Female labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait
Kuwait: Female labor force participation rate by age was 15.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Female labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait is 15.3%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait peaked at 26.0% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 15.1%, in 2020.
Kuwait ranks 170th of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.2% | — |
| 1991 | 21.2% | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 21.2% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 21.1% | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 20.8% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 20.5% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 21.2% | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 21.8% | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 22.5% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 23.2% | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 23.9% | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 24.6% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 25.3% | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 26.0% | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 25.2% | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 24.4% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 23.6% | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 22.8% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 22.0% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 21.3% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 20.5% | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 19.8% | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 19.1% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 18.5% | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 17.8% | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 17.2% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 16.6% | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 16.5% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 16.5% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 16.5% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 15.1% | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 16.2% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 15.6% | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 15.3% | -1.8% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 15.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 34.4%, 44% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 15.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 13.0%, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.5% | 20.5% | 23.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.9% | 21.3% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.9% | 16.5% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.6% | 15.1% | 16.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More work & labour data for Kuwait
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.801 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.7211 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.9054 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2002)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4407 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,644 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 0 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 4,171 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,431 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 9,602 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait?
- Female labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait was 15.3% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 26.0% in 2003.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate by age recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.1% in 2020.
- How does Kuwait rank for female labor force participation rate by age?
- Kuwait ranks 170th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).