Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Kuwait

Kuwait: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 0.9% in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
0.9%
Change on year
down 13.2%
World rank
175th
of 181 countries
All-time high
7.2%
in 2003
All-time low
0.8%
in 2006
Years of data
13
1983–2016

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Kuwait, 1983–2016

024681983199920161983: 1.21988: 1.72003: 7.22005: 22006: 0.82007: 12008: 1.12009: 12010: 1.42011: 2.92014: 1.92015: 1.12016: 0.944

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Kuwait is 0.9%, measured in 2016.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.2% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Kuwait peaked at 7.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2006.

That places Kuwait 175th out of 181 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Kuwait, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate) in Kuwait, 1983 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1983 1.2%
1988 1.7% +45.1%
2003 7.2% +326.5%
2005 2.0% -72.2%
2006 0.8% -59.9%
2007 1.0% +25.0%
2008 1.1% +10.1%
2009 1.0% -5.4%
2010 1.4% +35.8%
2011 2.9% +107.0%
2014 1.9% -35.1%
2015 1.1% -42.7%
2016 0.9% -13.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.4% 1.2% 1.7% 2
2000s 2.2% 0.8% 7.2% 6
2010s 1.7% 0.9% 2.9% 5

Countries ranked near Kuwait

  1. 172 Burundi 1.1% compare
  2. 173 Myanmar 1.0% compare
  3. 174 United Arab Emirates 1.0% compare
  4. 176 Thailand 0.6% compare
  5. 177 Niger 0.5% compare
  6. 178 Cambodia 0.3% compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More work & labour data for Kuwait

All data for Kuwait →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Kuwait?
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Kuwait was 0.9% in 2016, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 7.2% in 2003.
What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2006.
How does Kuwait rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
Kuwait ranks 175th out of 181 countries with data for 2016.
Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Kuwait?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Kuwait data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Kuwait. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-male-percent-of-male-labor-force-national-estimate/kuwait/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
205 places, 5,415 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.