Labor force participation rate in Kuwait
Kuwait: Labor force participation rate was 73.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
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
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Kuwait stood at 73.4%.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Kuwait peaked at 74.4% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 63.4%, in 1992.
Kuwait ranks 22nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.6% | 63.4% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.4% | 65.9% | 68.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.8% | 68.7% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.5% | 69.2% | 74.4% | 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, total (% of total population ages 15+) 73.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 88.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 53.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 47.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 75.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 89.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 49.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Kuwait?
- Labor force participation rate in Kuwait was 73.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 74.4% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.4% in 1992.
- How does Kuwait rank for labor force participation rate?
- Kuwait ranks 22nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. 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 Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).