Cameroon: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Cameroon?

Cameroon's unemployment rate was an estimated 3.6% in 2025, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimates published by the World Bank. For people aged 15 to 24 the youth rate was 6.5%.

These are model estimates, not survey results for 2025. They count only people without any work who are looking for and available for it, so they leave out the many people in informal or part-time work who want more. The INS's employment surveys are the national source, but no recent survey figure was found on its website on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: Unemployment, Cameroon (ILO estimate) · World Bank: Youth unemployment, Cameroon (ILO estimate)

What is the minimum wage in Cameroon in 2026?

The current amount of Cameroon's guaranteed minimum wage (SMIG) could not be read from an official source on 15 October 2026. The INS's ECAM 5 results give it as 36,270 CFA francs a month in 2022, the survey year.

The INS notes that a worker on that wage, living alone with no other income, would fall into poverty as soon as one person without income joined the household, because the 2022 poverty line was 24,724 CFA francs a month per person. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which publishes the rate, had a website that could not be reached.

Official sources: INS: ECAM 5 main indicators

What is the average salary in Cameroon?

No official figure for average pay in Cameroon was found online on 15 October 2026. The latest official income measure readable today is the INS's ECAM 5 survey, which sets the 2022 poverty line at 813 CFA francs a day, or 24,724 a month, per person.

Salary figures quoted on job and comparison websites are not official statistics. For an average income across the economy, the World Bank's GDP per capita was about USD 1,972 in 2025, but that includes all income, not just wages, and is not what a typical worker earns.

Official sources: INS: ECAM 5 main indicators · World Bank: GDP per capita, Cameroon

What is the minimum wage in Cameroon?

According to the ILO, the statutory minimum wage in Cameroon was 43,969 XAF a month (about $73) in 2024. No year since 2012 has been higher.

What is the unemployment rate in Cameroon?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 3.6%. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 4.4%; its low point was 2007, at 3.1%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 5.2%; Cameroon is 27th highest of 45. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 116th highest.

What is the youth unemployment rate in Cameroon?

6.5%: that is unemployment among 15 to 24 year olds in Cameroon for 2025, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 7.4%; its low point was 2007, at 4.6%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 8.8%; Cameroon is 27th highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 137th of 174.

How many people in Cameroon are working or looking for work?

The ILO puts the labour force participation rate in Cameroon at 65.2% in 2025. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 64.3%; Cameroon is 21st highest of 45. Worldwide: 55th of 174.

What is female labour force participation in Cameroon?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 56.6%. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 25th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 57.3%. World rank, highest first: 69th of 174.

How many people in Cameroon are employed?

The ILO puts the employment to population ratio in Cameroon at 62.8% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 62.7% (2021) to 79.2% (2007). It is 19th highest of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 58.8%. World rank, highest first: 49th of 174.

What is vulnerable employment in Cameroon?

In 2025, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Cameroon was 67.6%, according to the ILO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 67.6%; Cameroon is 23rd highest of 45. Worldwide: 31st of 174.

What share of jobs in Cameroon are salaried?

30.7%: that is the share of workers who are paid employees in Cameroon for 2025, according to the ILO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 29.0%; Cameroon is 21st highest of 45. Worldwide: 141st of 174.