Cameroon is often called 'Africa in miniature' for its geographic and cultural variety, ranging from Atlantic beaches to Sahel savannah, with both English and French as official languages.
Geography & landscape
Cameroon sits in Middle Africa, in the northern hemisphere of Africa. With an area of approximately 475,442 km², it is a mid-sized country, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Yaoundé, lies near coordinates 6°, 12°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Africa, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Middle Africa region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Cameroon.
People & society
The population of Cameroon is around 28M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
Cameroon recognises multiple official languages — French and English — reflecting the cultural plurality at the heart of national life. The choice of language often shifts with region, audience and context.
Government & politics
Cameroon is structured as a presidential republic. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Yaoundé, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Cameroon is the Central African CFA Franc (XAF). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Yaoundé and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Cameroon shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Cameroon through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Yaoundé, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +237, and clocks are set to the WAT (UTC+1) time zone. ISO standards identify Cameroon as CM (alpha-2) and CMR (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇨🇲, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Yaoundé | — |
| Continent | Africa | — |
| Sub-region | Middle Africa | — |
| Population | 28M | people |
| Area | 475,442 | km² |
| Currency | Central African CFA Franc (XAF) | — |
| Calling code | +237 | international dialling |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) | standard time |
| Government type | Presidential republic | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | CM | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | CMR | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 6 | degrees |
| Longitude | 12 | degrees |
Did you know?
Cameroon is bilingual in English and French, a colonial inheritance from being split between Britain and France after WWI.
