Cameroon comprises an estimated 250 distinct ethnic groups, which may be formed into five large regional-cultural divisions: The Cameroon government held two national censuses during the country's first 44 years as an independent country, in 1976 and again in 1987.

A third census, expected to take years to produce results, began on November 11, 2005, with a three-week interviewing phase.

It is one of a series of projects and reforms required by the International Monetary Fund as prerequisites for foreign debt relief.

[4] Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.I.2010) (Data refer to national projections.

In the three northern provinces—Adamawa, North, and Far North—either French or Fulfulde (the language of the Fulani) is widely spoken.