Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait

Kuwait: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 2.2% in 2016. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2016)
2.2%
Change on year
up 11.1%
World rank
164th
of 185 countries
All-time high
5.8%
in 2003
All-time low
0.7%
in 1994
Years of data
23
1983–2016

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait, 1983–2016

02461983199920161983: 1.1 %1988: 1.9 %1993: 0.8 %1994: 0.7 %1996: 0.7 %1997: 0.7 %1998: 0.7 %1999: 0.7 %2000: 0.8 %2001: 0.8 %2002: 1.1 %2003: 5.8 %2004: 1.7 %2005: 2 %2006: 1.3 %2007: 1.5 %2008: 1.8 %2009: 1.6 %2010: 1.8 %2011: 3.6 %2014: 2.9 %2015: 1.9 %2016: 2.2 %

Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2016, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait stood at 2.2%.

The figure is up 11.1% on the previous year and up 66.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait peaked at 5.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0.7%, in 1994.

Kuwait ranks 164th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 1.5% 1.1% 1.9% 2
1990s 0.7% 0.7% 0.8% 6
2000s 1.8% 0.8% 5.8% 10
2010s 2.5% 1.8% 3.6% 5

Countries ranked near Kuwait

  1. 161 Philippines 2.4% compare
  2. 162 Cote d'Ivoire 2.3% compare
  3. 165 Russia 2.1% compare
  4. 166 Palau 2.1% compare
  5. 167 Togo 2.0% compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More reference data data for Kuwait

All data for Kuwait →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait?
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait was 2.2% in 2016, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 5.8% in 2003.
What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 0.7% in 1994.
How does Kuwait rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
Kuwait ranks 164th out of 185 countries with data for 2016.
Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Kuwait?
Over the last ten years it is up 66.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Kuwait data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 5,169 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.