Abstract. Determination of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) number concentrations at cloud base is important to constrain aerosol-cloud interactions. A new method to retrieve CCN number concentrations using backscatter and extinction profiles from multiwavelength Raman lidars is proposed. The method implements hygroscopic enhancements of backscatter/extinction with relative humidity to derive dry backscatter/extinction and humidogram parameters. Humidogram parameters, Ångström exponents, and lidar extinction-to-backscatter ratios are then linked to the ratio of CCN number concentration to dry backscatter/extinction coefficient (AR_ξ). This linkage is established based on the datasets simulated by Mie theory and κ-Köhler theory with in situ measured particle size distributions and chemical compositions. CCN number concentration can thus be calculated with AR_ξ and dry backscatter/extinction. An independent theoretical simulated datasets is used to validate this new method and results show that the retrieved CCN number concentrations at supersaturations of 0.07 %, 0.10 %, and 0.20 % are in good agreement with theoretical calculated values. Sensitivity tests indicate that retrieval error in CCN arise mostly from uncertainties in extinction coefficients and RH profiles. The proposed method improves CCN retrieval from lidar measurements and has great potential in deriving scarce long-term CCN data at cloud base which benefits aerosol-cloud interaction studies.