World Factbook
Cameroon
République du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), red, and yellow, with a small five-pointed yellow star centered in the red band meaning: red stands for unity; yellow for the sun, happiness, and the northern savannahs; green for hope and the southern forests; the star is called the "star of unity;" the vertical tricolor design is similar to the French flag history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
Capital
name
Yaounde
etymology
Germans founded the city in 1888, but the name comes from the native Ewondo people; the meaning of the name is unclear
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
3 52 N, 11 31 E
Suffrage
20 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon’s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended
Country name
former
Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
etymology
in the 16th century, Portuguese explorers named an estuary near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; the name Camaroes evolved into "Cameroon"
local long form
République du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)
local short form
Cameroun/Cameroon
conventional long form
Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form
Cameroon
Independence
1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Legal system
mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members)
subordinate courts
Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for renewable 6-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
chief of state
President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
election results
2025- Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 53.7%, Issa Tchiroma BAKARY (CNSF) 35.2%, Cabral LIBII (PCRN) 3.4%, Bello Boubou MAIGARI (UNDP)2.4%, other 5.3% 2018: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2% (2018)
head of government
Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019)
most recent election date
12 October 2025
election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
expected date of next election
October 2032
National holiday
State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
National color(s)
green, red, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (two natural and one cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Dja Faunal Reserve (n); Sangha Trinational Forest (n); Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (c)
Political parties
Alliance for Democracy and Development Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM Cameroon People's Party or CPP Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP Progressive Movement or MP Social Democratic Front or SDF Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC Union of Socialist Movements
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parlement - Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"O Cameroun, Berceau de Nos Ancêtres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers)
history
adopted 1957; lyrics were changed slightly to the current version in 1978
lyrics/music
Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME
National symbol(s)
lion
Administrative divisions
10 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extrême-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
180 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
3/12/2023
expected date of next election
February 2026
percentage of women in chamber
33.9%
parties elected and seats per party
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC/CPDM) (152); Other (28)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Sénat - Senate)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020
expected date of next election
March 2027
percentage of women in chamber
33%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 387-3826
chancery
2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 265-8790
chief of mission
Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016)
email address and website
mail@cameroonembassyusa Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[237] 22251-4000, Ext. 4531
embassy
Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaoundé
telephone
[237] 22251-4000
mailing address
2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
branch office(s)
Douala
chief of mission
Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022)
email address and website
YaoundeACS@state.gov https://cm.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt