Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Cameroon
Cameroon: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 was 57.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Cameroon, 1976–2021
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Cameroon is 57.7%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Cameroon peaked at 78.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 30.3%, in 1987.
Cameroon ranks 71st of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 48.3% | — |
| 1980 | 54.7% | +13.3% |
| 1982 | 48.2% | -11.8% |
| 1985 | 49.7% | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 30.3% | -39.0% |
| 1996 | 61.5% | +102.7% |
| 2001 | 65.5% | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 46.4% | -29.1% |
| 2007 | 78.2% | +68.4% |
| 2010 | 70.7% | -9.6% |
| 2014 | 67.2% | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 57.7% | -14.2% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 57.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.6%, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 57.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 57.6%, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 48.3% | 48.3% | 48.3% | 1 |
| 1980s | 45.7% | 30.3% | 54.7% | 4 |
| 1990s | 61.5% | 61.5% | 61.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 63.4% | 46.4% | 78.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 68.9% | 67.2% | 70.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 57.7% | 57.7% | 57.7% | 1 |
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: 1980 vs. 2025 in Cameroon?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 in Cameroon was 57.7% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 78.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.3% in 1987.
- How does Cameroon rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025?
- Cameroon ranks 71st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025 rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2025. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.