Cameroon - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Cameroon was 15,279,800 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 15,279,800 in 2020 and a minimum value of 721,507 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 721,507
1961 765,693
1962 812,941
1963 863,418
1964 917,276
1965 974,573
1966 1,035,705
1967 1,100,935
1968 1,170,516
1969 1,244,529
1970 1,323,510
1971 1,443,896
1972 1,574,436
1973 1,715,535
1974 1,868,350
1975 2,033,542
1976 2,197,996
1977 2,324,388
1978 2,458,576
1979 2,600,936
1980 2,752,040
1981 2,911,973
1982 3,081,241
1983 3,260,222
1984 3,449,400
1985 3,648,854
1986 3,859,218
1987 4,071,471
1988 4,265,256
1989 4,465,434
1990 4,671,629
1991 4,883,689
1992 5,101,921
1993 5,325,605
1994 5,555,026
1995 5,789,921
1996 6,030,361
1997 6,276,411
1998 6,529,698
1999 6,792,206
2000 7,065,360
2001 7,349,440
2002 7,645,217
2003 7,953,195
2004 8,274,119
2005 8,607,974
2006 8,955,662
2007 9,317,567
2008 9,693,721
2009 10,083,760
2010 10,487,740
2011 10,905,610
2012 11,337,560
2013 11,783,320
2014 12,242,760
2015 12,715,790
2016 13,202,430
2017 13,702,220
2018 14,215,420
2019 14,741,260
2020 15,279,800

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization