Cameroon

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief
- Drainage
- Soils
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic and linguistic composition
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services, labor, and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Education
Cultural life
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- Early history
- German Kamerun (1884–1916)
- British Cameroons (1916–61) and French Cameroun (1916–60)
- Moving toward independence
- Ahidjo presidency (1960–82)
- Cameroon under Biya (1982– )
  - Transition
  - Consolidation and challenge
  - Crisis in the Anglophone regions and the 2018 election
  - An aging president, transition concerns, and the 2025 election

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images

Political map of Cameroon showing its national boundaries with Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Major cities such as Yaounde, Douala, Garoua, and Maroua are marked, along with rivers and neighboring countries. An inset locator map highlights Cameroon's position within Africa.

Map of central Africa highlighting Cameroon in light brown, showing its location bordered by Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo, with the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. The capital city, Yaounde, is marked. Neighboring countries are labeled in black text.

Map of Cameroon highlighting its physical features, including major rivers, the Adamawa Plateau, Mount Cameroon, and national parks such as Waza, Bouba Ndjidah, Faro, and Benoue. Surrounding countries-Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Republic of the Congo-are labeled. An inset locator map in the top left shows Cameroon's position within Africa.

At a Glance

Cameroon summary

Media and publishing

in Cameroon in

Cultural life

Also known as: Kameroon, Kamerun, République du Cameroun, Republic of Cameroon(Show More)

Written by

George BennehAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026 •History

Dailies in circulation in Cameroon include Le Quotidien, which is issued in French, and the Cameroon Tribune, which is published in both French and English. Popular periodicals include La Gazette and Le Messager, each issued in French, and the Cameroon Outlook and Cameroon Times, both of which are published in English. Radio programming is available in French, English, and a variety of other languages, depending on the station; satellite broadcasts are also available. Domination of television broadcasting by the state was broken by the country’s first private television station in 2001. The government exercises substantial control over the media.

News •

40 years after the Lake Nyos disaster in Cameroon • Nov. 12, 2026, 10:42 PM ET (Deutsche Welle)

Cameroon double-header looms large • Nov. 11, 2026, 1:45 AM ET (The Namibian)

‘They paved paradise’: fighting back over the loss of green spaces in Cameroon’s capital • Oct. 25, 2026, 11:00 AM ET (The Guardian)

George Benneh Mark W. DeLancey