Cameroon has secured an additional CFAF 6 billion to complete its fourth General Population and Housing Census alongside the General Agriculture and Livestock Census. The new funding extends field operations until July 15, 2026, increasing the total budget allocated to the nationwide exercise to CFAF 19 billion. The decision was announced during a meeting of the Technical Committee responsible for overseeing the census process in Yaounde.
The additional resources are being provided through a combination of international and national support. Around CFAF 4.5 billion will come from the World Bank-supported Harmonisation and Improvement of Statistics in West and Central Africa (HISWACA) project, while the remaining CFAF 1.5 billion will be funded by Cameroon’s national treasury. Authorities stated that the new financing was necessary to address operational delays and ensure the successful completion of data collection activities.
Government officials reported that census operations have resumed following the resolution of key challenges related to funding, logistics, and implementation. A revised operational plan has been adopted to accelerate data collection across the country. Administrative areas that are progressing well are expected to complete enumeration by the end of June, while areas experiencing delays will receive additional support to finish their activities by early July.
To guarantee comprehensive coverage, a nationwide mop-up exercise will be conducted between July 11 and July 15. This final phase is intended to reduce omissions and ensure that all households, farms, and livestock holdings are adequately recorded. The census teams will continue operating under strict security measures, particularly in regions affected by instability.
In areas where security conditions prevent field personnel from carrying out direct enumeration, including parts of the North-West and South-West regions, authorities will rely on satellite imagery, statistical modelling, and estimation techniques to supplement data collection. Weekly security briefings and the promotion of an emergency hotline for census workers have also been introduced to improve safety during operations.
The census is expected to generate updated demographic, agricultural, and livestock statistics that will support evidence-based decision-making across multiple sectors. The information collected will play an important role in national development planning, public investment strategies, resource allocation, and policy formulation in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and economic development.
According to census officials, the extension of field operations created additional expenses related to communication campaigns, environmental safeguards, deployment of personnel, and final verification activities. Public awareness efforts are being intensified to encourage participation and cooperation from communities across the country. Once completed, the census will provide a critical statistical foundation for Cameroon’s future social and economic development planning.
