Female labor force participation rate in Kuwait
Kuwait: Female labor force participation rate was 47.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Kuwait, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, 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 47.2%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Kuwait peaked at 49.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 40.7%, in 1992.
That places Kuwait 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rate in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 41.4% | — |
| 1991 | 41.2% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 40.7% | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 41.1% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 42.4% | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 43.1% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 43.6% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 43.7% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 43.8% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 43.9% | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 44.2% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 44.5% | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 45.0% | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 45.6% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 45.9% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 46.1% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 46.0% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 46.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 46.3% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 46.7% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 47.3% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 48.9% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 49.3% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 49.5% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 49.6% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 49.5% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 49.9% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 49.6% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 49.3% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 46.5% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 47.5% | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 49.6% | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 48.2% | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 47.3% | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 47.2% | -0.3% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 47.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 55.1%, 86% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 47.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.2%, 2.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42.5% | 40.7% | 43.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.6% | 44.2% | 46.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.1% | 47.3% | 49.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.7% | 46.5% | 49.6% | 6 |
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 in Kuwait?
- Female labor force participation rate in Kuwait was 47.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, 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 49.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.7% in 1992.
- How does Kuwait rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Kuwait ranks 132nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, 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 (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).