Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Kuwait

Kuwait: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 49.9% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
49.9%
Change on year
down 12.2%
World rank
122nd
of 196 countries
All-time high
62.1%
in 2011
All-time low
9.0%
in 1965
Years of data
19
1965–2016

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Kuwait, 1965–2016

02040601965199020161965: 91970: 101975: 14.91980: 20.21983: 241985: 31.11988: 34.31995: 43.51996: 32.41997: 33.22003: 46.82005: 45.82006: 55.52007: 56.82009: 562010: 59.52011: 62.12015: 56.92016: 49.9

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2016, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Kuwait stood at 49.9%.

The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Kuwait peaked at 62.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 9.0%, in 1965.

Kuwait ranks 122nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Kuwait, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Kuwait, 1965 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1965 9.0%
1970 10.0% +11.4%
1975 14.9% +49.0%
1980 20.2% +36.0%
1983 24.0% +18.6%
1985 31.1% +29.6%
1988 34.3% +10.5%
1995 43.5% +26.7%
1996 32.4% -25.5%
1997 33.2% +2.4%
2003 46.8% +41.0%
2005 45.8% -2.1%
2006 55.5% +21.1%
2007 56.8% +2.3%
2009 56.0% -1.5%
2010 59.5% +6.3%
2011 62.1% +4.4%
2015 56.9% -8.4%
2016 49.9% -12.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 119 Papua New Guinea 50.6% compare
  2. 120 Maldives 50.6% compare
  3. 121 Cape Verde 50.5% compare
  4. 123 Philippines 49.9% compare
  5. 124 South Africa 49.8% compare
  6. 125 Guatemala 49.7% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Kuwait

All data for Kuwait →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Kuwait?
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Kuwait was 49.9% in 2016, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 62.1% in 2011.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 9.0% in 1965.
How does Kuwait rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
Kuwait ranks 122nd out of 196 countries with data for 2016.
Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 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 database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Kuwait. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-female-percent-of-female-population-ages-15-national/kuwait/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 5,454 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.