Garoua

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City in North Region, Cameroon

title: "Garoua" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["garoua", "populated-places-in-north-region-(cameroon)", "provincial-capitals-in-cameroon", "benue-river"] description: "City in North Region, Cameroon" topic_path: "general/garoua" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garoua" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City in North Region, Cameroon ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_nameGaroua
settlement_typeCity
image_skylineMarche_Garoua_Nord_Cameroon.jpg
image_captionThe Market at Garoua
pushpin_mapCameroon
pushpin_label_positionabove
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Cameroon
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_name[[Image:Flag of Cameroon.svg
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1North
subdivision_type2Department
subdivision_name2Bénoué
population_as_of2023
population_total2000000
coordinates
elevation_m249
blank_nameClimate
blank_infoAw
::

|official_name = Garoua |settlement_type =City |image_skyline = Marche_Garoua_Nord_Cameroon.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption =The Market at Garoua

|image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Cameroon |pushpin_label_position = above |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Cameroon |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[Image:Flag of Cameroon.svg|25px]] Cameroon |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = North |subdivision_type2 = Department |subdivision_name2 = Bénoué |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |population_as_of =2023 |population_total =2000000 |population_density_km2 = |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 249 |elevation_ft = |blank_name = Climate |blank_info = Aw

Garoua (also Garua; Fula: 𞤺𞤢𞤪𞤱𞤢, Garwa) is a port city and the capital of the North Region of Cameroon, lying on the Benue River. A thriving centre of the textiles and cotton industries, the city has approximately 2,000,000 inhabitants in 2023, mostly Fulbe/Fulani people.

History

Garoua was established by the Fulani emir Modibbo Adama in the first half of the 19th century. During the steamship era, it developed into a major river port.

The population of the city was 30,000 in 1967.

Geography

Garoua is situated in northern Cameroon, and lies on the Benue River. It serves as the gateway to Benoue National Park. Neighborhoods include Commercial Centre, Lopere, Quartier de Marouare, Poumpoumre, Roumde Adjia and the northwestern suburb of Yelwa, near Garoua International Airport.

Climate

Garoua has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The average temperature in Garoua ranges from 26.0 C in December and January, the coolest months, to 33.0 C in April, the hottest month. The hottest time of year is in March and April, just before the wet season starts. March has the highest average high at 39.8 C, while the highest average low is 26.4 C in April. August has the lowest average high at 30.7 C, while December has the lowest average low at 17.3 C.

Garoua receives 997.4 mm of rain over 88 precipitation days, with a distinct wet and dry season like most tropical savanna climates. December, January and February receive no precipitation at all. August, the wettest month, receives 247.9 mm of rainfall on average. September has 24 precipitation days, which is the most of any month. Garoua receives 2927.1 hours of sunshine annually on average, with the sunshine being distributed evenly across the year, although it is lower during the wet season.

|location = Garoua |single line = Yes |metric first = Yes |Jan high C = 34.4 |Feb high C = 37.3 |Mar high C = 39.8 |Apr high C = 39.5 |May high C = 36.5 |Jun high C = 33.2 |Jul high C = 31.1 |Aug high C = 30.7 |Sep high C = 31.5 |Oct high C = 34.2 |Nov high C = 36.0 |Dec high C = 34.8 |year high C = 34.9 |Jan mean C = 26.0 |Feb mean C = 28.9 |Mar mean C = 32.2 |Apr mean C = 33.0 |May mean C = 30.7 |Jun mean C = 28.2 |Jul mean C = 26.6 |Aug mean C = 26.4 |Sep mean C = 26.7 |Oct mean C = 28.1 |Nov mean C = 27.3 |Dec mean C = 26.0 |year mean C = 28.3 |Jan low C = 17.5 |Feb low C = 20.5 |Mar low C = 24.7 |Apr low C = 26.4 |May low C = 24.9 |Jun low C = 23.2 |Jul low C = 22.2 |Aug low C = 22.0 |Sep low C = 21.9 |Oct low C = 22.2 |Nov low C = 19.2 |Dec low C = 17.3 |year low C = 21.8 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 0.0 |Feb rain mm = 0.0 |Mar rain mm = 2.0 |Apr rain mm = 44.1 |May rain mm = 108.4 |Jun rain mm = 134.8 |Jul rain mm = 205.3 |Aug rain mm = 247.9 |Sep rain mm = 190.0 |Oct rain mm = 63.3 |Nov rain mm = 1.6 |Dec rain mm = 0.0 |unit rain days = 1.0 mm |Jan rain days = 0 |Feb rain days = 0 |Mar rain days = 1 |Apr rain days = 5 |May rain days = 9 |Jun rain days = 11 |Jul rain days = 14 |Aug rain days = 17 |Sep rain days = 24 |Oct rain days = 6 |Nov rain days = 1 |Dec rain days = 0 |Jan sun = 275.0 |Feb sun = 252.6 |Mar sun = 260.1 |Apr sun = 245.4 |May sun = 256.7 |Jun sun = 224.4 |Jul sun = 194.0 |Aug sun = 187.2 |Sep sun = 204.5 |Oct sun = 261.5 |Nov sun = 279.2 |Dec sun = 286.5 |year sun = 2927.1 |source 1 = NOAA{{cite web | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/KM/64860.TXT | title = Garoua Climate Normals 1961–1990 | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210303100123/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/KM/64860.TXT | archive-date = 2021-03-03 | url-status = dead | access-date = March 8, 2015}} |date=November 2011

