Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Cameroon
Cameroon: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 65.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Cameroon, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Cameroon is 65.8%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Cameroon peaked at 83.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 65.8%, in 2025.
Cameroon ranks 120th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 83.2% | — |
| 1991 | 83.1% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 83.1% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 83.0% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 83.0% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 82.9% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 82.9% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 82.8% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 82.8% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 82.7% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 82.7% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 82.6% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 82.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 82.6% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 82.5% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 82.5% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 82.5% | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 82.5% | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 80.8% | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 79.0% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 77.0% | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 76.0% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 74.9% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 73.8% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 72.7% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 71.8% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 70.8% | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 69.9% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 69.0% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 68.0% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 66.5% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 65.9% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 66.2% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 66.1% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 66.1% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 65.8% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.9% | 82.7% | 83.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 82.0% | 79.0% | 82.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.4% | 68.0% | 77.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 66.1% | 65.8% | 66.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 117 Rwanda 66.1% compare
- 118 North Macedonia 65.8% compare
- 119 Guinea-Bissau 65.8% compare
- 121 Costa Rica 65.3% compare
- 122 Haiti 65.3% compare
- 123 New Caledonia 65.1% compare
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 labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Cameroon?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Cameroon was 65.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 83.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.8% in 2025.
- How does Cameroon rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Cameroon ranks 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.3%. 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 Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.