Net migration in Cameroon
Cameroon: Net migration was -15,379 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Cameroon, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Cameroon recorded -15,379 for net migration in 2025.
That represents a change of down 10.7% on the previous year and down 136.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Cameroon peaked at 96,599 in 2014 and was at its lowest, -139,974, in 1982.
Cameroon ranks 166th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | -39 | — |
| 1966 | -96 | +146.2% |
| 1967 | -148 | +54.2% |
| 1968 | -204 | +37.8% |
| 1969 | -286 | +40.2% |
| 1970 | -367 | +28.3% |
| 1971 | -439 | +19.6% |
| 1972 | -473 | +7.7% |
| 1973 | -466 | -1.5% |
| 1974 | -377 | -19.1% |
| 1975 | -237 | -37.1% |
| 1976 | -19,994 | +8336.3% |
| 1977 | -20,622 | +3.1% |
| 1978 | -1,282 | -93.8% |
| 1979 | -12,108 | +844.5% |
| 1980 | 70,589 | -683.0% |
| 1981 | 27,845 | -60.6% |
| 1982 | -139,974 | -602.7% |
| 1983 | -37,346 | -73.3% |
| 1984 | -3,512 | -90.6% |
| 1985 | -3,604 | +2.6% |
| 1986 | -3,671 | +1.9% |
| 1987 | -3,829 | +4.3% |
| 1988 | -16,016 | +318.3% |
| 1989 | -11,244 | -29.8% |
| 1990 | -8,163 | -27.4% |
| 1991 | -14,520 | +77.9% |
| 1992 | -13,702 | -5.6% |
| 1993 | -9,601 | -29.9% |
| 1994 | -12,028 | +25.3% |
| 1995 | -12,661 | +5.3% |
| 1996 | -12,738 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | -13,842 | +8.7% |
| 1998 | -12,446 | -10.1% |
| 1999 | -17,398 | +39.8% |
| 2000 | -21,221 | +22.0% |
| 2001 | -19,203 | -9.5% |
| 2002 | -10,766 | -43.9% |
| 2003 | -18,568 | +72.5% |
| 2004 | -19,444 | +4.7% |
| 2005 | -27,775 | +42.8% |
| 2006 | -28,528 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | -10,807 | -62.1% |
| 2008 | -10,720 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | -10,203 | -4.8% |
| 2010 | -9,366 | -8.2% |
| 2011 | -12,669 | +35.3% |
| 2012 | -7,523 | -40.6% |
| 2013 | -6,900 | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 96,599 | -1500.0% |
| 2015 | 42,008 | -56.5% |
| 2016 | 13,255 | -68.4% |
| 2017 | -37,912 | -386.0% |
| 2018 | -9,184 | -75.8% |
| 2019 | -12,255 | +33.4% |
| 2020 | -9,888 | -19.3% |
| 2021 | -9,888 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -4,798 | -51.5% |
| 2023 | -4,798 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -13,892 | +189.5% |
| 2025 | -15,379 | +10.7% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's -15,379 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's -15,379 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 2.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Cameroon changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | -8336.3% | -237 | -19,994 |
| 2014 | +1500.0% | -6,900 | 96,599 |
| 1979 | -844.5% | -1,282 | -12,108 |
| 1980 | +683.0% | -12,108 | 70,589 |
| 1982 | -602.7% | 27,845 | -139,974 |
| 2017 | -386.0% | 13,255 | -37,912 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -77.3 | -286 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | -5,636 | -20,622 | -237 | 10 |
| 1980s | -12,076 | -139,974 | 70,589 | 10 |
| 1990s | -12,710 | -17,398 | -8,163 | 10 |
| 2000s | -17,724 | -28,528 | -10,203 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,605 | -37,912 | 96,599 | 10 |
| 2020s | -9,774 | -15,379 | -4,798 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More financial sector data for Cameroon
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 27.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 0.0753 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 21.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 0.055 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 27.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 0.0753 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 21.26 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Cameroon?
- Net migration in Cameroon was -15,379 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 96,599 in 2014.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was -139,974 in 1982.
- How does Cameroon rank for net migration?
- Cameroon ranks 166th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 136.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.