For every 672.40 CFA francs men earn in Cameroon, women earn only 496.40 CFA francs, according to the World Bank. This stark disparity highlights the gender wage gap in Cameroon, a persistent issue limiting women’s economic mobility and overall equality in the region. While Cameroon has taken steps to address gender inequality through initiatives such as the National Gender Policy, women still face significant disparities in earnings and economic opportunities. The country continues to lag globally, ranking 97th out of 146 countries on the 2022 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index, as highlighted in the Cameroon Gender Equity Report 2023.

Not only is women’s participation in the labor market in Cameroon lower than men’s, but they are also paid less, have less secure jobs and have fewer opportunities to advance into leadership roles. According to data from the International Labor Organization (ILO), in the formal sector, men earn 18% to 21% more than women in similar roles.

Women, Wages and Poverty

The gender wage gap in Cameroon is not just an issue of inequality—it is a key driver of poverty. When women earn significantly less than men, their ability to meet basic needs and escape poverty is severely limited. In Cameroon, poverty disproportionately affects women. While about 37.5% of the population lives below the poverty line, this figure rises to 51.5% for women, the majority of whom are also underemployed. Due to limited access to stable or formal employment, women are more likely to remain in low-paying, insecure jobs, reinforcing cycles of poverty. This is also visible through women’s lack of asset ownership; only around 3% own a house, and just 1.6% hold property titles.

Countries with the largest gender gaps in economic participation are often among the poorest. According to the World Economic Forum, “gender inequality is not a symptom of poverty, but a fundamental cause of it.” Research shows that eliminating gender disparities in the formal sector can improve living conditions for households with working women and reduce overall poverty rates at the national level.

What Drives the Gender Wage Gap in Cameroon?

One of the primary reasons for the gender wage gap in Cameroon is the disproportionate number of women who have employment in the informal sector. In 2025, only 21.9% of employed women were engaged in wage and salaried work, compared to 37.5% of men. Since the informal sector often includes low wages, poor job security, and little to no social benefits, women are concentrated in vulnerable and low-paying roles, increasing the wage gap between men and women. 

This disparity in employment is not incidental but rooted in structural barriers that limit women’s access to formal, salaried work. Education plays a major role in shaping job opportunities. While many girls attend primary and secondary school, fewer complete higher education, limiting their access to formal and private-sector jobs. Among self-employed women, most have primary and secondary education. Meanwhile, only 6.25% of women in formal pay-employment hold a higher education degree, compared to 10.84% of men. Because fewer women complete higher education, they are less likely to work in higher-paying jobs that require specialized qualifications.

 Another crucial factor behind the wage gap is work experience. In formal pay employment, men possess significantly more work experience, averaging 7.2 years compared to only 5.4 years for women. Women come with a structural disadvantage, as many often shoulder unpaid care responsibilities at home, including childcare and household duties, which inevitably take a toll on opportunities for paid work. This domestic burden directly reduces the time women can commit to paid work, which further widens the wage gap.

However, even after accounting for disparities in education and experience, a significant portion of the wage gap remains unexplained, particularly among higher earners. While the wage gap is smaller among low-income workers, it widens as incomes increase, with the largest disparities observed among top earners, often called the “Glass Ceiling Effect”. The unexplained factors for the wage gap make up 61.56% of the wage gap and continue to grow. The massive pay difference at this stage has no objective reason, such as a lack of skills or qualifications, but rather systemic biases.

Cameroon’s Response

While the gender wage gap persists, the Government of Cameroon has taken several steps to promote gender equality. It adopted the National Gender Policy (2011–2020), which provides a framework for advancing gender equality. In addition to policy reforms, Cameroon has made progress in labor outcomes. Since 1991, the rate of vulnerable employment among women in Cameroon has declined and is lower than the Sub-Saharan African average.

In 2021 and 2022, for the first time, the government also introduced a Gender-Sensitive Budget Document and the 2022 and 2023 Finance Laws. These budgets aim to align public spending with gender equality goals by funding programs that benefit both women and men and by assessing their impact on the population.

Cameroon also improved its Gender Inequality Index (GII) between 1995 and 2015, nearly reaching the Sub-Saharan African average. In addition, the female-to-male unemployment ratio declined from 1.4 in 2015 to 1.2 among young people, partly due to government programs supporting women and improved access to education for girls.

The Path Forward

Looking ahead, Cameroon has the opportunity to narrow the gender wage gap by strengthening policies that promote equal pay, women’s economic participation and access to leadership opportunities.

Policies that address the barriers women face, both when entering the workforce and throughout their employment, can help reduce the gender wage gap in Cameroon and move the country toward greater equality. A strong focus on education is key to achieving this goal. While government initiatives such as “Education for All” have promoted girls’ education at the primary school level, addressing women’s low participation in higher education remains critical. Retention policies targeting young women, such as scholarships or training programs, can help close this gap, positioning more women to access higher-paying, formal employment.

Across Cameroon and similar contexts, targeted interventions, from global scholarships and training programs like the Cameroon Women’s Scholarship or African Academy for Women in Political Leadership to locally grounded initiatives such as the Joseph Sack Foundation, demonstrate how programs providing financial support, mentorship, and skills training are effective in retaining women in higher education

Cameroon is beginning to shift from awareness to action, putting real measures in place to address these inequalities. With continued effort and stronger implementation of solutions, meaningful change is not just possible, but very likely.

– Maliha Khan

Maliha is based in Srinagar, Kashmir and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons