Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kuwait
Kuwait: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 86.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kuwait, 1820–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kuwait is 86.7%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kuwait peaked at 99.9% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1820.
That places Kuwait 144th out of 190 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.0% | — |
| 1825 | 0.0% | — |
| 1830 | 0.0% | — |
| 1835 | 0.0% | — |
| 1840 | 0.0% | — |
| 1845 | 0.0% | — |
| 1850 | 0.0% | — |
| 1855 | 0.0% | — |
| 1860 | 0.0% | — |
| 1865 | 0.0% | — |
| 1870 | 0.0% | — |
| 1875 | 0.0% | — |
| 1880 | 0.0% | — |
| 1885 | 0.0% | — |
| 1890 | 0.0% | — |
| 1895 | 0.0% | — |
| 1900 | 0.0% | — |
| 1905 | 0.0% | — |
| 1910 | 0.0% | — |
| 1915 | 0.4% | — |
| 1920 | 1.2% | +188.4% |
| 1925 | 2.6% | +113.7% |
| 1930 | 5.0% | +88.3% |
| 1935 | 8.7% | +74.1% |
| 1940 | 14.2% | +63.5% |
| 1945 | 21.9% | +54.1% |
| 1950 | 31.8% | +45.0% |
| 1955 | 50.9% | +60.2% |
| 1960 | 61.0% | +19.9% |
| 1965 | 51.0% | -16.4% |
| 1970 | 54.0% | +5.9% |
| 1971 | 49.8% | -7.8% |
| 1972 | 55.9% | +12.2% |
| 1973 | 59.8% | +7.1% |
| 1974 | 60.6% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 62.5% | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 65.9% | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 72.0% | +9.2% |
| 1978 | 77.8% | +8.1% |
| 1979 | 75.6% | -2.8% |
| 1980 | 76.6% | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 76.8% | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 76.6% | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 78.1% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 78.2% | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 77.2% | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 77.7% | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 73.4% | -5.5% |
| 1988 | 73.1% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 58.9% | -19.5% |
| 1994 | 71.4% | +21.3% |
| 1996 | 74.2% | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 72.1% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 83.0% | +15.2% |
| 1999 | 82.5% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 85.4% | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 90.6% | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 94.9% | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 98.1% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 99.9% | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 97.9% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 86.7% | -11.4% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 86.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.4%, 89% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 86.7% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 96.2%, 90% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kuwait changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | +188.4% | 0.4% | 1.2% |
| 1925 | +113.7% | 1.2% | 2.6% |
| 1930 | +88.3% | 2.6% | 5.0% |
| 1935 | +74.1% | 5.0% | 8.7% |
| 1940 | +63.5% | 8.7% | 14.2% |
| 1955 | +60.2% | 31.8% | 50.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1830s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1840s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1850s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1860s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1870s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.4% | 2 |
| 1920s | 1.9% | 1.2% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1930s | 6.8% | 5.0% | 8.7% | 2 |
| 1940s | 18.1% | 14.2% | 21.9% | 2 |
| 1950s | 41.3% | 31.8% | 50.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 56.0% | 51.0% | 61.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 63.4% | 49.8% | 77.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 76.4% | 73.1% | 78.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 73.7% | 58.9% | 83.0% | 6 |
| 2000s | 92.3% | 85.4% | 98.1% | 4 |
| 2010s | 98.9% | 97.9% | 99.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 86.7% | 86.7% | 86.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More education data for Kuwait
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 47,443 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 30,349 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 29,489 (2021)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 302,047 (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 265,113 (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -4.44 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0608 units per person (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kuwait?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Kuwait was 86.7% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 99.9% in 2013.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1820.
- How does Kuwait rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Kuwait ranks 144th out of 190 countries with data for 2021.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 62 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.