Administrative Divisions of Cameroon: 10 Regions, 58 Departments

Cameroon is a unitary republic divided into 10 semi-autonomous regions (formerly "provinces" until 2008), each headed by a presidentially appointed Governor. Regions are subdivided into 58 departments (départements), each led by a Prefect (Préfet). Departments are further divided into arrondissements and communes.

The 10 Regions (with Capitals)

1. Adamawa (Adamaoua) — Ngaoundéré
2. Centre — Yaoundé (also national capital)
3. East (Est) — Bertoua
4. Far North (Extrême-Nord) — Maroua
5. Littoral — Douala (economic capital, largest city)
6. North (Nord) — Garoua
7. Northwest (Nord-Ouest) — Bamenda
8. South (Sud) — Ebolowa
9. Southwest (Sud-Ouest) — Buea
10. West (Ouest) — Bafoussam

Anglophone vs. Francophone Regions

• Northwest & Southwest — Former British Southern Cameroons; Common law, English official language, Anglo-Saxon education.
• Other 8 regions — Former French Cameroun; Civil law, French official language, Francophone education.

This colonial legacy drives the ongoing Anglophone Crisis (since 2016) — protests, separatism, heavy militarization, humanitarian emergency.

Key Facts

• Population: ~28M (2023).
• Area: 475,442 km² (Africa in miniature: coast, mountains, savanna, rainforest, Sahel).
• Bilingual official policy: French & English — but French dominates administration.