With the presidential election scheduled for October 12, 2025, Elections Cameroon (Elecam) has released the official number of registered voters, reaching a record 8,010,464. The announcement was made on October 9 by Erik Essousse, the Director General of Elections.
The electoral register includes 3,716,567 women and 4,293,897 men, distributed across 31,653 polling stations throughout the country. Cameroonian citizens living abroad are also eligible to participate, with 34,411 voters expected to cast their ballots at 108 polling stations set up in diplomatic and consular missions. Detailed statistics by region, gender, age group, and disability can be found on the official Elecam website.
In compliance with the Electoral Code, the breakdown of voters by polling station in each commune has been posted in communal offices since October 3, allowing citizens to consult it before casting their votes.
Cameroonians will have a choice between thirteen candidates to elect their next president. Outgoing President Paul Biya, 92 years old and in power for 43 years, is vying for an eighth term. While he is considered the clear favorite, he will face competition from notable figures in the national political landscape, including Bello Bouba Maïgari and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, both former ministers.
Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the leader of the National Front for the Salvation of Cameroon (FSNC), is gradually positioning himself as the main challenger to the incumbent president. He is gaining traction with large crowds at his recent rallies and widespread support from public figures.
The 2025 election sees a 21% increase in the number of voters compared to the 2018 presidential election, when roughly 6.6 million voters were registered. This rise of 1.4 million additional voters underscores renewed political engagement, reflecting Elecam's digital reforms and localized registration campaigns aimed at boosting participation. Elecam identified 2,581,965 voters under 35, accounting for 32.2% of the electorate, a generation that could play a decisive role.
Elecam's Director General announced in January 2025 that the goal was to reach 8 million registered voters, a target he considered achievable. However, the opposition believes this figure is insufficient. Cabral Libii, a member of parliament and leader of the Cameroon Party for National Reconciliation (PCRN), claims that 13.8 million people in Cameroon are eligible to vote.
Cameroonians were able to consult the electoral list at Elecam's regional delegations and on the organization's website.
