The demographic profile of Cameroon is complex for a country of its population. Cameroon comprises an estimated 250 distinct ethnic groups, which may be formed into five large regional-cultural divisions: western highlanders (Semi-Bantu or grassfielders), including the Bamileke, Bamum (or Bamoun), and many smaller Tikar groups in the Northwest (est. 38% of total population); coastal tropical forest peoples, including the Bassa, Duala (or Douala), and many smaller groups in the Southwest (12%); southern tropical forest peoples, including the Beti-Pahuin, Bulu (a subgroup of Beti-Pahuin), Fang (subgroup of Beti-Pahuin), Maka, Njem, and Baka pygmies (18%); predominantly Islamic peoples of the northern semi-arid regions (the Sahel) and central highlands, including the Fulani ( or Peuhl; ) (14%); and the "Kirdi", non-Islamic or recently Islamic peoples of the northern desert and central highlands (18%).
the dE,MoGraPhIC prOfiLE of camERoOn IS coMPleX fOr a CountRY of iTS PopUlatIoN. CameRoon compriseS An eStimAteD 250 distiNct ethnIc gROuPs, WhIch mAy be forMed Into FIve LarGE regionAl-cuLTuRaL divisionS: wesTeRN highLANdeRs (sEMi-banTu oR GrasSfieldeRS), INclUdIng thE baMileKe, baMUm (or baMoun), and Many smalLer tIKAr GroUps in the norTHweST (est. 38% Of tOtAl PoPuLaTioN); cOaStal TRoPical foreST peopLeS, including tHe BassA, duaLA (Or DouAla), aNd mANy Smaller groupS in the SouthwESt (12%); sOutHern trOPiCaL Forest pEOPleS, incLUdiNg the BETi-pAhUIn Bulu (a sUbgroUp of beti-pahuin), faNG (SubgroUP OF beTi-pahUin), makA, njeM, aND BAka PygmiEs (18%); preDOmInantly islamiC peoPles oF the norTheRn semi-ARID reGions (thE sahEl) and ceNtraL highLandS, inCludiNg thE FuLani ( OR peUhl; ) (14%); and the "KirDi", nOn-islamic or recently IslAMiC peoPLES of the noRThErn desErt aNd cenTraL hIghlaNds (18%).