Photo: Jack Versloot · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Kuwait: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Kuwait is placed 12th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 71.77 (2025); Labour Income Share 37.74 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
12th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Kuwait on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
71.77
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Kuwait: 71.77. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Western Asia
- 86.9 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Iraq 35.1 · Saudi Arabia 63.12
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
2.181
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Kuwait: 2.181. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.13 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Iraq 15.48 · Saudi Arabia 3.038
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
2.403
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Kuwait: 2.403. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Western Asia
- 0.456 Qatar
- Land neighbours
- Iraq 27.14 · Saudi Arabia 1.662
02Over time
Which way Kuwait is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
KuwaitWorld median
Kuwait rose from 65.4 in 2000 to 71.77 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Kuwait World median 2025 71.77 57.720 2024 71.98 57.694 2023 72.43 58.158 2022 72.77 57.688 2021 68.49 56.066 2020 66.79 55.691 2019 71.71 57.871 2018 71.95 56.911 2017 71.75 56.738 2016 71.13 56.845 2015 70.73 56.788 2014 69.76 56.774 2013 69.57 56.229 2012 69.15 56.289 2011 68.27 56.297 2010 67.45 56.212 2009 67.10 56.255 2008 66.75 57.308 2007 66.87 56.933 2006 67.20 56.685 2005 67.31 56.129 2004 66.77 55.465 2003 66.26 55.630 2002 65.77 55.843 2001 65.56 56.018 2000 65.40 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
KuwaitWorld median
Kuwait rose from 28.14 in 2004 to 37.74 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Kuwait World median 2025 37.7 46.230 2024 39.0 46.060 2023 38.8 45.900 2022 32.7 45.615 2021 38.9 45.433 2020 46.4 47.267 2019 38.2 46.277 2018 37.2 46.187 2017 40.1 46.467 2016 42.4 46.798 2015 40.3 46.876 2014 29.1 47.281 2013 26.0 46.887 2012 24.5 46.231 2011 24.3 45.679 2010 27.7 46.024 2009 28.8 47.071 2008 21.2 45.312 2007 22.5 45.246 2006 21.0 45.670 2005 23.2 46.265 2004 28.1 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
KuwaitWorld median
Kuwait rose from 0.8 in 2000 to 2.181 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Kuwait World median 2025 2.181 5.08 2024 2.151 5.15 2023 2.080 5.21 2022 2.133 5.34 2021 2.970 6.04 2020 3.489 6.38 2019 2.213 5.36 2018 2.202 5.35 2017 2.230 5.59 2016 2.160 5.90 2015 2.200 6.41 2014 2.900 6.58 2013 2.465 6.71 2012 2.227 6.79 2011 2.051 6.90 2010 1.820 7.04 2009 1.640 6.67 2008 1.750 5.79 2007 1.500 6.00 2006 1.300 6.50 2005 1.455 7.09 2004 1.700 6.80 2003 1.300 6.95 2002 1.100 6.91 2001 0.800 6.96 2000 0.800 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
KuwaitWorld median
Kuwait fell from 2.824 in 2000 to 2.403 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Kuwait World median 2025 2.403 28.67 2024 2.340 29.04 2023 2.169 29.33 2022 1.926 29.67 2021 2.058 30.01 2020 2.125 30.54 2019 1.532 29.98 2018 1.322 30.15 2017 1.219 29.93 2016 1.149 29.91 2015 0.595 30.26 2014 0.596 30.47 2013 0.562 31.14 2012 0.590 31.00 2011 0.722 31.41 2010 0.962 32.37 2009 1.027 32.59 2008 0.824 31.76 2007 1.306 33.47 2006 1.659 34.27 2005 2.213 34.66 2004 2.503 35.51 2003 2.761 35.90 2002 2.954 35.96 2001 2.888 35.27 2000 2.824 35.67
03In context
Kuwait beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Kuwait and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuwait | 12th | 71.77 | 37.74 | 2.181 | 2.403 |
 Saudi Arabia | 45th | 63.12 | 30.23 | 3.038 | 1.662 |
 Iraq | 168th | 35.1 | 41.38 | 15.48 | 27.14 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Kuwait in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Kuwait is ahead of the world, and behind
21 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Kuwait does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8111.5241.81No earlier reading
Kuwait: 11.52 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 171st of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6673.3661.66▲ Improved since 2015
Kuwait: 73.36 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 21st of 182 · derived.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23091,94925,230No real change since 2010
Kuwait: 91,949 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 38th of 151 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38481,97247,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Kuwait: 81,972 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 48th of 168 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,74215,7456,742▼ Worsened since 2015
Kuwait: 15,745 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 49th of 151 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1632.9322.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Kuwait: 32.93 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 65th of 182 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 02.80No earlier reading
Kuwait: 2.8 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which Kuwait does worse than the middle country measured.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8315.0612.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Kuwait: 15.06 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 75th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.612.711.61No real change since 2015
Kuwait: 2.71 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3647.253.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Kuwait: 47.2 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 131st of 182 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.917.445.9No earlier reading
Kuwait: 17.4 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Kuwait: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 987098▼ Worsened since 2015
Kuwait: 70 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0713.2932.07No earlier reading
Kuwait: 13.29 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.162.77619.16No earlier reading
Kuwait: 2.776 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 173rd of 179 · derived.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8945.7538.89No real change since 2015
Kuwait: 45.75 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 16th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5173.559.51Moved since 2015
Kuwait: 73.5 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 43rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8824.6118.88No real change since 2015
Kuwait: 24.61 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 44th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95408.08657.95Moved since 2017
Kuwait: 408.08 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.381.89114.38No real change since 2015
Kuwait: 1.891 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 157th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.843.16131.84No real change since 2015
Kuwait: 3.161 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 180th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Kuwait
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2016), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Kuwait’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Kuwait’s best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour12th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 47th of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing49th of 2004/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience62nd of 1933/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 61st of 1842/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 76th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions76th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation87th of 1764/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 91st of 1773/4 keys
- Peace & Security103rd of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 136th of 1984/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge138th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy121st of 1653/3 keys
- Gender & Equality178th of 1833/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability184th of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Kuwait can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in Western Asia
Qatar=8th4/4 keysThis page
Kuwait12th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Kuwait and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Kuwait on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Kuwait rank on work & labour?
Kuwait is placed 12th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Kuwait?
71.77 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Kuwait?
37.74 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Kuwait compare with Iraq on work & labour?
Iraq is placed 168th of 182, and Kuwait 12th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Iraq 35.1, Kuwait 71.77; Labour Income Share: Iraq 41.38, Kuwait 37.74; Unemployment Rate: Iraq 15.48, Kuwait 2.181; Vulnerable Employment: Iraq 27.14, Kuwait 2.403.
How have Kuwait’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 65.4 in 2000 to 71.77 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 28.14 in 2004 to 37.74 in 2025; Unemployment Rate rose from 0.8 in 2000 to 2.181 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 2.824 in 2000 to 2.403 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Kuwait?
No current reading is published for Kuwait on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 21 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Kuwait’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Kuwait (banner) — Jack Versloot, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Kuwait: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/kuwait/work