MigrantoImmigrants in Cameroon
625.5K foreign-born residents — the #74 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 89% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Central African Republic | 336349 |
| Nigeria | 188266 |
| Chad | 30917 |
| Niger | 13583 |
| Mali | 10608 |
| France | 5968 |
| Guinea | 5918 |
| Liberia | 5501 |
| DR Congo | 5273 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 4341 |
| Senegal | 4077 |
| Republic of Congo | 3817 |
| Angola | 3303 |
| Benin | 3103 |
| Gabon | 1363 |
| USA | 1057 |
| Italy | 655 |
| Germany | 377 |
| United Kingdom | 327 |
| Greece | 244 |
| Canada | 230 |
| Netherlands | 204 |
By region of origin
Africa is the leading region of origin at 99%
616.4K
7.8K
1.3K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Cameroon.
Central African Republic is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Central African Republic accounts for 54% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 30%.
Cameroon is a primary destination for emigrants from the Central African Republic
Cameroon attracts 37% of all emigrants from the Central African Republic, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
A significant share of the population of the Central African Republic has settled here
More than 1 in 16 people from the Central African Republic now live in Cameroon — 336.3K people, representing 6.31% of the population of the Central African Republic.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 212475 |
| 1995 | 197678 |
| 2000 | 182879 |
| 2005 | 241660 |
| 2010 | 281325 |
| 2015 | 491010 |
| 2020 | 563474 |
| 2024 | 625481 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Central African Republic | Nigeria | Chad | Niger | Mali |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 105140 | 95527 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 | 97818 | 88874 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 90495 | 82221 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 14607 | 101721 | 70899 | 10566 | 8251 |
| 2010 | 105626 | 82748 | 49629 | 8409 | 6567 |
| 2015 | 271319 | 131616 | 33968 | 10503 | 8202 |
| 2020 | 303005 | 169602 | 27852 | 12236 | 9556 |
| 2024 | 336349 | 188266 | 30917 | 13583 | 10608 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Cameroon as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Cameroon
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Cameroon?
Around 625.5K foreign-born residents live in Cameroon, making it the #74-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Cameroon come from?
Most immigrants in Cameroon come from Central African Republic, Nigeria and Chad — these three countries account for about 89% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Cameroon are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 2% of the population of Cameroon — that's 625.5K out of a total population of 29.1M.
How has immigration to Cameroon changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Cameroon has grown from 491K to 625.5K people, a growth of about 27%.
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