Cameroon is a sovereign country in Middle Africa, in the wider region of Africa. Its full official name is Republic of Cameroon. Its seat of government is Yaoundé.
It covers 475,442 km², which ranks it 55th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Turkmenistan and just ahead of Papua New Guinea. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is a little larger than Sweden.
It is home to roughly 29.1 million people, placing it 52nd of 250 by population — between Nepal above it and Venezuela below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 6th of 10 in size and 3rd in population.
Geography and neighbours of Cameroon
Its reference point sits at 6.0° north and 12.0° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 668 km from the equator, in what geographers would call the equatorial belt.
Countries on the same parallel, far away in longitude, include Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana.
6 countries share a land border with it: the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria. The largest of them by area is Chad, while the most populous is Nigeria. Together those neighbours hold about 269.1 million people.
With both a coast and land borders, it has the trade options a landlocked country does not.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Who lives in Cameroon
Spread across 475,442 km², that works out at about 61 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. The median across all 250 entries here is about 90 per square kilometre.
The demonym is Cameroonian, so residents are Cameroonians.
It recognises 2 languages: English and French. English, the first listed, is shared with 90 other entries worldwide.
Against Africa as a whole it is the 17th most populous of 59 entries, and it accounts for 13% of everyone living in Middle Africa.
Money, codes and practical details
It uses the Central African CFA franc (Fr, XAF). It shares that currency with the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
The top-level domain is .cm. To phone it from abroad you dial +237. In ISO terms it is cm in two letters and CMR in three.
Yaoundé is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Cameroon is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Cameroon shares borders with 6 countries:
Fun facts about Cameroon
- Websites based there use the .cm domain.
- English is official here and in 90 other entries worldwide.
- It is 52nd of 250 by population, with about 29.1 million residents.
- Its currency, the Central African CFA franc, is shared with 5 other entries.
- It lies about 668 km from the equator, in equatorial latitudes.
- Its full official name is Republic of Cameroon.
- Its capital city is Yaoundé.
- In land area it is a little larger than Sweden.
Cameroon — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Cameroon?
- The capital of Cameroon is Yaoundé.
- How big is Cameroon?
- Cameroon covers 475,442 km², ranking 55th of 250 by land area. That makes it a little larger than Sweden.
- What language is spoken in Cameroon?
- Cameroon lists 2 official languages: English and French.
- Is Cameroon a country?
- Yes. Cameroon is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- Where is Cameroon located?
- Cameroon is in Middle Africa, part of Africa. Its reference coordinates are 6.0° north and 12.0° east, roughly 668 km from the equator in equatorial latitudes.
- Which countries border Cameroon?
- Cameroon borders 6 countries: the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria. Chad is the largest of them by area.
- What is the population of Cameroon?
- Cameroon has a population of about 29.1 million, which makes it the 52nd most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Nepal sits just above it and Venezuela just below.
- What currency does Cameroon use?
- Cameroon uses the Central African CFA franc, written Fr (currency code XAF). It is shared with 5 other entries.
