MigrantoImmigrants in Cameroon
625.5K foreigners live in Cameroon — 2% of the country's population
Immigrants in Cameroon by country
The 3 largest groups make up 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
99% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Cameroon in numbers
Central Africans are the largest group by a wide margin
54% of all immigrants were born in the Central African Republic, while the next group accounts for just 30%.
37% of all emigrants from the Central African Republic live in Cameroon
No other country has more people born in the Central African Republic.
1 in 16 people born in the Central African Republic lives in Cameroon
336.3K people born in the Central African Republic live in Cameroon — 6.31% of the population of the Central African Republic.
Immigrant population in Cameroon over time
Foreigners living in Cameroon, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 212475 |
| 1995 | 197678 |
| 2000 | 182879 |
| 2005 | 241660 |
| 2010 | 281325 |
| 2015 | 491010 |
| 2020 | 563474 |
| 2024 | 625481 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Cameroon, by year
| Year | Central Africans | Nigerians | Chadians | Nigeriens | Malians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Cameroon
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Cameroon
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Cameroon?
Around 625.5K immigrants live in Cameroon — the world's #74 largest immigrant population.
What percentage 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.
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 immigrants.
How many Central Africans live in Cameroon?
Around 336.3K Central Africans live in Cameroon — about 54% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Cameroon growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Cameroon has grown from 491K to 625.5K, about 27%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Cameroon come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Cameroon. Their children born in Cameroon are not included.
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Living in Cameroon
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