Cameroon

Cameroon is a Central African state listed by the United Nations under the M49 statistical standard. Its stable identifiers are UN M49 code 120, ISO alpha-2 code CM, ISO alpha-3 code CMR, UN region Africa, UN subregion Sub-Saharan Africa, and UN member state status. The World Bank records Yaounde as the seat of government. These facts come from the UN Statistics Division’s M49 overview, the authoritative source for country coding and regional grouping. The M49 system is a statistical geography, not a political or territorial claim; it organises nations for data collection and comparison.

Stable identifiers and where they come from

Cameroon sits in Sub-Saharan Africa and holds the ISO codes CM (alpha-2) and CMR (alpha-3). Its M49 code is 120. These are the standardised identifiers used in international databases, domain registrations and statistical systems. The IANA time zone data, top-level domain (.cm) and international dialling code are stable identifiers you can verify through the IANA root database and national telecom regulators.

The World Bank API is the recommended entry point for verifying current country-level indicators. For population, language, currency and government details, distinguish between two kinds of information:

1. Stable classification facts, which change rarely and come from the UN M49 standard. Cameroon is listed as UN M49 code 120, ISO alpha-2 CM, ISO alpha-3 CMR, UN region Africa, UN subregion Sub-Saharan Africa, and is a UN member state. The World Bank lists Yaounde as the seat of government.
2. Volatile data, meaning population estimates, economic figures and health statistics that change yearly and are sometimes revised retroactively. Always record the source and reference year. The World Bank country API provides a stable entry point for population, GDP and income grouping, but you must check the indicator’s metadata and the reference year for each figure.

One fact you will not find on a competitor’s page

Cameroon’s M49 subregion code (202) and country code (120) are statistical groupings maintained by the UN Statistics Division for data comparison, not a political or territorial claim. No other page in this guide explains that the capital attribute comes from the World Bank, not from the UN M49 overview, because the M49 standard does not define seats of government.

Population

Population figures for Cameroon change frequently and come from different sources. The United Nations publishes population estimates and projections; the World Bank publishes its own annual series. These can differ by millions because they use different base data, projection methods and census timing. Do not treat any single figure as a fixed fact. For the latest UN estimate, check the World Population Prospects (UN DESA). For the World Bank series, use the API at https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/CM?format=json. Always note the reference year. Population estimates between censuses are projections, not counts.

Why two sources can disagree

Differences arise from census timing, undercount of rural or nomadic groups, and the projection model each institution chooses. When sources conflict, name the disagreement and the likely reason rather than averaging the numbers silently.

How to cite a figure safely

Write each figure as “X (source, reference year)”, never as a standalone number. If the figure is a projection, say so. If it is a census count, state the census year and whether the count has been adjusted.

Seat of government

Yaounde is the seat of government of Cameroon. The World Bank capital field lists Yaounde. This is a classification fact, not a political claim about the status of any other city. Cameroon’s largest city by inhabitant count is Douala, which is the economic hub. If you see conflicting figures, confirm the source and the reference year.

Languages

Cameroon is officially bilingual in French and English. The two languages reflect the nation’s colonial history and its current legal and administrative framework. In practice, the territory holds over 200 living languages. Major ones include French, English, Fulfulde, Ewondo and Duala. The exact number and grouping of local languages comes from the Ethnologue catalogue or national linguistic surveys; always cite the specific source and edition when stating a count.

Official status versus spoken reality

Official language status is a legal designation. It does not describe the full linguistic landscape. French and English are the languages of administration and formal education, while Cameroonian languages dominate daily life in most regions.

Where to check language data

• Ethnologue (SIL International) for language codes and speaker estimates.
• Cameroon’s constitution and official language laws for legal status.
• National linguistic surveys for distribution maps and dialect groupings.

Currency

The Central African CFA franc (XAF) is the currency used in Cameroon. It is issued by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) and is shared by several Central African nations. Exchange rates fluctuate; for a current value, check a named financial data source or the Bank of Central African States. Do not treat a static number as current.

People, language and culture

Population, language and cultural statistics change frequently, and definitions vary. Use the UN Population Division for population estimates, UNESCO for education and literacy, and the national statistical office for census-based counts. Cameroon’s official languages are English and French, but this is a legal status, not a description of all languages spoken. Any language count depends on the grouping used, for example Ethnologue versus a national census.

Which source for which question

• Demographics: UN World Population Prospects or the national statistical office.
• Literacy and education: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
• Cultural participation: National household surveys, where available.

Government and economy

Cameroon is a republic. For current political structure, leadership and election results, consult official government sources or a recent reliable country profile. Economic indicators such as GDP, GDP per capita (PPP), inequality (Gini index) and poverty rates should be sourced from the World Bank’s country page or the IMF’s Article IV reports, with the reference year stated explicitly. Do not treat any single indicator as the full economic picture.

Key economic indicators and their sources

• GDP and GDP per capita (PPP): World Bank country page.
• Gini index: World Bank or national household survey.
• Poverty headcount: National statistical office or World Bank poverty assessment.
• Fiscal and monetary data: IMF Article IV consultation report.

Verify current data

The UN M49 overview at https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/ is the primary source for Cameroon’s statistical grouping: UN M49 code 120, ISO alpha-2 CM, ISO alpha-3 CMR, UN region Africa, UN subregion Sub-Saharan Africa, and status as a UN member state. These codes are stable identifiers, not political positions. The World Bank country API provides current indicators, but each value must be checked for its reference year before citing.

For live population, GDP, income grouping and other indicators, query the World Bank API and note the reference year in the response. For health statistics, the WHO Global Health Observatory is the named source. For education and culture indicators, use UNESCO statistics. For demographic projections, use the UN World Population Prospects and state whether you are citing an estimate or a census count. Each figure should be written as “X (source, reference year)”, not as a standalone number. If sources disagree, name the disagreement and the reasons (census timing, definition, coverage) rather than averaging them silently.

Classification facts (UN M49)

The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) maintains the M49 standard, a set of region and country codes used for statistical purposes. In the M49 overview, Cameroon is listed with the following identifiers:

• UN M49 code: 120
• ISO alpha-2: CM
• ISO alpha-3: CMR
• UN region: Africa
• UN subregion: Sub-Saharan Africa
• UN member state: Yes

Source: UN Statistics Division, M49 overview, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/ (accessed [year]).

Classification notes: M49 is a statistical geography, not a political or territorial claim. It groups nations for data collection and comparison. The World Bank capital field lists Yaounde as the seat of government; the UN M49 overview does not define seats of government, so that attribute is a World Bank data point, not a UN classification.

How to verify current facts about Cameroon

Population, currency, official languages, government type and economic rankings change between data releases. Do not rely on a static number pasted here. Use the following sources and record the reference year for each figure:

• Population: UN World Population Prospects (population.un.org/wpp/) or the World Bank country page. Census data is often two to five years old and may miss rural or nomadic groups.
• Languages: Ethnologue (SIL International) for language codes and speaker estimates; Cameroon’s constitution and official language laws for legal status. French and English are official; the nation also has many national languages.
• Currency: The Central African CFA franc (XAF) is issued by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC). Confirm current banknotes and any changes from BEAC or the Bank of Central African States.
• Government: Check the official presidency and National Assembly pages; compare with the CIA World Factbook for the year of the last update.
• Economy: Use the World Bank country page and the IMF Article IV consultation report; both state their reference years.
• Travel: Always consult your own government’s travel advisory, not a third-party summary. The IATA Travel Centre is the neutral source for visa and entry rules.