Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon

Cameroon: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 3.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
3.3%
World rank
139th
of 185 countries
All-time high
21.4%
in 2005
All-time low
3.1%
in 2007
Years of data
7
1996–2021

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon, 1996–2021

51015201996200820211996: 8.1 %2001: 7.5 %2005: 21.4 %2007: 3.1 %2010: 4.1 %2014: 3.5 %2021: 3.3 %

Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2021, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon stood at 3.3%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 20.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon peaked at 21.4% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2007.

That places Cameroon 139th out of 185 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 8.1% 8.1% 8.1% 1
2000s 10.6% 3.1% 21.4% 3
2010s 3.8% 3.5% 4.1% 2
2020s 3.3% 3.3% 3.3% 1

Countries ranked near Cameroon

  1. 136 Bhutan 3.4% compare
  2. 137 Indonesia 3.3% compare
  3. 138 Oman 3.3% compare
  4. 140 Singapore 3.3% compare
  5. 141 Saudi Arabia 3.2% compare
  6. 142 Ecuador 3.2% compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More reference data data for Cameroon

All data for Cameroon →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon?
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon was 3.3% in 2021, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Cameroon?
The highest recorded value was 21.4% in 2005.
What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Cameroon?
The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2007.
How does Cameroon rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
Cameroon ranks 139th out of 185 countries with data for 2021.
Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Cameroon?
Over the last ten years it is down 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 5,169 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.