Country profile · Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

🇰🇼 Kuwait

High income. Capital Kuwait City. Full World Bank, WHO, ILO & OECD indicator profile across 41 measures, with regional peers and rankings.

4.9 million
Population
$160.2 billion
GDP
$32,718
GDP / capita
83.2 years
Life expectancy

Kuwait on the global income map

Kuwait (KWT) plotted alongside its largest economic peers on GDP per capita and the Human Development Index. Bubble area scales with population; color encodes income tier; gold rings mark OECD members.

Kuwait on the global income map Kuwait positioned on the GDP-per-capita / HDI plane against its largest economic peers. 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 $200 $1K $10K $100K GDP per capita (USD, log scale) Human Development Index (0–1) India — GDP/cap $2,695 · lower-middle income IND China — GDP/cap $13,303 · upper-middle income CHN United States — GDP/cap $84,534 · high income · OECD USA Indonesia — GDP/cap $4,925 · upper-middle income IDN Pakistan — GDP/cap $1,479 · lower-middle income Nigeria — GDP/cap $1,084 · low income Brazil — GDP/cap $10,311 · upper-middle income Bangladesh — GDP/cap $2,593 · lower-middle income Russian Federation — GDP/cap $14,889 · high income Ethiopia — GDP/cap $1,134 · low income Mexico — GDP/cap $14,186 · high income · OECD Japan — GDP/cap $32,487 · high income · OECD Egypt, Arab Rep. — GDP/cap $3,338 · lower-middle income Philippines — GDP/cap $3,985 · lower-middle income Congo, Dem. Rep. — GDP/cap $649 · low income Viet Nam — GDP/cap $4,717 · upper-middle income Iran, Islamic Rep. — GDP/cap $5,190 · upper-middle income Turkiye — GDP/cap $15,893 · high income · OECD Germany — GDP/cap $56,104 · high income · OECD Thailand — GDP/cap $7,347 · upper-middle income United Kingdom — GDP/cap $53,246 · high income · OECD Tanzania — GDP/cap $1,187 · lower-middle income France — GDP/cap $46,103 · high income · OECD South Africa — GDP/cap $6,267 · upper-middle income Italy — GDP/cap $40,385 · high income · OECD Kenya — GDP/cap $2,132 · lower-middle income Myanmar — GDP/cap $1,359 · lower-middle income Colombia — GDP/cap $7,919 · upper-middle income · OECD Korea, Rep. — GDP/cap $36,239 · high income · OECD Sudan — GDP/cap $985 · low income Kuwait — GDP/cap $32,718 · high income Income tier Low Lower-middle Upper-middle High OECD member

Indicators tracked

41

Across 8 topic areas

GDP per capita

$32,718

Latest WB report

Population

4.9 million

UN estimate

OECD member

No

Outside OECD harmonized stats

Population
4.9 million
GDP
$160.2 billion
GDP per Capita
$32,718
Life Expectancy
83.2 years

Overview

Kuwait has a population of 4.9 million, making it the 127th-most populous country out of 217 tracked in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan.

Its economy totals $160.2 billion — ranked 59th globally by total GDP. GDP per capita stands at $32,718, placing it in the High income category.

Life expectancy at birth is 83.2 years (ranked 17th globally), reflecting overall health outcomes as measured by the World Bank.

The capital is Kuwait City.

👥 Demographics

Fertility Rate
1.5
2023
Population
4.9 million
2024
Population Ages 0-14
18.2%
2024
Population Ages 65+
3.1%
2024
Population Density
272.4/km²
2023
Population Growth Rate
0.9%
2024
Urban Population
100.0%
2024

💰 Economy

Foreign Direct Investment
$614.6 million
2024
GDP (Current USD)
$160.2 billion
2024
GDP Growth Rate
-2.6%
2024
GDP Per Capita (Current USD)
$32,717.719
2024
GNI Per Capita
$40,770
2024
Inflation (Consumer Prices)
2.9%
2024
Trade (% of GDP)
96.1%
2023
Unemployment Rate
2.2%
2024

🏥 Health

Health Expenditure (% of GDP)
5.0%
2023
Infant Mortality Rate
7.6 per 1,000
2023
Life Expectancy at Birth
83.2 years
2023
Maternal Mortality Ratio
8
2023
Physicians (per 1,000 people)
2.3 per 1,000
2020
Stunting Prevalence (under 5)
3.2
2023
Under-5 Mortality Rate
8.8 per 1,000
2023

📚 Education

Education Expenditure (% of GDP)
6.4%
2024
Literacy Rate (Adult)
96.5
2020
School Enrollment (Primary)
82.4
2021
School Enrollment (Secondary)
95.4
2015
School Enrollment (Tertiary)
51.9
2021
Youth Literacy Rate
99.3
2020

