Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait
Kuwait: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 29.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait stood at 29.5%.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait peaked at 37.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 1999.
That places Kuwait 32nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.5% | — |
| 1992 | 4.4% | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 4.3% | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 4.1% | -5.6% |
| 1995 | 4.0% | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 3.9% | -4.1% |
| 1997 | 3.7% | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 3.6% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | +13.7% |
| 2001 | 3.9% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | +39.1% |
| 2003 | 6.6% | +20.5% |
| 2004 | 9.1% | +39.5% |
| 2005 | 8.2% | -10.5% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 7.8% | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 9.4% | +20.6% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 7.4% | -13.6% |
| 2011 | 9.6% | +30.4% |
| 2012 | 12.1% | +25.5% |
| 2013 | 14.7% | +21.6% |
| 2014 | 17.6% | +19.6% |
| 2015 | 21.0% | +19.5% |
| 2016 | 29.4% | +39.6% |
| 2017 | 30.0% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 30.1% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 30.2% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 37.4% | +24.0% |
| 2021 | 34.4% | -8.2% |
| 2022 | 28.8% | -16.2% |
| 2023 | 29.0% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 29.4% | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 29.5% | +0.3% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 29.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.1%, 2.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 29.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 29.5%, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.0% | 3.5% | 4.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.0% | 3.9% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.2% | 7.4% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.4% | 28.8% | 37.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 29 Guyana 30.2% compare
- 30 Mauritania 29.8% compare
- 31 Belize 29.5% compare
- 33 Oman 29.0% compare
- 34 North Macedonia 28.5% compare
- 35 Afghanistan 28.5% 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, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait was 29.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 37.4% in 2020.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 1999.
- How does Kuwait rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Kuwait ranks 32nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.