Unemployment rate in Kuwait
Kuwait: Unemployment rate was 2.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2.2%
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
167th
of 186 countries
All-time high
3.5%
in 2020
All-time low
0.7%
in 1995
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Kuwait, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate in Kuwait stood at 2.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Kuwait peaked at 3.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1995.
Kuwait ranks 167th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.9% | — |
| 1992 | 0.9% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -8.9% |
| 1994 | 0.7% | -12.5% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | +14.3% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +37.5% |
| 2003 | 1.3% | +18.2% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | +30.8% |
| 2005 | 1.5% | -14.4% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -10.7% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 1.8% | +16.7% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | +11.0% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | +12.7% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +8.6% |
| 2013 | 2.5% | +10.7% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | +17.6% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | -24.1% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 2.2% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +57.7% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | -14.9% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | -28.2% |
| 2023 | 2.1% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 2.2% | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 2.2% | +1.4% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 2.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 43% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 2.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.0%, 24% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.3% | 0.8% | 1.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.1% | 3.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 164 Macao 2.3% compare
- 165 Cote d'Ivoire 2.3% compare
- 166 Philippines 2.2% compare
- 168 United Arab Emirates 2.2% compare
- 169 Russia 2.1% compare
- 170 Tonga 2.0% 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 in Kuwait?
- Unemployment rate in Kuwait was 2.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1995.
- How does Kuwait rank for unemployment rate?
- Kuwait ranks 167th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.