Female labor force participation rate in Cameroon
Cameroon: Female labor force participation rate was 57.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate 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 in Cameroon is 57.7%, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 18.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Cameroon peaked at 78.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 30.3%, in 1987.
That places Cameroon 71st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 65.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 73.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 76.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 56.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 65.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 74.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 57.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Cameroon?
- Female labor force participation rate 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 recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 78.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.3% in 1987.
- How does Cameroon rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Cameroon ranks 71st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is female labor force participation rate 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.