Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Kuwait

Kuwait: Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 150.99 in 2014. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2014)
150.99
Change on year
up 255.5%
World rank
51st
of 78 countries
All-time high
150.99
in 2014
All-time low
8.87
in 1998
Years of data
17
1998–2014

Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Kuwait, 1998–2014

0501001501998200620141998: 8.91999: 8.92000: 9.32001: 9.52002: 15.12003: 18.12004: 25.92005: 22.42006: 24.92007: 30.42008: 36.62009: 342010: 39.32011: 64.72012: 452013: 42.52014: 151

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Kuwait recorded 150.99 for unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2014. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 255.5% on the previous year and up 482.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Kuwait peaked at 150.99 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 8.87, in 1998.

Kuwait ranks 51st of 78 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Kuwait, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Kuwait, 1998 to 2014.
Year Value Change
1998 8.87
1999 8.92 +0.6%
2000 9.3 +4.3%
2001 9.46 +1.7%
2002 15.07 +59.3%
2003 18.06 +19.8%
2004 25.92 +43.5%
2005 22.36 -13.7%
2006 24.92 +11.4%
2007 30.41 +22.0%
2008 36.56 +20.2%
2009 34.04 -6.9%
2010 39.34 +15.6%
2011 64.75 +64.6%
2012 45.03 -30.4%
2013 42.47 -5.7%
2014 150.99 +255.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 8.9 8.87 8.92 2
2000s 22.61 9.3 36.56 10
2010s 68.52 39.34 150.99 5

Countries ranked near Kuwait

  1. 48 Slovakia 161.9 compare
  2. 49 Bosnia and Herzegovina 161.08 compare
  3. 50 Costa Rica 151.04 compare
  4. 52 Czechia 150.51 compare
  5. 53 Ireland 137.16 compare
  6. 54 Norway 136.32 compare

See the full ranking of 78 places →

More work & labour data for Kuwait

All data for Kuwait →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Kuwait?
Unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Kuwait was 150.99 in 2014, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 150.99 in 2014.
What is the lowest unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 8.87 in 1998.
How does Kuwait rank for unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
Kuwait ranks 51st out of 78 countries with data for 2014.
Is unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Kuwait?
Over the last ten years it is up 482.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Kuwait data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Kuwait. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/kuwait/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
78 places, 1,366 data points, 1987–2025
Last refreshed

The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.