Gender Inequality Index in Kuwait
Kuwait: Gender Inequality Index was 0.188 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Gender Inequality Index in Kuwait, 1995–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender inequality index in Kuwait is 0.188, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 36.2% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender inequality index in Kuwait peaked at 0.719 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.138, in 2022.
That places Kuwait 119th out of 169 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gender Inequality Index in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 0.716 | — |
| 1996 | 0.719 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 0.708 | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 0.698 | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 0.692 | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 0.688 | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 0.685 | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 0.683 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 0.681 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 0.68 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 0.366 | -46.2% |
| 2006 | 0.347 | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 0.342 | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 0.284 | -17.0% |
| 2009 | 0.218 | -23.2% |
| 2010 | 0.207 | -5.0% |
| 2011 | 0.196 | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 0.211 | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 0.195 | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 0.301 | +54.4% |
| 2015 | 0.3 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.284 | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 0.248 | -12.7% |
| 2018 | 0.24 | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 0.202 | -15.8% |
| 2020 | 0.16 | -20.8% |
| 2021 | 0.252 | +57.5% |
| 2022 | 0.138 | -45.2% |
| 2023 | 0.188 | +36.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 0.188 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.081, 2.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 0.188 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.379, 50% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gender Inequality Index 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +57.5% | 0.16 | 0.252 |
| 2014 | +54.4% | 0.195 | 0.301 |
| 2005 | -46.2% | 0.68 | 0.366 |
| 2022 | -45.2% | 0.252 | 0.138 |
| 2023 | +36.2% | 0.138 | 0.188 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7066 | 0.692 | 0.719 | 5 |
| 2000s | 0.4974 | 0.218 | 0.688 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2384 | 0.195 | 0.301 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1845 | 0.138 | 0.252 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More poverty & inequality data for Kuwait
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.52 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 14,957 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate 3.2 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 1.19 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 1.2% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, annual growth rate 34.42 % change on previous year (2023)
- Share of government consumption in GDP vs. share of population living in extreme poverty 15.9% (2023)
- Lifespan inequality: Gini coefficient in women 0.0736 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender inequality index in Kuwait?
- Gender inequality index in Kuwait was 0.188 in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender inequality index recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 0.719 in 1996.
- What is the lowest gender inequality index recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.138 in 2022.
- How does Kuwait rank for gender inequality index?
- Kuwait ranks 119th out of 169 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gender inequality index rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender Inequality Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This index captures gender-based disadvantage in reproductive health, empowerment and the labor market; ranges from 0 (full equality) to 1 (maximum inequality), representing the share of potential human development lost because of gender gaps.