Unemployment rate for young people in Kuwait
Kuwait: Unemployment rate for young people was 15.06 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
15.06
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
79th
of 186 countries
All-time high
19.06
in 2020
All-time low
2.61
in 1999
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate for young people in Kuwait, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate for young people in Kuwait is 15.06, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate for young people in Kuwait peaked at 19.06 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.61, in 1999.
Kuwait ranks 79th of 186 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 rate for young people in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.25 | — |
| 1992 | 3.21 | -1.2% |
| 1993 | 3.06 | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 2.91 | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 2.97 | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 2.88 | -3.1% |
| 1997 | 2.75 | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 2.67 | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 2.61 | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 2.99 | +14.5% |
| 2001 | 2.98 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 4.22 | +41.9% |
| 2003 | 5.22 | +23.6% |
| 2004 | 7.33 | +40.4% |
| 2005 | 6.57 | -10.3% |
| 2006 | 5.86 | -10.9% |
| 2007 | 6.86 | +17.1% |
| 2008 | 7.82 | +14.0% |
| 2009 | 7.24 | -7.4% |
| 2010 | 8.58 | +18.5% |
| 2011 | 10.3 | +20.0% |
| 2012 | 11.99 | +16.5% |
| 2013 | 13.63 | +13.7% |
| 2014 | 15.46 | +13.4% |
| 2015 | 16.18 | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 15.14 | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 15.26 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 15.22 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 15.22 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 19.06 | +25.2% |
| 2021 | 17.75 | -6.8% |
| 2022 | 15.19 | -14.4% |
| 2023 | 15.09 | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 15.14 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 15.06 | -0.6% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 15.06 is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.81, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 15.06 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.88, 69% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.92 | 2.61 | 3.25 | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.71 | 2.98 | 7.82 | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.7 | 8.58 | 16.18 | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.22 | 15.06 | 19.06 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 76 Zimbabwe 15.55 compare
- 77 Kenya 15.25 compare
- 78 Fiji 15.21 compare
- 80 United Kingdom 14.65 compare
- 81 Tajikistan 14.59 compare
- 82 New Zealand 14.36 compare
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 unemployment rate for young people in Kuwait?
- Unemployment rate for young people in Kuwait was 15.06 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate for young people recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 19.06 in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate for young people recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.61 in 1999.
- How does Kuwait rank for unemployment rate for young people?
- Kuwait ranks 79th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate for young people rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate for young people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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