Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait
Kuwait: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 9.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait stood at 9.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait peaked at 14.4% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 1999.
That places Kuwait 118th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.7% | — |
| 1992 | 2.7% | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | -6.1% |
| 1994 | 2.4% | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 2.5% | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 2.5% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 2.3% | -5.0% |
| 1998 | 2.3% | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 2.2% | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +14.2% |
| 2001 | 2.5% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 3.6% | +42.6% |
| 2003 | 4.5% | +24.5% |
| 2004 | 6.4% | +41.0% |
| 2005 | 5.7% | -10.3% |
| 2006 | 5.1% | -10.8% |
| 2007 | 6.3% | +24.6% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | +9.6% |
| 2009 | 6.5% | -6.1% |
| 2010 | 9.2% | +41.5% |
| 2011 | 10.6% | +15.3% |
| 2012 | 11.9% | +12.2% |
| 2013 | 13.1% | +9.6% |
| 2014 | 14.4% | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 14.0% | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 9.0% | -35.7% |
| 2017 | 9.2% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 9.3% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 11.7% | +26.1% |
| 2021 | 10.7% | -8.5% |
| 2022 | 9.3% | -13.5% |
| 2023 | 9.3% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 9.4% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 9.4% | -0.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 9.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 67% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 9.4% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 19.3%, 48% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 2.5% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.0% | 9.0% | 14.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.0% | 9.3% | 11.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
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 male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait was 9.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 14.4% in 2014.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 1999.
- How does Kuwait rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Kuwait ranks 118th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. 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 male (% of male 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.