Capital of Cameroon: Yaoundé
The capital of Cameroon is Yaoundé. Cameroon sits in Africa, has a population of 27,914,536, and uses the XAF. Official languages include French, English.
Quick facts
- Capital: Yaoundé
- Continent: Africa
- Population: ~27,914,536
- Area: 475,442 km²
- Population density: 58.7 people per km²
- Official languages: French, English
- Currency: XAF
- ISO code: CM
How big is Cameroon?
By population, Cameroon ranks 53rd in the world, holding roughly 0.35% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 53rd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Cameroon has 58.7 people per square kilometre, which is close to the world average of 59.4. Its population and area ranks line up exactly, which is uncommon.
Within Africa, Cameroon is the 17th most populous country of 54.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Cameroon in population are Ivory Coast (28,160,542) and Venezuela (28,301,696).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Papua New Guinea (462,840 km²) and Turkmenistan (488,100 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
French is spoken officially in 30 countries in this dataset, including Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Canada, and 24 others.
The XAF is not unique to Cameroon — it is also used by Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and Equatorial Guinea, and 1 other. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
Cameroon in Africa
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Africa is the block Cameroon belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Cameroon and a page on the flag of Cameroon.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Cameroon?
The capital of Cameroon is Yaoundé.
What is the population of Cameroon?
About 27,914,536, making it the 53rd most populous country in the world.
How big is Cameroon?
475,442 square kilometres, ranking 53rd by land area, at a density of 58.7 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Cameroon use?
The XAF, shared with 5 other countries.