Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Cameroon
Cameroon: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) was 3.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Cameroon, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 3.6% for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Cameroon peaked at 9.2% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2007.
That places Cameroon 127th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.0% | — |
| 1992 | 9.1% | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 8.9% | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 8.1% | -6.3% |
| 1997 | 7.9% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 7.7% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 6.7% | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 5.9% | -12.0% |
| 2004 | 5.1% | -13.9% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -13.5% |
| 2006 | 3.7% | -15.3% |
| 2007 | 3.1% | -17.9% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | +10.5% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | +10.5% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 3.6% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 3.6% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 3.9% | +6.9% |
| 2021 | 4.0% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -8.3% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 3.6% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 3.6% | -0.0% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 3.6% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.1%, 71% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 3.6% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.4%, 66% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.4% | 7.6% | 9.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.1% | 3.1% | 7.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7% | 3.5% | 4.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.6% | 4.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More education data for Cameroon
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,092 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 611,326 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 321,494 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 322,873 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.01 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1816 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Cameroon?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Cameroon was 3.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2007.
- How does Cameroon rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Cameroon ranks 127th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.