Religion in Cameroon

Christianity is strongest in the South and West, while the North, Far North and Adamawa have larger Muslim populations. South, Centre, East, Littoral and West are predominantly Catholic in the available regional findings, and the North-West and South-West are predominantly Protestant. Mbororo and Fulani communities and the Bamoun population are predominantly Muslim. Christian and Muslim practice may also include local or ancestral elements. Sunni Muslims form a clear majority of the Muslim population, while Shia Muslims account for less than 1% in the available estimate. A 2018 CIA estimate cited in a 2023 state report put Roman Catholics at 38.3%, Protestants at 25.5%, other Christians at 6.9%, Muslims at 24.4%, people with animist beliefs at 2.2%, other affiliations at 0.5% and people without a religious affiliation at 2.2%. Cameroon does not have a current official religious census, so these figures are an estimate rather than a definitive present-day count. Cameroon is a secular state. Its Constitution protects freedom of religion and worship and requires state neutrality and independence from religious organizations. It also protects people against religious harassment and discrimination. Under Law N°90/053, as amended by Law N°2021/022, religious associations and institutions generally require state authorization. The Ministry of Territorial Administration, through the Service des Cultes, examines applications, issues authorization and maintains the relevant religious register. The Ministry may suspend an organization for public-order reasons, and the President may dissolve an authorized organization if it departs from its stated purpose. Some unregistered groups receive administrative tolerance, but they may lack the ability to hold a bank account in their own name and have an uncertain legal position. Indigenous and traditional religious practices do not require registration and are generally treated as private or local practices. Churches, mosques, Christian liturgy, Ramadan and Eid are established forms of religious practice. Cameroon’s state television and radio may broadcast Christian and Islamic services or ceremonies during holidays and national occasions. Access to worship is not equal in every region: insecurity and access restrictions particularly affect the Far North and the North-West and South-West regions. Religious membership contributions and worship-related payments vary by community, and the available research does not establish one national religious fee. Christian public holidays include Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Assumption and Christmas. Muslim public holidays include Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, also called the Feast of the Ram. Christian dates follow the Gregorian calendar and the timing of Easter, while Islamic dates follow the lunar calendar. A 2026 reference places Eid al-Fitr on 20 March, Good Friday on 3 April, Ascension on 14 May, Eid al-Adha on 27 May, Assumption on 15 August and Christmas on 25 December. The official holiday status and date should be confirmed for each year. Private religious schools must meet state requirements for curriculum, infrastructure and teachers. They may add religious education to the state curriculum and may receive state support calculated by student numbers. The Ministry of Basic Education supervises private basic education and Quranic schools. The CENC, the Commission for Catholic Education, coordinates Catholic catechesis, schools, colleges, university activities and chaplaincy. The available findings report repeated sanctions or expulsions involving Jehovah’s Witnesses who refused the national anthem, but they do not establish one general rule issued by the Ministry of Territorial Administration or the education authorities. Religious dialogue is organized mainly through denominational and interreligious initiatives rather than one central statutory council. The CENC includes a Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism, and ACADIR functions as an interreligious platform. Christian and Muslim leaders have issued joint statements on peace and mediation. Life events follow the relevant religious tradition and may include baptism, catechesis, sacraments, Islamic rites, religious marriage, funeral and burial ceremonies, or local ancestor and ritual practices. A religious ceremony does not replace civil registration. Under Article 217 of Cameroon’s Penal Code, a religious minister must see a civil marriage certificate before conducting a religious marriage. Civil marriages, births and deaths are registered through a civil-status centre, the mayor or other competent MINAT-linked authorities. The marriage certificate can affect inheritance procedures and the registration of children. Muslim residents who plan the Hajj register through an approved local coordinator, called an encadreur, in their area of residence; the National Commission du Hadj and MINAT organize and supervise the pilgrimage each year. Package prices and registration timing vary annually.