Religion in Cameroon

Muslim centres and Christian churches of various denominations operate freely throughout Cameroon. Approximately 40 percent of the population is at least nominally Christian, 20 percent is at least nominally Muslim, and 40 percent practise traditional indigenous religious beliefs. The Christian population is divided approximately equally between Catholic and Protestant denominations.

Christians are concentrated chiefly in the southern and western provinces and Muslims reside in large numbers in every province.[1] There is significant internal migration.[1] Large cities have significant populations of both groups, with mosques and churches often located near each other.[1] The two Anglophone provinces of the western region largely are Protestant and the Francophone provinces of the southern and western regions are largely Catholic. In the northern provinces, the locally dominant Fulani (or Peuhl) ethnic group is mostly Muslim, but the overall population is fairly evenly mixed between Muslims, Christians, and animists, each often living in its own community. The Bamoun ethnic group of the West Province is largely Muslim. Traditional indigenous religious beliefs are practised in rural areas throughout the country but rarely are practised publicly in cities, in part because many indigenous religious groups are intrinsically local in character. Missionary groups are present throughout the country.

There are also 40,000 adherents of the Bahá'í Faith in the country. By 2001 the Bahá'í National Spiritual Assembly was registered with the Government of Cameroon as one of the few non-Christian religions.[3]

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion in Cameroon, and the government generally respects this right in practice.[1] The country is generally characterized by a high degree of religious tolerance.[1]

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