The Sudanic speaking peoples include the Sao, who live on the Adamawa Plateau; the Fulani; and the Kanuri. The Fulani came from the Niger basin in two waves, in the 11th and 19th centuries; they were Muslims who converted and subjugated the peoples of the Logone valley and the Kébi and Faro river valleys. The third ethnic group consists mainly of small tribes, except for the Bantu-related Bamileke, who live between the lower slopes of the Adamawa Plateau and Mount Cameroon. Other western Semi-Bantu-speaking tribes include the Tikar, who live in the Bamenda region and in the western high plateau.

The population of Cameroon is 15,803,220. The overall population density is 33 persons per sq km (87 per sq mi). Cameroon contains about 200 ethnic groups who speak 24 major languages. The capital is Yaoundé. Douala, on the Bight of Biafra, with an around population of 1,500,000 in 1997, is the chief port. Other principal towns include Garoua (160,000) and Maroua (140,000). About 27 % of the population adheres to orthodox religions; about 22 % of the population is Muslim; the remaining majority is Christian. Muslims predominate in the north and Christians in the south.

Cameroon's around 250 ethnic groups form five large regional -- cultural groups: western highlanders, including the Bamileke, Bamoun, and many smaller entities in the northwest est. 39% of population; coastal tropical forest peoples, including the Bassa, Douala, and many smaller entities in the Southwest (12%); southern tropical forest peoples, including the Ewondo, Bulu, and Fang, Maka and Pygmies (18%); predominantly Islamic peoples of the northern semi-arid regions and central highlands, including the Fulani, also known as Peuhl in French (14%); and the "Kirdi", non-Islamic or newly Islamic peoples of the northern desert and central highlands (18%).