Female labor force participation rate in Kuwait
Kuwait: Female labor force participation rate was 49.9% in 2016. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Kuwait, 1965–2016
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Kuwait is 49.9%, measured in 2016.
The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Kuwait peaked at 62.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 9.0%, in 1965.
That places Kuwait 122nd out of 194 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.0% | 9.0% | 9.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 12.4% | 10.0% | 14.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 27.4% | 20.2% | 34.3% | 4 |
| 1990s | 36.4% | 32.4% | 43.5% | 3 |
| 2000s | 52.2% | 45.8% | 56.8% | 5 |
| 2010s | 57.1% | 49.9% | 62.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 119 Papua New Guinea 50.6% compare
- 120 Maldives 50.6% compare
- 121 Cape Verde 50.5% compare
- 123 Philippines 49.9% compare
- 124 South Africa 49.8% compare
- 125 Guatemala 49.7% compare
More work & labour data for Kuwait
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 73.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 88.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 53.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 47.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 75.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 89.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 49.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Kuwait?
- Female labor force participation rate in Kuwait was 49.9% in 2016, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 62.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.0% in 1965.
- How does Kuwait rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Kuwait ranks 122nd out of 194 countries with data for 2016.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.