Primary education, pupils in Cameroon
Cameroon: Primary education, pupils was 5.29 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.29 million
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
29th
of 206 countries
All-time high
5.29 million
in 2024
All-time low
923,234
in 1971
Years of data
51
1971–2024
Primary education, pupils in Cameroon, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in Cameroon is 5.29 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 51 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Cameroon peaked at 5.29 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 923,234, in 1971.
That places Cameroon 29th out of 206 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Primary education, pupils in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 923,234 | — |
| 1972 | 930,131 | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 967,561 | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 1.01 million | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 1.07 million | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 1.12 million | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 1.15 million | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 1.20 million | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 1.25 million | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 1.30 million | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 1.38 million | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 1.44 million | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 1.54 million | +6.4% |
| 1984 | 1.56 million | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 1.63 million | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 1.71 million | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 1.80 million | +5.3% |
| 1988 | 1.88 million | +4.5% |
| 1989 | 1.88 million | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 1.95 million | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 1.96 million | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 1.92 million | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 1.89 million | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 1.90 million | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 1.79 million | -5.8% |
| 1997 | 1.92 million | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 2.02 million | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 2.13 million | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 2.24 million | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 2.69 million | +20.2% |
| 2002 | 2.74 million | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 2.80 million | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 2.98 million | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 2.98 million | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 3.00 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 3.12 million | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 3.20 million | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 3.35 million | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 3.51 million | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 3.59 million | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 3.85 million | +7.3% |
| 2014 | 4.14 million | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 4.37 million | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 4.48 million | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 4.37 million | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.20 million | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 4.40 million | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 4.73 million | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 4.94 million | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 5.16 million | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 5.29 million | +2.6% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 5.29 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.66 million, 3.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 5.29 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.40 million, 2.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.07 million | 923,234 | 1.25 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.61 million | 1.30 million | 1.88 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.94 million | 1.79 million | 2.13 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.91 million | 2.24 million | 3.35 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.10 million | 3.51 million | 4.48 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.03 million | 4.73 million | 5.29 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More education data for Cameroon
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,092 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 611,326 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 321,494 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,873 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.01 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1816 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Cameroon?
- Primary education, pupils in Cameroon was 5.29 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 5.29 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 923,234 in 1971.
- How does Cameroon rank for primary education, pupils?
- Cameroon ranks 29th out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.