Government of Cameroon
251 officials listed, each linked to its source.
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, has its capital at Yaounde and a population of 29,879,337 (World Bank, 2025). The CIA World Factbook describes its system of government as a presidential republic. President Paul Biya (in office since 6 Nov 1982) is head of state; Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute is head of government. The legislature is the Parlement - Parliament, a bicameral body with 180 seats in the National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly) and 100 seats in the Senate (Sénat - Senate). The most recent national election, per IFES ElectionGuide, was held on 12 Oct 2025. The source lists the next national election as expected in October 2032. Elections are run by the Elections Cameroon (ELECAM). Yvon Sana Bangui is listed as central bank governor. The directory below lists 66 cabinet and ministerial posts with their current holders and sources.
Parlement - Parliament
Bicameral. Source: CIA World Factbook
| Chamber | Seats | Last election |
|---|---|---|
| National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly) | 180 (all directly elected) | 12 Mar 2023 |
| Senate (Sénat - Senate) | 100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed) | 2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020 |
Cameroon National Assembly: list of Deputies
Political mix
Seats by party in each chamber of Cameroon. One dot is one seat.
National Assembly
Current (from our list)
181
National Assembly names listed
- RDPC153(84.5%)
- UNDP7(3.9%)
- PCRN5(2.8%)
- SDF5(2.8%)
- UDC4(2.2%)
- FSNC3(1.7%)
- MDR2(1.1%)
- UMS2(1.1%)
Seats by party (table)
| Party | Seats | Share of listed seats |
|---|---|---|
| RDPC | 153 | 84.5% |
| UNDP | 7 | 3.9% |
| PCRN | 5 | 2.8% |
| SDF | 5 | 2.8% |
| UDC | 4 | 2.2% |
| FSNC | 3 | 1.7% |
| MDR | 2 | 1.1% |
| UMS | 2 | 1.1% |
Current: the party shown against each member on our checked list. It can differ from the election result because of defections and by-elections. 180 seats in the chamber. As of 19 October 2026. Source: Assemblée nationale du Cameroun, registre des députés (10e législature).
Counted from the 181 names on the Assembly's register of deputies. The elections due in 2026 have not been held and the Assembly's mandate has been extended to 20 December 2026.
Senate
Current
100
Senate seats
- CPDM94(94%)
- CNSF1(1%)
- MDR1(1%)
- NADP1(1%)
- NUDP1(1%)
- SDF1(1%)
- UPC1(1%)
Seats by party (table)
| Party | Seats | Share of seats |
|---|---|---|
| CPDM | 94 | 94% |
| CNSF | 1 | 1% |
| MDR | 1 | 1% |
| NADP | 1 | 1% |
| NUDP | 1 | 1% |
| SDF | 1 | 1% |
| UPC | 1 | 1% |
Current: seats by party as listed in the source on the date shown. It can differ from the election result because of defections and by-elections. 100 seats in the chamber. As of 18 April 2026. Source: Wikipedia, Senate (Cameroon) (reference source).
Seats by party as reported for the Senate, which publishes no register of members; no member list is shown for this chamber.
The register of deputies for the 10th legislature was read on the National Assembly's own website on 19 October 2026 and lists 181 names for a chamber of 180 seats. It prints a name and a party code for every entry and a region for 111 of them, but no constituency, no seat number and no date of election, and it marks neither seats that fell vacant nor deputies who replaced someone. We cannot therefore say which of the 181 names answers to the seat that would otherwise be spare, and the party figures on this page count names on the register rather than seats won. The register shows photographs of deputies but states no licence for their reuse, so no portrait is reproduced: this makes no difference while the register prints no date on which a deputy took office, since a member page needs both before it is offered to search. The Senate's seats by party come from a reference source rather than the Senate's own register, and the Senate publishes no member list we can read, so no Senate members are shown.
Cabinet
Sources: Prime Minister's Office of Cameroon (spm.gov.cm) (retrieved 11 Oct 2026); Embassy of Cameroon in the United States (retrieved 11 Oct 2026); Sénat du Cameroun (retrieved 25 Oct 2026).
Parliament, courts and independent offices
| Office | Holder | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker of the National Assembly | Théodore Datouo | 17 Mar 2026 |
| Electoral Commission Chair | Enow Abrams Egbe | - |
Sources: Wikipedia: National Assembly (Cameroon) (retrieved 23 Oct 2026); Wikipedia: Elections Cameroon (retrieved 23 Oct 2026).
Cameroon election dates 2026, 2027 and 2028
Next national election: Due by 2026, parliamentary election.
| Date | Election | Status | Turnout | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Due by 2026 | Parliamentary election | Due | - | - |
| Due by 2026 | Local elections | Due | - | - |
Sources: Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) (retrieved 9 Oct 2026).
