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.
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
- 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, female (% of female population ages 15 49.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 15.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 35.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 25.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 47.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 53.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 73.4% (2025)
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).