Cameroon: immigration

How many refugees are there in Cameroon?

Cameroon hosted 408,613 refugees and 18,553 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR’s refugee statistics, down from 427,706 refugees a year earlier.

Asylum seekers are people whose claims have not yet been decided. UNHCR compiles the figures from government and its own registration data and publishes them twice a year. Refugees and asylum seekers together numbered about 427,200.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee data finder

How many people are displaced within Cameroon?

1,004,257 people were internally displaced in Cameroon at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR’s statistics, compared with 1,036,775 a year earlier.

Internally displaced people have fled their homes but stayed inside the country, so they are not refugees. The number fell by about 32,500 over 2025. The figures are compiled with the government and humanitarian partners.

Official sources: UNHCR: Refugee data finder

Do more people leave or move to Cameroon?

More people left Cameroon than arrived in 2025, with net migration of minus 15,379 people, according to the World Bank, using UN population estimates. The figure was minus 13,892 in 2024.

Net migration is arrivals minus departures. Against a population of about 29.9 million it is small, so population growth comes mostly from births exceeding deaths. No official statistics on visas or residence permits issued were found online.

Official sources: World Bank: Net migration, Cameroon

How many foreign-born people live in Cameroon?

2.2%: that is the share of people born abroad in Cameroon for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. It is 24th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.2%. Worldwide: 128th of 193.

What is net migration in Cameroon?

According to the UN Population Division, net migration in Cameroon was -15,379 in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from -37,912 (2017) to 96,599 (2014). It is 37th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is -5,646. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 144th highest.

How many refugees live in Cameroon?

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees in the country in Cameroon was 408,613 in 2025. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at 485,285; its low point was 2006, at 35,083. It is 8th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 35,241. World rank, highest first: 22nd of 169.

How many refugees have fled Cameroon?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 140,366. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 147,352; its low point was 2005, at 9,096. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 12,726, and Cameroon placed 13th highest of 48. Worldwide: 24th of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to Cameroon?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2024, is 1.3% of GDP. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.4% of GDP (2005) to 1.6% of GDP (2023). It is 27th highest of 36 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.5% of GDP. Of 156 countries with 2024 data, 97th highest.