Kuwait vs South Africa: Female labor force participation rate
Kuwait
49.9%
in 2016
South Africa
49.8%
in 2024
Kuwait rank
122nd
South Africa rank
124th
Female labor force participation rate over time
- Kuwait
- South Africa
How they compare
Kuwait currently reports 49.9% against 49.8% in South Africa, a difference of 0.1%.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 14 shared years of data; in 1970 it was South Africa ahead.
Kuwait ranks 122nd and South Africa ranks 124th of 194 countries.
Across the 5 decades both report, Kuwait averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 2.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Kuwait | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10.0% | 24.1% | 14.1% | South Africa |
| 1980s | 25.6% | 24.8% | 0.9% | Kuwait |
| 1990s | 32.8% | 35.2% | 2.4% | South Africa |
| 2000s | 52.2% | 41.4% | 10.8% | Kuwait |
| 2010s | 57.1% | 46.2% | 10.8% | Kuwait |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher female labor force participation rate, Kuwait or South Africa?
- Kuwait, at 49.9% against 49.8% in South Africa as of 2016.
- What is the difference in female labor force participation rate between Kuwait and South Africa?
- 0.1%, with Kuwait ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Kuwait and South Africa?
- 14 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2016.
- How do Kuwait and South Africa rank globally for female labor force participation rate?
- Kuwait ranks 122nd and South Africa ranks 124th of 194 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.