Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Kuwait
Kuwait: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 23.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force, female in Kuwait, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 23.6% for labor force, female in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Kuwait peaked at 28.7% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 23.6%, in 2024.
That places Kuwait 169th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25.8% | — |
| 1991 | 26.4% | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 26.5% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 26.3% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 25.7% | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 25.1% | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 25.2% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 25.4% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 25.5% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 25.7% | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 25.8% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 25.9% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 26.0% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 26.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 25.9% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 26.0% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 26.5% | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 27.0% | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 27.6% | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 28.1% | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 28.6% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 28.7% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 28.4% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 28.2% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 27.8% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 27.2% | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 26.3% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 25.5% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 24.7% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 24.5% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 25.1% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 25.1% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 24.4% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 23.8% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 23.6% | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 23.6% | +0.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 23.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 46.5%, 51% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 23.6% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.3%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 25.8% | 25.1% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.5% | 25.8% | 28.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.0% | 24.5% | 28.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.3% | 23.6% | 25.1% | 6 |
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 labor force, female in Kuwait?
- Labor force, female in Kuwait was 23.6% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 28.7% in 2011.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.6% in 2024.
- How does Kuwait rank for labor force, female?
- Kuwait ranks 169th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, female (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.