What are the official languages of Cameroon?

Cameroon is a linguistically diverse country with 286 languages spoken across its regions. These include 55 Afro-Asiatic languages, two Nilo-Saharan languages, four Ubangian languages, and 169 Niger-Congo languages. Despite this diversity, the official languages are English and French, a legacy from its colonial history under British and French rule from 1916 to 1960.

According to the International Organization of La Francophonie, as of 2022, 41.17% of Cameroon's population speaks French. The country aims for bilingualism, but in reality, few Cameroonians are fluent in both official languages, and many do not speak either. To address this, the government has established bilingual schools to promote equal learning of both languages. Cameroon is a member of both the Commonwealth of Nations and La Francophonie.

In the Northwest and Southwest provinces, the majority of the English-speaking population uses Cameroonian English as a lingua franca. In the north, Fulfulde serves a similar role, while Ewondo is prevalent in the Central, Southern, and Eastern provinces.

Camfranglais, a blend of Cameroonian French and English, is a new pidgin form emerging in urban areas where English and French speakers meet. This hybrid language has gained popularity, especially through its use by popular musicians.