View source for Regions of Cameroon

{{Short description|First-level administrative divisions of Cameroon}}

{{Infobox subdivision type
| name               = Regions of Cameroon<br />Régions du Cameroun ([[French language|French]])
| alt_name           = 
| map                = [[Image:Provinces of Cameroon numbered.svg|200px]]
| category           = [[Unitary state]]
| territory          = [[Cameroon|Republic of Cameroon]]
| start_date         = 
| current_number     = [[#List|10]]
| number_date        = 
| population_range   = 
| area_range         =  
| government         = Semi-autonomous regional government
| subdivision        = [[Departments of Cameroon|Department]]
}}

{{Politics of Cameroon}}

The [[Cameroon|Republic of Cameroon]] is divided into ten regions.  

==History==

Between 1961 and 1972, Cameroon was a federal republic made up of two federated states, [[East Cameroon]] and [[West Cameroon]].

A unitary system came into being in 1972. The country was then divided into provinces. In 1983, Centre-South Province was divided into Centre and South and at the same time, Adamawa and Far North Provinces were split from North Province. See summary of administrative history in Zeitlyn 2018.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zeitlyn|first=David|date=2018-08-03|title=A summary of Cameroonian Administrative history|url=http://www.vestiges-journal.info/2018/zeitlyn_2018.html|journal=Vestiges: Traces of Record|volume=4|issue=1|pages=1–13}}</ref>

In 2008, the [[President of Cameroon|President of the Republic of Cameroon]], President [[Paul Biya]] signed decrees abolishing "provinces" and replacing them with "regions". Hence, all of the country's ten provinces are now known as regions.

The Northwest region and Southwest region were granted special status in December 2019, giving them additional powers.

<gallery>
File:Carte des États de la République fédérale du Cameroun.png|States of the Federal Republic of Cameroon (1961-1972)
File:Cameroon provinces 1972-1983.png|Provinces of Cameroon (1972-1983)
</gallery>

== List ==
{| style="background:transparent;"
|-
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- style="font-size:95%;"
!width="30px"| No. !!width="80px"|Region !!width="100px"| [[French language|French]] name !!width="70px"| [[Capital city|Capital]]
!width="70px"| Population (2005 census) !!width="70px"| Population (2022 est.) !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population density<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>)
</tr>
|-
|  1. || [[Adamawa Region|Adamawa]] || ''Adamaoua'' || [[Ngaoundéré]]
|align="right"| 903,000 ||align="right"| 1,124,000 ||align="right"|  63,701 ||align="right"|  8
|-
|  2. || [[Centre Region (Cameroon)|Centre]] || ''Centre'' || [[Yaoundé]]
|align="right"| 3,105,000 ||align="right"| 3,905,000 ||align="right"|  68,953 ||align="right"| 24
|-
|  3. || [[East Region (Cameroon)|East]] || ''Est'' || [[Bertoua]]
|align="right"| 783,000 ||align="right"| 830,000 ||align="right"| 109,002 ||align="right"|  5
|-
|  4. || [[Far North Region, Cameroon|Far North]] || ''Extrême-Nord'' || [[Maroua]]
|align="right"| 3,119,000 ||align="right"| 3,796,000 ||align="right"|  34,263 ||align="right"| 54
|-
|  5. || [[Littoral Region (Cameroon)|Littoral]] || ''Littoral'' || [[Douala]]
|align="right"| 2,502,000 ||align="right"| 3,178,000 ||align="right"| 20,248 ||align="right"| 67
|-
|  6. || [[North Region (Cameroon)|North]] || ''Nord'' || [[Garoua]]
|align="right"| 1,703,000 ||align="right"| 2,297,000 ||align="right"| 66,090 ||align="right"| 13
|-
|  7. || [[Northwest Region (Cameroon)|Northwest]] || ''Nord-Ouest'' || [[Bamenda]]
|align="right"| 1,735,000 ||align="right"| 1,906,000 ||align="right"| 17,300 ||align="right"| 69
|-
|  8. || [[South Region (Cameroon)|South]] || ''Sud'' || [[Ebolowa]]
|align="right"| 641,000 ||align="right"| 773,000 ||align="right"| 47,191 ||align="right"|  8
|-
|  9. || [[Southwest Region (Cameroon)|Southwest]] || ''Sud-Ouest'' || [[Buea]]
|align="right"| 1,325,000 ||align="right"| 1,503,000 ||align="right"| 25,410 ||align="right"| 34
|-
| 10. || [[West Region (Cameroon)|West]] || ''Ouest'' || [[Bafoussam]]
|align="right"| 1,712,000 ||align="right"| 1,875,000 ||align="right"|  13,892 ||align="right"| 97
|}
|}

==See also==
* [[Communes of Cameroon]]
* [[Departments of Cameroon]]
* [[ISO 3166-2:CM]]
* [[List of municipalities of Cameroon]]
* [[List of regions of Cameroon by Human Development Index]]
* [[Subdivisions of Cameroon]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Citations==
* {{Cite web|author=Law, Gwillim|year=2005|url=http://www.statoids.com/ucm.html|title=Provinces of Cameroon|website=statoids.com|access-date=3 June 2006}}

{{Provinces of Cameroon}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of African countries}}

<!-- Categories -->
[[Category:Regions of Cameroon| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Cameroon]]
[[Category:Lists of administrative divisions|Cameroon, Regions]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Africa|Cameroon 1]]
[[Category:First-level administrative divisions by country|Regions, Cameroon]]
[[Category:Cameroon geography-related lists]]