Demographics

In 2023, Garoua had a population of 2,000,000 people. The city is inhabited by the Fulbe ethnic group. Due to a significant number of Chadian expatriates in the city, there is a Chadian Consulate here.

Economy

As the fourth largest port in Cameroon, Garoua is a major center of trade in the country. It developed as a centre for trade in petroleum, cement, hides, peanuts, and cotton, transported on ships along the Benue River, between Burutu in Nigeria.

It has long been a thriving centre of the cotton industry and houses several textile processing facilities and factories. The cotton company Sodecoton has one of its major centres in the city.

Leatherwork and fishing are also notable industries.

Sport

Roumdé Adjia Stadium was one of the arenas hosting the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Places of worship

Among the places of worship, there are, predominantly, Muslim mosques. There are also Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Garoua (Catholic Church), Evangelical Church of Cameroon (World Communion of Reformed Churches), Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (World Communion of Reformed Churches), Cameroon Baptist Convention (Baptist World Alliance), Full Gospel Mission Cameroon (Assemblies of God).

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Garoua_mosque_(outside).jpg" caption="Mosque in Garoua"] ::

Transport

Garoua is served by Garoua International Airport.

The United States military uses the airport as a base to conduct unmanned aerial vehicle operations. The city lies on National Highway 1, at a junction of the road between Maroua and Ngaoundéré. The main road leading north through the town and past the airport is called Rue de la Gendarmerie.

A new bus network is projected to start by 2026.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Garoua_bus.jpg" caption="Garoua’s bus rolling stock"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Garoua_city_bus.jpg" caption="Interior of the rolling stock"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Garoua_bus_network.jpg" caption="Garoua’s bus network"] ::

Notable people

References

References

  1. "Population of Cities in Cameroon (2023)".
  2. "Garoua".
  3. Mark Dike DeLancey, Rebecca Neh Mbuh, Mark W. Delancey, ''Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2010, p. 189
  4. Ham, Anthony. (2009). "West Africa". Lonely Planet.
  5. {{Google maps. link
  6. Drønen, Tomas Sundnes. (31 August 2009). "Communication and Conversion in Northern Cameroon: The Dii People and Norwegian Missionaries, 1934-1960". BRILL.
  7. Trillo, Richard. (2 June 2008). "The Rough Guide to West Africa". Rough Guides Limited.
  8. (October 2005). "Georgia (Republic) Export-Import Trade and Business Directory". International Business Publications.
  9. Ndenecho, Emmanuel Neba. (2011). "Decentralisation and Spatial Rural Development Planning in Cameroon". African Books Collective.
  10. Raimond, Christine. (8 October 2013). "Ressources vivrières et choix alimentaires dans le bassin du lac Tchad". IRD Editions.
  11. J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 484-486
  12. (2003). "Africa Review 2003/04: The Economic and Business Report". Kogan Page Publishers.
  13. Hammer, Joshua. (2016-02-25). "Hunting Boko Haram: The U.S. Extends Its Drone War Deeper Into Africa With Secretive Base". The Intercept.
  14. Baumgardt, Ursula. (2000). "Une conteuse peule et son répertoire : Goggo Addi de Garoua, Cameroun : textes et analyses". Karthala.
  15. (2010). "Encyclopedia of Africa". Oxford University Press.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

garouapopulated-places-in-north-region-(cameroon)provincial-capitals-in-cameroonbenue-river