechtenstein | 3 |
By region
44% of the diaspora lives in Europe
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Key facts
The Cameroonian diaspora in numbers
The community in Canada is growing fastest
The number of Cameroonians living in Canada has grown 142% since 2015, from 18.1K to 43.7K.
Most Cameroonians abroad live in France
31% of the diaspora lives in France, while the next country accounts for just 14%.
The map of the diaspora has changed since 1990
6 countries have entered the top 20 since 1990: South Africa, Cyprus, Luxembourg. South Africa climbed from outside the top 20 to #9.
The share of the diaspora living in Africa has declined since 1990
68.5% of the diaspora lived in Africa in 1990, compared with 43% today.
The diaspora has grown 15% since 2020
The number of Cameroonians living abroad rose from 357.1K to 409.7K in four years.
Cameroonian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 92391 |
| 1995 | 108473 |
| 2000 | 131985 |
| 2005 | 167265 |
| 2010 | 214405 |
| 2015 | 275824 |
| 2020 | 357087 |
| 2024 | 409677 |
Largest communities over time
Cameroonians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | France | Nigeria | Gabon | Canada | Chad |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26305 | 10242 | 15661 | 238 | 30992 |
| 1995 | 31718 | 10384 | 20944 | 634 | 33673 |
| 2000 | 41280 | 10943 | 26199 | 1498 | 36353 |
| 2005 | 64858 | 21748 | 28544 | 2892 | 25161 |
| 2010 | 80804 | 22214 | 33089 | 7697 | 29798 |
| 2015 | 97288 | 26893 | 46269 | 18062 | 30702 |
| 2020 | 114528 | 52489 | 50906 | 27172 | 35635 |
| 2024 | 127995 | 56288 | 54949 | 43662 | 40472 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Cameroonians in each country has changed since the selected year
Cameroonians among immigrants in other countries
Where Cameroonians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Cameroonians live outside Cameroon?
Around 409.7K Cameroonians live abroad, the world's #116 largest diaspora.
Where do most Cameroonians abroad live?
Most Cameroonians live in France, Nigeria and Gabon — these three countries account for about 58% of all Cameroonians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Cameroonian population outside Cameroon?
France is home to the largest Cameroonian community abroad — 128K people, about 31% of all Cameroonians living abroad.
What share of the population of Cameroon lives abroad?
About 1% of the population of Cameroon lives abroad — that's 409.7K out of a total population of 29.1M.
Is the Cameroonian diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Cameroonians living abroad has grown from 275.8K to 409.7K, about 49%.
Where does the data on the Cameroonian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Cameroon who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Cameroon
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