Kuwait: jobs and pay

What is the unemployment rate in Kuwait?

Kuwait's unemployment rate was 2.18% in 2025, according to the World Bank's modelled ILO estimate. It was 2.15% in 2024. This covers all residents, most of whom are foreign workers on employment-linked residence permits.

The Central Statistical Bureau publishes quarterly labour market data from administrative records on its labour market information system, most recently for 31 March 2026, broken down by Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti workers in the government, private and domestic sectors. Its tables of job seekers registered with the Civil Service Commission give the national measure for Kuwaitis; those files could not be downloaded on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: Unemployment, modelled ILO estimate, Kuwait · CSB: Labour market data, 31 March 2026

How much does Kuwait spend on public sector salaries?

Kuwait's 2026/27 state budget allocates KWD 15,874.8 million to salaries and related items, 5.4% more than in the 2025/26 budget, according to the Ministry of Finance's budget presentation. Salaries and subsidies together make up 76% of total spending of KWD 26,068.4 million.

The fiscal year runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The budget documents are published in Arabic on the ministry's site, alongside final accounts and monthly fiscal reports.

Official sources: Ministry of Finance: Budget presentation 2026/27 (PDF, Arabic)

What is the average salary in Kuwait?

Kuwaiti employees earned an average of KWD 1,592 a month and non-Kuwaiti employees KWD 352 on 31 March 2026, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's Labour Market Information System. Kuwaitis in government jobs averaged KWD 1,625 and in the private sector KWD 1,432. Non-Kuwaitis averaged KWD 729 in government and KWD 326 in the private sector.

The figures come from administrative records and exclude domestic workers. Kuwaiti men averaged KWD 1,877 and Kuwaiti women KWD 1,376. The averages cover very different jobs: most non-Kuwaiti workers are in lower-paid private sector work such as construction, trade and services.

Official sources: Labour Market Information System

How many people work in Kuwait, and how many are Kuwaitis?

Kuwait had 2,281,383 employees on 31 March 2026, of whom 435,572, or 19.1%, were Kuwaitis, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's Labour Market Information System. The largest groups of foreign workers were Indians (580,412), Egyptians (467,535) and Bangladeshis (205,424).

The count excludes domestic workers, who are recorded separately. Women made up 49.4% of Kuwaiti employees but only 13.7% of non-Kuwaiti employees. The LMIS updates the tables every quarter, by nationality group, sector, age and sex.

Official sources: Labour Market Information System

How many Kuwaitis work in the government?

362,099 Kuwaitis worked in the government sector on 31 March 2026, 75.0% of the 483,091 government employees, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's Labour Market Information System. In the private sector, Kuwaitis held 73,473 of 1,798,292 jobs, or 4.1%.

So about 83% of employed Kuwaitis work for the state. Non-Kuwaitis in the private sector come mainly from non-Arab Asian countries (944,998 men and 124,693 women). Kuwait's budget pays KWD 15,874.8 million in salaries and related items in 2026/27, as described in the public sector pay answer.

Official sources: Labour Market Information System

What is youth unemployment in Kuwait?

Unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 in Kuwait was 15.06% in 2025, according to the International Labour Organization's modelled estimate on World Bank Open Data. It was 15.14% in 2024. The labour force participation rate for people aged 15 and over was 73.36%, the same source shows.

The ILO estimates cover all residents. Participation is high because most non-Kuwaitis are in Kuwait on work-linked residence permits. Young Kuwaiti graduates often wait for public sector jobs, which the ILO modelled rate does not show separately.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · the same source shows

What is Kuwait's minimum wage?

According to the ILO, the statutory minimum wage in Kuwait was 75.00 KWD a month (about $245) in 2024. The figure has been the same every year since 2017.

What is the average monthly salary in Kuwait?

The ILO puts average monthly earnings of employees in Kuwait at $1,168 a month in 2016. It is 6th highest of 9 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is $1,660 a month. Of 102 countries with 2016 data, 39th highest.

How high is unemployment in Kuwait?

According to the ILO, the unemployment rate in Kuwait was 2.2% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.3% (2006) to 3.5% (2020). It is 18th highest of 21 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 8.3%. Worldwide: 155th of 174.

What is youth unemployment in Kuwait?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 15.1%. Its high point since 2005 was 2020, at 19.1%; its low point was 2006, at 5.9%. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 18.3%, and Kuwait placed 13th highest of 21. World rank, highest first: 72nd of 174.

What share of people in Kuwait are in the labour force?

73.4%: that is the labour force participation rate in Kuwait for 2025, according to the ILO. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 74.4%; its low point was 2007, at 67.9%. It is 3rd highest of 21 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 45.2%. Worldwide: 21st of 174.

How many women in Kuwait are working or looking for work?

The latest figure from the ILO, for 2025, is 47.2%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 46.0% (2006) to 49.9% (2017). It is 5th highest of 21 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 24.0%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 125th highest.

What share of adults in Kuwait have a job?

According to the ILO, the employment to population ratio in Kuwait was 71.8% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 66.7% (2008) to 72.8% (2022). Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 40.0%; Kuwait is 3rd highest of 21. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 18th highest.

How common is self-employment in Kuwait?

In 2025, the share of workers who are own-account or contributing family workers in Kuwait was 2.4%, according to the ILO. No year since 2005 has been higher. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 21.6%; Kuwait is 17th highest of 21. World rank, highest first: 170th of 174.

What share of jobs in Kuwait are salaried?

96.8%: that is the share of workers who are paid employees in Kuwait for 2025, according to the ILO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 3rd highest of 21 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 74.1%. Of 174 countries with 2025 data, 3rd highest.