Photo: ymea derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Cameroon: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Cameroon is placed 97th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 62.82 (2025); Labour Income Share 44.37 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
97th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Cameroon on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
62.82
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Cameroon: 62.82. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Middle Africa
- 68.8 Central African Republic
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 68.8 · Republic of the Congo 54.34 · Gabon 40.77 · Equatorial Guinea 55.47 · Nigeria 79.99 · Chad 58.81
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
3.602
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Cameroon: 3.602. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Middle Africa
- 1.057 Chad
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 6.251 · Republic of the Congo 19.88 · Gabon 20.15 · Equatorial Guinea 8.337 · Nigeria 3.064 · Chad 1.057
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
67.56
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Cameroon: 67.56. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Middle Africa
- 23.08 Equatorial Guinea
- Land neighbours
- Central African Republic 79.42 · Republic of the Congo 75.89 · Gabon 29.81 · Equatorial Guinea 23.08 · Nigeria 66.48 · Chad 90.22
02Over time
Which way Cameroon is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
CameroonWorld median
Cameroon fell from 75.78 in 2000 to 62.82 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Cameroon World median 2025 62.823 57.720 2024 63.168 57.694 2023 63.188 58.158 2022 63.185 57.688 2021 62.718 56.066 2020 63.358 55.691 2019 65.003 57.871 2018 65.919 56.911 2017 66.832 56.738 2016 67.747 56.845 2015 68.650 56.788 2014 69.551 56.774 2013 70.475 56.229 2012 71.371 56.289 2011 72.237 56.297 2010 73.097 56.212 2009 75.254 56.255 2008 77.304 57.308 2007 79.223 56.933 2006 78.698 56.685 2005 78.167 56.129 2004 77.627 55.465 2003 76.985 55.630 2002 76.367 55.843 2001 75.796 56.018 2000 75.776 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
CameroonWorld median
Cameroon fell from 51.96 in 2004 to 44.37 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Cameroon World median 2025 44.374 46.230 2024 44.581 46.060 2023 44.712 45.900 2022 44.449 45.615 2021 44.974 45.433 2020 44.897 47.267 2019 44.713 46.277 2018 45.272 46.187 2017 47.072 46.467 2016 48.162 46.798 2015 48.638 46.876 2014 51.783 47.281 2013 51.932 46.887 2012 51.519 46.231 2011 52.888 45.679 2010 52.944 46.024 2009 51.755 47.071 2008 53.304 45.312 2007 53.910 45.246 2006 53.645 45.670 2005 54.161 46.265 2004 51.956 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
CameroonWorld median
Cameroon fell from 7.533 in 2000 to 3.602 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Cameroon World median 2025 3.602 5.08 2024 3.603 5.15 2023 3.607 5.21 2022 3.646 5.34 2021 3.976 6.04 2020 3.881 6.38 2019 3.632 5.36 2018 3.608 5.35 2017 3.573 5.59 2016 3.529 5.90 2015 3.518 6.41 2014 3.534 6.58 2013 3.686 6.71 2012 3.836 6.79 2011 3.988 6.90 2010 4.110 7.04 2009 3.743 6.67 2008 3.386 5.79 2007 3.063 6.00 2006 3.729 6.50 2005 4.400 7.09 2004 5.087 6.80 2003 5.908 6.95 2002 6.711 6.91 2001 7.460 6.96 2000 7.533 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
CameroonWorld median
Cameroon fell from 81.61 in 2000 to 67.56 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Cameroon World median 2025 67.56 28.67 2024 67.85 29.04 2023 68.04 29.33 2022 68.18 29.67 2021 68.47 30.01 2020 69.70 30.54 2019 69.73 29.98 2018 70.66 30.15 2017 71.65 29.93 2016 72.62 29.91 2015 73.58 30.26 2014 74.56 30.47 2013 75.26 31.14 2012 75.96 31.00 2011 76.67 31.41 2010 77.30 32.37 2009 77.94 32.59 2008 78.56 31.76 2007 79.26 33.47 2006 79.63 34.27 2005 80.03 34.66 2004 80.40 35.51 2003 80.73 35.90 2002 81.07 35.96 2001 81.41 35.27 2000 81.61 35.67
03In context
Cameroon beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Cameroon and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nigeria | 16th | 79.99 | 75.13 | 3.064 | 66.48 |
| Cameroon | 97th | 62.82 | 44.37 | 3.602 | 67.56 |
 Chad | =117th | 58.81 | 39.11 | 1.057 | 90.22 |
 Equatorial Guinea | 138th | 55.47 | 40.67 | 8.337 | 23.08 |
 Central African Republic | 149th | 68.8 | 31.27 | 6.251 | 79.42 |
 Republic of the Congo | 170th | 54.34 | 44.06 | 19.88 | 75.89 |
 Gabon | 177th | 40.77 | 28.87 | 20.15 | 29.81 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Middle Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Cameroon in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Cameroon is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which Cameroon does better than the middle country measured.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.836.54812.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Cameroon: 6.548 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 145th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6665.1761.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Cameroon: 65.17 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 56th of 182 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3656.5953.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Cameroon: 56.59 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 70th of 182 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1621.1819.16No earlier reading
Cameroon: 21.18 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 72nd of 179 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.611.481.61▲ Improved since 2015
