Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Kuwait

Kuwait: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 87.9% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
87.9%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
5th
of 196 countries
All-time high
89.3%
in 2006
All-time low
68.5%
in 1996
Years of data
19
1965–2016

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Kuwait, 1965–2016

0204060801965199020161965: 89.21970: 87.41975: 82.51980: 85.81983: 78.61985: 83.21988: 80.11995: 83.61996: 68.51997: 692003: 81.52005: 84.42006: 89.32007: 88.32009: 87.42010: 87.22011: 87.92015: 87.22016: 87.9

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Kuwait is 87.9%, measured in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Kuwait peaked at 89.3% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 68.5%, in 1996.

That places Kuwait 5th out of 196 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top 10%.

Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Kuwait, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Kuwait, 1965 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1965 89.2%
1970 87.4% -2.0%
1975 82.5% -5.7%
1980 85.8% +4.0%
1983 78.6% -8.3%
1985 83.2% +5.8%
1988 80.1% -3.7%
1995 83.6% +4.5%
1996 68.5% -18.1%
1997 69.0% +0.7%
2003 81.5% +18.1%
2005 84.4% +3.5%
2006 89.3% +5.9%
2007 88.3% -1.1%
2009 87.4% -1.0%
2010 87.2% -0.2%
2011 87.9% +0.8%
2015 87.2% -0.8%
2016 87.9% +0.8%

Kuwait compared with similar countries

  • Kuwait's 87.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 1.3× the median. (79 countries reporting)
  • Kuwait's 87.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 71.2%, 1.2× the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 89.2% 89.2% 89.2% 1
1970s 84.9% 82.5% 87.4% 2
1980s 81.9% 78.6% 85.8% 4
1990s 73.7% 68.5% 83.6% 3
2000s 86.2% 81.5% 89.3% 5
2010s 87.5% 87.2% 87.9% 4

Countries ranked near Kuwait

  1. 2 United Arab Emirates 91.8% compare
  2. 3 Tanzania, United Republic of 89.2% compare
  3. 4 Isle of Man 88.2% compare
  4. 6 Niger 87.3% compare
  5. 7 Cuba 87.1% compare
  6. 8 Bermuda 87.0% 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, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Kuwait?
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Kuwait was 87.9% in 2016, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 89.3% in 2006.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 68.5% in 1996.
How does Kuwait rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
Kuwait ranks 5th out of 196 countries with data for 2016.
Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Kuwait?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
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, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Kuwait. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-male-percent-of-male-population-ages-15-national-estimate/kuwait/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male 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, 5,453 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.