🌍 Environment

Electric Power Consumption
16,571 kWh
2022
Forest Area
0.4
2023
Renewable Energy Consumption
0.1%
2021

🏗️ Infrastructure

Access to Clean Water
100.0%
2024
Access to Electricity
100.0%
2023
Access to Sanitation
100.0%
2024
Internet Users
99.7%
2023
Mobile Subscriptions
167.7
2023

⚖️ Social

Female Labor Participation
47.3
2024
Intentional Homicides
0.2
2020
Male Labor Participation
88.7
2024
Net Migration
61.6K
2024

💼 Labor & Wages

PPP Conversion Factor (GDP)
0.19
2024

🫀 Disease Burden

Key causes of death and disease risk in Kuwait. Source: WHO Global Health Observatory.

NCD Death Rate
302
per 100K · 2021
Premature NCD Risk
9.3%
dying 30–70 from NCD
Road Traffic Deaths
9.2
per 100K
Suicide Rate
23.3
per 100K
TB Deaths
0.37
per 100K
Maternal Mortality
8
per 100K births

Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory. NCD mortality rate: 2021. Rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population. Premature NCD risk covers cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.

Compare Kuwait with Another Country

What the data says about Kuwait

Every figure on this profile is a single measurement drawn from an official international dataset, and each one carries assumptions worth understanding before drawing conclusions. Income and output are reported at market exchange rates in current dollars, so they move with currency swings as well as real growth, and national averages can hide wide gaps between regions and households. Health and demographic measures are period estimates compiled from vital registration, surveys, and statistical models, and their reporting year often lags the present by one to three years. Reading several indicators together, rather than fixating on a single headline number, is what turns a row of statistics into a grounded picture of how people in this country actually live, work, and age.

Kuwait sits in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan with a population of 4.9 million, placing it 127th out of 217 countries by headcount. Its capital, Kuwait City, anchors a High income economy with total GDP of $160.2 billion — ranked 59th globally — and GDP per capita of $32,718. This combination of demographic scale and economic output shapes everything from household purchasing power and domestic market depth to the country's weight in regional trade flows and international development programmes.

Life expectancy at birth in Kuwait is 83.2 years, ranking 17th worldwide and offering a summary read on healthcare access, nutrition, sanitation, and long-run living standards. The World Bank's World Development Indicators, combined with the WHO Global Health Observatory and ILO ILOSTAT wage statistics, expose 41 data points across 8 thematic areas — from fertility and urbanisation to CO₂ emissions, school enrolment, and labour-force participation. Reading these indicators together, rather than in isolation, is what turns headline numbers into a grounded portrait of how people actually live.

Use the indicator tables below to track trajectories over time, jump to Kuwait's placement on specific rankings such as GDP, population density, or life expectancy, and open the side-by-side Compare view to benchmark against peers inside Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan or across income groups. Because all figures come from official, CC BY 4.0-licensed datasets with clear vintages, you can cite them directly in research or journalism. Where a field reads "N/A", the upstream agency has not yet released that value for Kuwait — we never fabricate estimates or carry forward stale values, so missing points stay visible rather than quietly filled in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the data for Kuwait come from?

Data for Kuwait is sourced from the World Bank Open Data catalog, WHO Global Health Observatory, and ILO ILOSTAT (for average wages and working hours). These are official, publicly available datasets.

How current is the data for Kuwait?

Data availability varies by indicator. Most recent data points range from 2020 to 2024, depending on the indicator and reporting frequency. World Bank indicators are updated annually, while WHO disease burden data follows the Global Burden of Disease study schedule.

Can I compare Kuwait with other countries?

Yes. Use the Compare feature to see a side-by-side comparison of Kuwait with any other country across all available indicators. You can also explore rankings to see where Kuwait stands globally on specific measures like GDP, population, or life expectancy.

What does GDP per capita tell us about Kuwait?

GDP per capita divides Kuwait's total economic output by its population, giving an approximate measure of average economic productivity per person. It is reported in current US dollars. For fairer cross-country comparisons, purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustments account for differences in the cost of goods and services.

How does Kuwait's life expectancy compare to the global average?

Life expectancy at birth for Kuwait is 83.2 years, ranking 17th out of 217 countries tracked. The global average is approximately 73 years. Life expectancy reflects healthcare quality, nutrition, sanitation, and socioeconomic conditions.

Does PlainCountries cover visa or travel information for Kuwait?

PlainCountries focuses on development indicators, health data, and economic statistics. For visa requirements and immigration policies, visit PlainVisa at plainvisa.com. For international flight route data, check PlainFlights at plainflights.com.

Source: World Bank Open Data, Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, Source: ILO ILOSTAT. World Bank and ILO data licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the World Bank, WHO, ILO, and OECD. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.