Male labor force participation rate in Kuwait
Kuwait: Male labor force participation rate was 88.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Male 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
Kuwait recorded 88.6% for male labor force participation rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, male labor force participation rate in Kuwait peaked at 88.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 79.3%, in 1992.
That places Kuwait 3rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.9% | 79.3% | 82.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 81.4% | 79.6% | 83.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.5% | 83.9% | 87.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.9% | 82.7% | 88.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 1 Qatar 95.6% compare
- 2 United Arab Emirates 91.5% compare
- 4 Oman 88.1% compare
- 5 Madagascar 88.1% compare
- 6 Cambodia 87.8% compare
More work & labour data for Kuwait
- Women can take the same jobs as men 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- 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)
- 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 male labor force participation rate in Kuwait?
- Male labor force participation rate in Kuwait was 88.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest male labor force participation rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 88.8% in 2023.
- What is the lowest male labor force participation rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 79.3% in 1992.
- How does Kuwait rank for male labor force participation rate?
- Kuwait ranks 3rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is male labor force participation rate rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. 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 Male labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).