199 countries 39,402 visa rules 72,668 airports 7,028 languages 235 holiday calendars 1,260 news stories Visa data verified 13 Oct 2026
Free Passport Photo Maker
Check requirements
Travel photo of Cameroon

Languages · Africa

Flag of CameroonWhat Language Do They Speak in Cameroon?

The official languages of Cameroon are French and English. In total about 265 living languages are spoken there, the most common being French (68%), English (38%) and Adamawa Fulfulde (18%).

2
Official languages
265
Living languages · #7
0
Regional official languages
73
Endangered languages

Official languages of Cameroon

Official

French

français

68% of the population · Indo-European

Official

English

38% of the population · Indo-European

Most spoken languages in Cameroon

French Official
68%
English Official
38%
Adamawa Fulfulde
18%
6%
5%
4%
Ewondo
3%
Yemba
2%
Ghomálá'
1%
Ngiemboon
1%
Kom (Cameroon)
1%
Basa (Cameroon)
1%
Share of the population who speak the language (first or second language).

Languages commonly listed for Cameroon

Bamileke-bamumDualaFangFulMakaMandaraMasanaTikar

Languages of neighbouring countries

Flag of NigeriaEnglish
Flag of ChadArabic
Flag of Central African RepublicFrench
Flag of Republic of the CongoFrench
Flag of GabonFrench
Flag of Equatorial GuineaFrench

All languages of Cameroon (265)

