Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon
Cameroon: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 3.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon, 1996–2021
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.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 8.1% | — |
| 2001 | 7.5% | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 21.4% | +186.6% |
| 2007 | 3.1% | -85.7% |
| 2010 | 4.1% | +34.2% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -14.0% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | -7.3% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 3.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.0%, 65% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 3.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.6%, 59% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More reference data data for Cameroon
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4076 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.199 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.56 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 17.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.