While awaiting the main count of the 4th General Census of Population and Housing (RGPH), Cameroon now has updated demographic estimates.
The General Census of Population and Housing (RGPH) remains the most reliable source for comprehensive and detailed data on the demographic, economic, and socio-cultural characteristics of the population, down to the finest geographical level. This data is a strategic tool for planning, monitoring, and evaluating public policies at national, regional, and municipal levels.
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Cameroon has already conducted three general censuses: in April 1976, April 1987, and November 2005. However, twenty years after the last exercise, the available data has become obsolete, making the urgent realization of the 4th RGPH, currently in the preparation phase, necessary.
Provisional estimates to fill the statistical gap
Faced with high demand for recent demographic data from administrations, national institutions, and development partners, the Central Bureau of Population Censuses and Surveys (BUCREP) has undertaken to produce population estimates for the year 2023, covering all administrative units in the country.
These estimates are based on the processing and merging of several data sources, including:
the pilot censuses of the 4th RGPH conducted in 2018 and 2023;
recent national surveys, including CMIS 2022, EESI 2021, and ECAM 5 (2021/2022);
official administrative boundaries of Cameroon;
building footprints and various geospatial data (land cover, road infrastructure, climate variables, physical characteristics).
Innovative methodology inspired by WorldPop
The estimates were produced using advanced techniques developed by WorldPop, an international research group specializing in the production of spatialized demographic data for health and sustainable development purposes. This approach, also used by UNFPA and the University of Southampton, relies on Bayesian models integrating demographic and geospatial data.
One of the main advantages of this method is its ability to estimate the population even in hard-to-reach areas, thus offering a very fine level of disaggregation.
In the current context, these estimates are a credible and relevant alternative, although they cannot permanently replace a general census.
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According to the results published by BUCREP, the population of Cameroon is estimated at 28,856,127 inhabitants in 2023. This figure is consistent with projections from other international sources, notably the United Nations Population Division (UN DESA) and Worldometers, which also place the Cameroonian population at around 28 million inhabitants.
Estimated regional distribution in 2023
Far North: 5,573,289 inhabitants (19.3%);
Center: 5,204,170 inhabitants (18.0%);
Littoral: 4,247,503 inhabitants (14.7%);
Northwest: 1,774,119 inhabitants (6.1%);
West: 3,315,190 inhabitants (11.5%);
South: 938,738 inhabitants (3.3%);
Adamaoua: 1,525,175 inhabitants (5.3%);
Southwest: 1,324,187 inhabitants (4.6%);
East: 1,200,281 inhabitants (4.2%);
North: 3,723,485 inhabitants (13%).
The Far North, Center, and Littoral regions remain the most populated in the country, a trend already observed during the 2005 census.
BUCREP emphasizes that the results obtained, when compared to other national and international sources, show good overall quality. However, these estimates remain a transitional solution. The general population census remains irreplaceable for producing comprehensive, harmonized, and sustainable demographic data.
The effective implementation of the main count of the 4th RGPH therefore remains a strategic priority for Cameroon in order to effectively support development policies and territorial planning.
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