LanguageSpeakers hereFamilyStatus
French21,056,948 · 68%Indo-EuropeanOfficial
English11,767,118 · 38%Indo-EuropeanOfficial
Adamawa Fulfulde5,700,000 · 18%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Cameroon Pidgin2,000,000 · 6%Indo-EuropeanSafe
Bulu (Cameroon)1,424,440 · 5%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Fulah1,114,779 · 4%Atlantic-Congo—
Ewondo959,949 · 3%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Yemba495,457 · 2%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ghomálá'433,525 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngiemboon433,525 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kom (Cameroon)402,559 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Basa (Cameroon)371,593 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bamun371,593 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Medumba340,627 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mundang309,661 · 1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Northwest Gbaya260,000 · 0.84%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Eton (Cameroon)250,000 · 0.81%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lamnso'240,000 · 0.78%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mafa229,149 · 0.74%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Bakaka180,000 · 0.58%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bassossi180,000 · 0.58%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bafut176,506 · 0.57%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Akoose167,216 · 0.54%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kako167,216 · 0.54%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Musgu160,000 · 0.52%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Duala148,637 · 0.48%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Meta'145,540 · 0.47%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Fe'fe'140,000 · 0.45%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Limbum130,000 · 0.42%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Cameroon Mambila130,000 · 0.42%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Fang (Cameroon)130,000 · 0.42%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Arabic120,767 · 0.39%Afro-Asiatic—
Fali119,000 · 0.38%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Oroko110,000 · 0.36%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Tikar110,000 · 0.36%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngomba105,284 · 0.34%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bafia99,091 · 0.32%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mofu-Gudur90,000 · 0.29%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Oku87,000 · 0.28%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Makaa80,000 · 0.26%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Yamba80,000 · 0.26%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kenyang77,415 · 0.25%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mpumpong75,000 · 0.24%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngwe73,000 · 0.24%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Baka (Cameroon)70,000 · 0.23%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Gidar70,000 · 0.23%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Duupa60,000 · 0.19%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Dii60,000 · 0.19%Atlantic-CongoSafe
South Giziga60,000 · 0.19%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Samba Leko58,000 · 0.19%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Psikye52,500 · 0.17%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Bubia51,000 · 0.16%BookkeepingMoribund
Mungaka50,100 · 0.16%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bakoko50,000 · 0.16%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Noone50,000 · 0.16%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngombale45,000 · 0.15%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Wandala44,000 · 0.14%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Hausa43,352 · 0.14%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Aghem43,352 · 0.14%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Koonzime40,000 · 0.13%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Tunen40,000 · 0.13%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Babanki39,000 · 0.13%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngwo38,000 · 0.12%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngie37,000 · 0.12%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Esimbi35,000 · 0.11%Atlantic-CongoSafe
South Fali35,000 · 0.11%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nugunu (Cameroon)35,000 · 0.11%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mmen35,000 · 0.11%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Mazagway35,000 · 0.11%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mundani34,000 · 0.11%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Karang32,000 · 0.1%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bamunka31,000 · 0.1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Tigon Mbembe30,000 · 0.1%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Muyang30,000 · 0.1%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Parkwa30,000 · 0.1%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Afade30,000 · 0.1%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Bambalang29,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nzanyi29,000 · 0.09%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
North Mofu28,000 · 0.09%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Vengo27,000 · 0.09%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Zulgo-Gemzek26,000 · 0.08%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mbum25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mokpwe25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Baba25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Wumboko25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Wushi25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mbessa25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bakole25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Kenswei Nsei25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Pinyin25,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Daba25,000 · 0.08%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Bebele24,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mfumte24,000 · 0.08%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bana23,000 · 0.07%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Bum21,000 · 0.07%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Vute21,000 · 0.07%Atlantic-CongoSafe
North Giziga20,000 · 0.06%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mengaka20,000 · 0.06%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Awing19,000 · 0.06%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngemba19,000 · 0.06%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Doyayo18,000 · 0.06%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Matal18,000 · 0.06%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Bafanji17,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Elip17,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mada (Cameroon)17,000 · 0.05%Afro-AsiaticSafe
North Fali16,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mambai16,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Nyong15,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Gavar15,000 · 0.05%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Isu15,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mbuko15,000 · 0.05%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Pere15,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Lefa15,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bangolan14,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Cuvok14,000 · 0.05%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mesaka14,000 · 0.05%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bankon12,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Kol (Cameroon)12,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bamukumbit12,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Iceve-Maci12,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nzakambay11,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Denya11,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bamali11,000 · 0.04%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mina (Cameroon)11,000 · 0.04%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Mefele11,000 · 0.04%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Bambili-Bambui10,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Buwal10,000 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Kwanja10,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoNearly extinct
Kwakum10,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Merey10,000 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Ndemli10,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Suga10,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Wuzlam10,000 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Usaghade10,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mpiemo9,600 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Byep9,500 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngoshie9,200 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Swo9,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Gundi9,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ngundi9,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Kwasio8,980 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Vame8,500 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Moloko8,500 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Bafaw-Balong8,400 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mpade8,000 · 0.03%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Weh8,000 · 0.03%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Sari7,600 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Dugun7,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Batanga6,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Bebil6,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kwaja6,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nomaande6,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Mbudum6,000 · 0.02%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Manta5,300 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Menka5,200 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Sharwa5,100 · 0.02%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Vemgo-Mabas5,000 · 0.02%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Ambele5,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Dugwor5,000 · 0.02%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Laimbue5,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Abon5,000 · 0.02%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Majera5,000 · 0.02%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Gyele4,250 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Atong (Cameroon)4,200 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bamenyam4,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nyokon3,900 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Yambeta3,700 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Busam3,400 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Barombi3,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Beba3,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bonkeng3,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Kuk3,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Koshin3,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Gimme3,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Glavda2,800 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticSafe
Bangandu2,700 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Lidzonka2,600 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kolbila2,500 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Longto2,400 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Tsuvan2,300 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticMoribund
Yangben2,291 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Balo2,200 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Malimba2,200 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Nkongho2,200 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Evant2,200 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Pana (Central African Republic)2,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Zhoa2,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Naki2,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Abar2,000 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Njen1,800 · 0.01%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Hya1,800 · 0.01%Afro-AsiaticMoribund
Jina1,500 · 0%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Kendem1,500 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Mbe'1,500 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Wawa1,500 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Mbonga1,490 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Chung1,400 · 0%Atlantic-CongoSafe
Tibea1,400 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Akum1,400 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Iyasa1,200 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Kwa'1,000 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Tuotomb1,000 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Yukuben1,000 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bati (Cameroon)800 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Isubu800 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Mbuk600 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Kung600 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Mser500 · 0%Afro-AsiaticMoribund
Mundabli-Mufu500 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Beezen450 · 0%Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Osatu400 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Dama300 · 0%Atlantic-CongoNearly extinct
Mono (Cameroon)300 · 0%Atlantic-CongoMoribund
Zizilivakan300 · 0%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Maslam250 · 0%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Buduma200 · 0%Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Mbule110 · 0%Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Jilbe100 · 0%Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Pam30 · 0%Atlantic-CongoMoribund
Twendi30 · 0%Atlantic-CongoMoribund
Hijuk15Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Ndai5Atlantic-CongoNearly extinct
Mbo (Cameroon)—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Guduf-Gava—Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Lagwan—Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Pomo—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ipulo—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Yaka (Central African Republic)—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Nubaca—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Tuki—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Befang—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mbongno—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Bekwel—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bomwali—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Bitare—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Batu—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Bukwen—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Naami—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Caka—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Dghwede—Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Dimbong—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Kemedzung—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Efai—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Eman—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Gimnime—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Herdé—Afro-AsiaticSafe
Jimi (Cameroon)—Afro-AsiaticVulnerable
Kare (Central African Republic)—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Kapya—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Koma—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Durop—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Leti (Cameroon)—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Mengisa———
Mendankwe-Nkwen—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Mmaala—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Ajumbu—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable
Malgbe—Afro-AsiaticThreatened
Ngamambo—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Ncane—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Ndoola—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Gvoko—Afro-AsiaticSafe
Njyem—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Nda'nda'—Atlantic-CongoSafe
Seki—Atlantic-CongoThreatened
Iyive—Atlantic-CongoVulnerable

Frequently asked questions

What language do they speak in Cameroon?

The official languages of Cameroon are French and English. In total about 265 living languages are spoken there, the most common being French (68%), English (38%) and Adamawa Fulfulde (18%).

What is the official language of Cameroon?

French and English.

Is English spoken in Cameroon?

Yes — English is official in Cameroon, spoken by about 38% of people.

How many languages are spoken in Cameroon?

About 265 living languages — #7 in the world for linguistic diversity. 73 of them are endangered.

Data: Languages of the World dataset (MIT) — ISO 639-3, Glottolog (CC BY 4.0), Unicode CLDR, Google LinguaMeta (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata; country lists: samayo/country-json (MIT).

Cameroon country profileLanguages by country