Employment by status in Kuwait
Kuwait: Employment by status was 96.9% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
96.9%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
3rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
98.9%
in 2013
All-time low
93.6%
in 1991
Years of data
34
1991–2024
Employment by status in Kuwait, 1991–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment by status in Kuwait is 96.9%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment by status in Kuwait peaked at 98.9% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 93.6%, in 1991.
Kuwait ranks 3rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Employment by status in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 93.6% | — |
| 1992 | 94.2% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 94.9% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 95.4% | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 95.9% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 96.3% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 96.4% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 96.4% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 96.5% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 96.7% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 96.6% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 96.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 96.7% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 97.0% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 97.3% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 97.8% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 98.2% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 98.6% | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 98.5% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 98.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 98.7% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 98.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 98.8% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 98.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 98.2% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 98.1% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 98.0% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 97.8% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 97.3% | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 97.2% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 97.3% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 97.1% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 96.9% | -0.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 96.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 86.7%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 96.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 74.3%, 1.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 95.5% | 93.6% | 96.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 97.4% | 96.6% | 98.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 98.5% | 97.8% | 98.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.1% | 96.9% | 97.3% | 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 employment by status in Kuwait?
- Employment by status in Kuwait was 96.9% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment by status recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 98.9% in 2013.
- What is the lowest employment by status recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 93.6% in 1991.
- How does Kuwait rank for employment by status?
- Kuwait ranks 3rd out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment by status rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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 Employment by status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of people in employment working as employees, as a percentage of total employment.