Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait
Kuwait: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 2.2% in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait, 1983–2016
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.
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 1.1% | — |
| 1988 | 1.9% | +67.6% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -58.0% |
| 1994 | 0.7% | -12.5% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | +14.3% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | +37.5% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | +422.9% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | -70.4% |
| 2005 | 2.0% | +14.8% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -33.4% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | +15.4% |
| 2008 | 1.8% | +16.9% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | -6.4% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 3.6% | +98.1% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -19.4% |
| 2015 | 1.9% | -32.9% |
| 2016 | 2.2% | +11.1% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 2.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 44% of the median. (77 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 2.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7.0%, 31% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +422.9% | 1.1% | 5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 161 Philippines 2.4% compare
- 162 Cote d'Ivoire 2.3% compare
- 162 Liechtenstein 2.3% compare
- 165 Russia 2.1% compare
- 166 Palau 2.1% compare
- 167 Togo 2.0% compare
More reference data data for Kuwait
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.092 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2888 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.385 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.385 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3086 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1086 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0052 (2050)
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
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.