Labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait
Kuwait: Labor force participation rate by age was 25.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
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 labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait is 25.6%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait peaked at 34.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 24.1%, in 2020.
That places Kuwait 166th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 34.1% | — |
| 1991 | 34.0% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 33.7% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 33.6% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 33.4% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 33.0% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 33.3% | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 33.5% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 33.6% | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 33.6% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 33.5% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 33.4% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 33.2% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 33.1% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 32.4% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 31.7% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 30.9% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 30.2% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 29.6% | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 28.9% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 28.3% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 27.7% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 27.2% | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 26.2% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 25.4% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 25.9% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 26.0% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 26.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 24.1% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 24.4% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 25.3% | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 25.5% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 25.6% | +0.4% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 25.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 63% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 25.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 27.5%, 93% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.6% | 33.0% | 34.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.7% | 28.9% | 33.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.5% | 25.4% | 28.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.0% | 24.1% | 25.6% | 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 labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Kuwait was 25.6% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 34.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.1% in 2020.
- How does Kuwait rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Kuwait ranks 166th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. 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 Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).