Female labor force participation rate by age in Cameroon
Cameroon: Female labor force participation rate by age was 29.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate by age in Cameroon, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, female labor force participation rate by age in Cameroon stood at 29.4%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 34.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate by age in Cameroon peaked at 68.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 29.4%, in 2024.
That places Cameroon 118th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate by age in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.1% | — |
| 1991 | 68.1% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 68.1% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 68.1% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 68.0% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 67.8% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 67.6% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 67.3% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 67.0% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 66.7% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 66.5% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 66.3% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 66.0% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 65.7% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 65.5% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 65.4% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 65.3% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 65.2% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 61.2% | -6.2% |
| 2009 | 57.0% | -6.8% |
| 2010 | 52.7% | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 50.7% | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 48.7% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 46.6% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 44.6% | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 42.3% | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 40.2% | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 38.0% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 35.9% | -5.6% |
| 2019 | 33.7% | -6.1% |
| 2020 | 31.3% | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 29.6% | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 29.4% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 29.4% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 29.4% | -0.1% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 29.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 29.0%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 29.4% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 34.5%, 85% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 67.7% | 66.7% | 68.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.4% | 57.0% | 66.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.3% | 33.7% | 52.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.8% | 29.4% | 31.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More work & labour data for Cameroon
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.5809 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5736 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.588 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate 0.1629 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 2.48 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 36,415 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 13,402 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 45,113 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 43,763 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 88,876 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate by age in Cameroon?
- Female labor force participation rate by age in Cameroon was 29.4% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 68.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4% in 2024.
- How does Cameroon rank for female labor force participation rate by age?
- Cameroon ranks 118th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 34.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).