Recent results
| Date | Election | Status | Turnout | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2025 | Presidential election | Held | - | Paul Biya (CPDM) |
| 2025 | Senate election | Held | - | - |
Sources: Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) (retrieved 9 Oct 2026).
Economy at a glance
Full economy page- GDP
- US$59bn
- 2025
- GDP growth
- 3.2%
- 2025
- Remittances received
- US$690m
- 2024
- Foreign direct investment
- US$599m
- 2025
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Commission a study in CameroonMore data for Cameroon
- Fuel prices in Cameroon
- Minimum wage in Cameroon
- Election calendar and results
- Economy of Cameroon
- Public holidays in Cameroon
- Development jobs in Cameroon
- Constitution of Cameroon
- Statistics office and surveys in Cameroon
- Exams and universities in Cameroon
- Research permits and data protection in Cameroon
- Paid polls in Cameroon: join the waiting list
- Inflation and unemployment in Cameroon
- Debt of Cameroon: debt to GDP and largest creditors
- Natural resources in Cameroon
- Cameroon and the rest of Central Africa
Population of Cameroon
Cameroon had 29.9 million people in 2025, 17th largest of 53 in Africa. The IMF projects 33.8 million by 2030. African countries by population.
Population (2025)
29.9
17th largest of 53 in Africa
Population growth since 2015 (2025)
31.3 %
16th fastest-growing of 52 in Africa
Projected population 2030 (2030)
33.8
18th highest of 52 in Africa
People per sq km (2025)
63
29th most crowded of 53 in Africa
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook database, October 2026 (DataMapper indicators NGDPDPC, NGDPD and LP), October 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Cameroon |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 22.8 |
| 2016 | 23.5 |
| 2017 | 24.1 |
| 2018 | 24.8 |
| 2019 | 25.5 |
| 2020 | 26.2 |
| 2021 | 26.9 |
| 2022 | 27.6 |
| 2023 | 28.4 |
| 2024 | 29.1 |
| 2025 | 29.9 |
| 2026 | 30.7 (partial) |
| 2027 | 31.4 (partial) |
| 2028 | 32.2 (partial) |
| 2029 | 33.0 (partial) |
| 2030 | 33.8 (partial) |
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook database, October 2026 (DataMapper indicators NGDPDPC, NGDPD and LP), October 2026. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Inflation and unemployment in Cameroon
Prices in Cameroon rose 3.4% in 2025, 26th highest of 52 in Africa. The ILO estimates unemployment at 3.6% (2025) and 6.6% among people aged 15 to 24. Cameroon's own survey put it at 3.3% in 2021. Inflation in Africa · Unemployment in Africa · Cameroon's economy.
Inflation (2025)
3.4 %
27th lowest of 52 in Africa
Unemployment (2025)
3.6 %
19th lowest of 53 in Africa
Youth unemployment (2025)
6.6 %
19th lowest of 53 in Africa
Unemployment, national survey (2021)
3.3 %
National survey
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Cameroon |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.3 |
| 2011 | 2.9 |
| 2012 | 2.7 |
| 2013 | 2.1 |
| 2014 | 1.9 |
| 2015 | 2.7 |
| 2016 | 0.9 |
| 2017 | 0.6 |
| 2018 | 1.1 |
| 2019 | 2.5 |
| 2020 | 2.4 |
| 2021 | 2.3 |
| 2022 | 6.3 |
| 2023 | 7.4 |
| 2024 | 4.5 |
| 2025 | 3.4 |
| 2026 | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | ILO modelled estimate | National survey |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| 2011 | 4.0 | Not published |
| 2012 | 3.8 | Not published |
| 2013 | 3.7 | Not published |
| 2014 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| 2015 | 3.5 | Not published |
| 2016 | 3.5 | Not published |
| 2017 | 3.6 | Not published |
| 2018 | 3.6 | Not published |
| 2019 | 3.6 | Not published |
| 2020 | 3.9 | Not published |
| 2021 | 4.0 | 3.3 |
| 2022 | 3.7 | Not published |
| 2023 | 3.6 | Not published |
| 2024 | 3.6 | Not published |
| 2025 | 3.6 | Not published |
| 2026 | Not published | Not published |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Life expectancy and infant mortality in Cameroon
A child born in Cameroon can expect to live 64 years (2024). 65 of every 1,000 children die before age five. Life expectancy in Africa, all countries ranked.
