Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait

Kuwait: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 15.4% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
15.4%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
65th
of 160 countries
All-time high
15.4%
in 2016
All-time low
4.7%
in 1983
Years of data
6
1983–2016

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait, 1983–2016

57.51012.5151983199920161983: 4.72005: 11.32011: 14.62014: 13.92015: 15.32016: 15.4

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

Kuwait recorded 15.4% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2016. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and up 36.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait peaked at 15.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 4.7%, in 1983.

Kuwait ranks 65th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in Kuwait, 1983 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1983 4.7%
2005 11.3% +139.0%
2011 14.6% +28.6%
2014 13.9% -4.5%
2015 15.3% +10.2%
2016 15.4% +0.8%

Kuwait compared with similar countries

  • Kuwait's 15.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.1× the median. (70 countries reporting)
  • Kuwait's 15.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15.3%, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 4.7% 4.7% 4.7% 1
2000s 11.3% 11.3% 11.3% 1
2010s 14.8% 13.9% 15.4% 4

Countries ranked near Kuwait

  1. 62 New Zealand 15.7% compare
  2. 63 Greenland 15.7% compare
  3. 64 Mauritius 15.6% compare
  4. 66 Türkiye 15.4% compare
  5. 67 Slovakia 15.3% compare
  6. 68 Egypt 15.3% compare

See the full ranking of 189 places →

More work & labour data for Kuwait

All data for Kuwait →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait?
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait was 15.4% in 2016, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 2016.
What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 4.7% in 1983.
How does Kuwait rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
Kuwait ranks 65th out of 160 countries with data for 2016.
Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Kuwait?
Over the last ten years it is up 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Kuwait data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Kuwait. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-youth-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-ages-15-24-national-estimate/kuwait/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
189 places, 4,166 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.