Society of Cameroon

society

KEY FACTS 2015

Population per sq km: 49

Life expectancy: 55 years

Net primary enrolment: 92%


Population: 23,344,000 (2015); 53 per cent of people live in urban areas and 20 per cent in urban agglomerations of more than a million people; growth 2.5 per cent p.a. 1990–2015; birth rate 37 per 1,000 people (45 in 1970); life expectancy 55 years (44 in 1970).

The population is ethnically diverse. In the north, the people are mostly Hausa, Fulbé (Fulani), Sudanese and Choa Arab. In the west, the Bamiléké are the biggest ethnic group, followed by Tiker and Bamoun. South of the River Sanaga, there are Bantu groups: Fang, Ewondo, Boulou, Eton, Bassa, Bakoko, Douala. Some pygmies (including Baka) live in the south-eastern forested country.

Language: French and English are both official languages. There are about 240 indigenous languages including 24 major language groups.

Religion: Christians about 69 per cent, Muslims 21 per cent and six per cent Animists, while other religious groups including Jews and Baha’is make up less than five per cent of the population (2005 census).

Media: Cameroon Tribune (daily in French and English editions) is the official newspaper. Le Messager is the leading independent daily in French, published in Douala since 1979. Other independent papers include The Herald, Mutations, La Nouvelle Expression and The Post.

Cameroon Radio Television operates the national radio and TV networks. After broadcasting was liberalised in 2000, dozens of private radio stations and several private TV channels were launched.

Some 31 per cent of households have TV sets (2007). There are 11 personal computers per 1,000 people (2005).

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Youth Day (11 February), Labour Day (1 May), National Day (20 May), Sheep Festival (21 May), Assumption (15 August), Unification Day (1 October) and Christmas Day.

Religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Prophet’s Birthday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Ascension of the Prophet, Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) and Islamic New Year.