Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kuwait
Kuwait: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 1.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kuwait, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 1.9% for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.5% on the previous year and down 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kuwait peaked at 2.6% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2023.
That places Kuwait 162nd out of 186 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.4% | — |
| 1992 | 2.3% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 2.3% | -4.0% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | -4.2% |
| 1995 | 2.1% | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 2.1% | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 2.2% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 2.2% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 2.3% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 2.4% | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 2.4% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 2.6% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 2.4% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 2.4% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 2.3% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 2.3% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 2.1% | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 2.1% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 2.0% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 2.0% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -1.5% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 1.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 74% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 1.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 6.2%, 31% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 159 Australia 2.1% compare
- 160 French Polynesia 2.1% compare
- 161 Denmark 2.0% compare
- 163 Netherlands 1.9% compare
- 164 Switzerland 1.9% compare
- 165 New Caledonia 1.8% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Kuwait
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0053 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 171.42 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2005)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kuwait?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Kuwait was 1.9% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 2.6% in 2005.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2023.
- How does Kuwait rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Kuwait ranks 162nd out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.