Cameroon’s urban population rose to 55.7% of population in 2025.

Neither way is good in itself. A higher share can bring jobs, schools and clinics closer to people, and it can also add pressure on housing, water and transport, so the direction carries no verdict by itself. The latest figure is 55.7% of population in January 2025, against 55.4% a year earlier, a rise of 0.27 percentage points. Since 2016 the share has ranged from 53% of population in January 2016 to 55.7% of population in January 2025. The latest reading therefore sits at the top of its range for that span.

Why it matters. With more than half of Cameroon's people living in urban areas, towns carry most of the demand for housing, piped water, electricity and public transport. Firms find larger local markets and labour pools, while city authorities and the state face rising costs for roads, sanitation and policing. A rise of a few tenths of a point each year adds up to a steady stream of new urban households that need these services.