Cameroon: 1.48 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Cameroon does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0724.0532.07No earlier reading
Cameroon: 24.05 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.88521.664.885No real change since 2015
Cameroon: 21.66 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23011,28025,230▼ Worsened since 2010
Cameroon: 11,280 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 107th of 151 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.911.245.9No earlier reading
Cameroon: 11.2 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38413,37047,384No real change since 2015
Cameroon: 13,370 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 137th of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.166.122.16No real change since 2015
Cameroon: 6.1 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 150th of 182 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7421,5746,742No real change since 2015
Cameroon: 1,574 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 126th of 151 · derived.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.685.01816.68No earlier reading
Cameroon: 5.018 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 126th of 139 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8175.4241.81No earlier reading
Cameroon: 75.42 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 7th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare3
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 333▼ Worsened since 2015
Cameroon: 3 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Cameroon: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Cameroon: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8469.2831.84Moved since 2015
Cameroon: 69.28 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 34th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3841.8514.38No real change since 2015
Cameroon: 41.85 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 36th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8942.338.89Moved since 2015
Cameroon: 42.3 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 48th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.017.66615.01No earlier reading
Cameroon: 7.666 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 98th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8814.6118.88Moved since 2015
Cameroon: 14.61 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 142nd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5143.5359.51No real change since 2015
Cameroon: 43.53 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 146th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95211.81657.95Moved since 2014
Cameroon: 211.81 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
No current reading for Cameroon
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2014), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2014), Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2014), Share of Temporary Employees (last 2014) and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2021). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Cameroon’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Cameroon’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Environment & Sustainability42nd of 1864/4 keys
- Energy71st of 1653/3 keys
- Work & Labour97th of 1824/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 115th of 1843/4 keys
- Digital & Technology127th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation116th of 1764/4 keys
- Gender & Equality140th of 1834/4 keys
- Peace & Security145th of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 160th of 1944/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 160th of 1934/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge165th of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade148th of 1773/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital166th of 1963/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 169th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 138th of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing180th of 2004/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Cameroon can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Nigeria16th4/4 keysHighest in Middle Africa
Cameroon97th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Cameroon and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Cameroon on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Cameroon rank on work & labour?
Cameroon is placed 97th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Cameroon?
62.82 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Cameroon?
44.37 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Cameroon compare with Nigeria on work & labour?
Nigeria is placed 16th of 182, and Cameroon 97th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Nigeria 79.99, Cameroon 62.82; Labour Income Share: Nigeria 75.13, Cameroon 44.37; Unemployment Rate: Nigeria 3.064, Cameroon 3.602; Vulnerable Employment: Nigeria 66.48, Cameroon 67.56.
How have Cameroon’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 75.78 in 2000 to 62.82 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 51.96 in 2004 to 44.37 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 7.533 in 2000 to 3.602 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 81.61 in 2000 to 67.56 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Cameroon?
No current reading is published for Cameroon on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Cameroon’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Cameroon (banner) — ymea derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Cameroon: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/cameroon/work