Where Do Most Cameroonians Live? Population Distribution
Concentration in South & West
Over 60% of Cameroon's ~28M people live in the southern and western regions, which offer:
- Favorable climate (humid tropical / highland)
- Fertile volcanic soils
- Major cities & infrastructure
- Economic opportunities
Major Urban Centers
- Douala (Littoral): ~3.5M — economic capital, port, industrial hub
- Yaoundé (Centre): ~3.0M — political capital, admin, education
- Bafoussam (West): ~500k — trade, agriculture, Bamileke heartland
- Bamenda (Northwest): ~400k — Anglophone hub, highlands
- Garoua (North): ~400k — Benue River, cotton, trade
- Maroua (Far North): ~350k — Sahel gateway, cotton, cattle
North vs. South Contrast
| Region | Climate | Density | Main Cities |
|---|
| South/West (forest, highlands) | Humid, 1,500–3,000 mm rain | High | Douala, Yaoundé, Bafoussam, Bamenda |
| North (Sahel/Sudan savanna) | Dry, 500–1,000 mm rain | Low | Garoua, Maroua, Ngaoundéré |
Drivers
- Colonial infrastructure (rail, ports) built in south
- Cash crops (cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber) in south
- Conflict in Anglophone NW/SW (since 2016) displaces internally
- Boko Haram insurgency in Far North displaces
Wanderlust World