Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cameroon
Cameroon: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 6.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
6.5%
Change on year
down 1.1%
World rank
150th
of 187 countries
All-time high
13.3%
in 1993
All-time low
4.6%
in 2007
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cameroon, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 6.5% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cameroon peaked at 13.3% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 2007.
Cameroon ranks 150th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 13.2% | — |
| 1992 | 13.2% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 13.3% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 12.7% | -2.3% |
| 1996 | 12.1% | -4.6% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 11.6% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 11.5% | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 11.4% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 11.3% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 10.1% | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 8.9% | -11.8% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | -13.7% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -13.9% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | -15.5% |
| 2007 | 4.6% | -18.3% |
| 2008 | 5.1% | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 5.7% | +11.5% |
| 2010 | 6.3% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 6.2% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 6.2% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 6.2% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 6.5% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 6.6% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | +11.9% |
| 2021 | 7.2% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 6.7% | -7.7% |
| 2023 | 6.6% | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 6.6% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 6.5% | -1.1% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 6.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 10.1%, 65% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 6.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8.8%, 74% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.5% | 11.5% | 13.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.7% | 4.6% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.3% | 6.2% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.8% | 6.5% | 7.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 147 Singapore 6.8% compare
- 148 Macau, China 6.8% compare
- 149 Korea 6.7% compare
- 151 United Arab Emirates 6.5% compare
- 152 Burkina Faso 6.4% compare
- 153 Viet Nam 6.2% 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 unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cameroon?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Cameroon was 6.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 13.3% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 2007.
- How does Cameroon rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Cameroon ranks 150th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.