Life expectancy (2024)
64.0
32nd longest of 54 in Africa
Child deaths under five (2024)
65
39th lowest of 54 in Africa
Health spending per person (2023)
79
24th highest of 54 in Africa
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Cameroon | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 59.1 | 61.8 |
| 2015 | 59.7 | 62.3 |
| 2016 | 60.3 | 62.8 |
| 2017 | 60.8 | 63.1 |
| 2018 | 61.2 | 63.2 |
| 2019 | 61.7 | 63.3 |
| 2020 | 61.7 | 63.7 |
| 2021 | 61.1 | 62.5 |
| 2022 | 62.4 | 64.6 |
| 2023 | 63.7 | 65.6 |
| 2024 | 64.0 | 65.8 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Cameroon |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 92 |
| 2015 | 89 |
| 2016 | 85 |
| 2017 | 82 |
| 2018 | 79 |
| 2019 | 77 |
| 2020 | 74 |
| 2021 | 72 |
| 2022 | 69 |
| 2023 | 67 |
| 2024 | 65 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Literacy rate in Cameroon
72.6% of adults in Cameroon can read and write (2018, World Bank). Literacy rate in Africa by country · Universities and exam bodies in Cameroon.
Adult literacy (2018)
72.6 %
24th highest of 52 in Africa
Youth literacy (2018)
81.9 %
29th highest of 53 in Africa
Education spending, % of GDP (2023)
2.8 %
33rd highest of 52 in Africa
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Human development and internet access in Cameroon
Cameroon's Human Development Index was 0.588 in 2023, 155th of 193 countries in the world (medium human development). Human Development Index in Africa · Tech and internet in Africa · Learn digital skills with SR Academy.
Human Development Index (2023)
0.59
23rd highest of 54 in Africa
Internet users (2024)
46.3 %
22nd highest of 54 in Africa
Mobile subscriptions (2024)
108
24th highest of 54 in Africa
Access to electricity (2024)
72.0 %
19th highest of 54 in Africa
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
View the data as a table
| Period | Cameroon | Middle African country |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.44 | 0.44 |
| 2001 | 0.46 | 0.45 |
| 2002 | 0.46 | 0.45 |
| 2003 | 0.47 | 0.46 |
| 2004 | 0.47 | 0.46 |
| 2005 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| 2006 | 0.47 | 0.47 |
| 2007 | 0.49 | 0.48 |
| 2008 | 0.50 | 0.49 |
| 2009 | 0.52 | 0.50 |
| 2010 | 0.53 | 0.50 |
| 2011 | 0.54 | 0.51 |
| 2012 | 0.55 | 0.52 |
| 2013 | 0.56 | 0.52 |
| 2014 | 0.57 | 0.52 |
| 2015 | 0.58 | 0.53 |
| 2016 | 0.58 | 0.53 |
| 2017 | 0.58 | 0.54 |
| 2018 | 0.58 | 0.54 |
| 2019 | 0.58 | 0.55 |
| 2020 | 0.58 | 0.55 |
| 2021 | 0.57 | 0.56 |
| 2022 | 0.58 | 0.57 |
| 2023 | 0.59 | 0.57 |
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report, composite indices time series. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Is Cameroon safe?
The US State Department rates Cameroon at level 2 of 4: exercise increased caution. The homicide rate is 6.8 per 100,000 people (2022). Safest countries in Africa.
US travel advisory level (2026)
2
32nd safest by advisory of 54 in Africa
Homicide rate (2022)
6.8
25th lowest of 37 in Africa
Conflict deaths (2024)
231
9th highest of 30 in Africa
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Coups, democracy and stability in Cameroon
Cameroon has had no successful coup, but 1 failed attempt or plot. Coups in Africa: every country.
- 6 April 1984: Failed coup attempt
Voice and accountability (2025)
35
38th highest of 54 in Africa
Political stability (2025)
36
44th highest of 54 in Africa
Control of corruption (2025)
24
41st highest of 54 in Africa
Source: World Bank, Worldwide Governance Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Cameroon's debt
Government debt was 40.5% of GDP in 2025 (IMF). The largest foreign creditor is China, owed 26.4% of public debt abroad (2024). Cameroon's debt and creditors in full · Debt in Africa.
Reading on Cameroon
Where Cameroon ranks in Africa
Its place among the 54 African countries on each of our Africa rankings. Each tile opens the full ranking with its source.
- GDP per person25th of 53$1,980, 2025Richest countries in Africa
- Size of the economy14th of 53$59.2 billion, 2025Largest economies in Africa
- Population17th of 5329.9 million, 2025African countries by population
- Area24th of 54475,442 sq kmLargest countries in Africa
- Life expectancy32nd of 5464.0 years, 2024Life expectancy in Africa
- US travel advisory19th of 54Level 2, increased cautionSafest countries in Africa
- President's time in office2nd longest of 51Paul Biya, 43 yearsLongest serving presidents
- President's age1st oldest of 5193 years oldOldest presidents in Africa
Cite this
PollsAfrica (2026). Government of Cameroon. Retrieved 26 Oct 2026 from https://pollsafrica.com/countries/cameroon