Kuwait

Constitutional Monarchy (Emirate)Pop3.2MGDP (PPP)$225.9BCI40Beta CP0.0→Beta

Kuwait

⌘K

Overview

Background: Kuwait has been ruled by the AL-SABAH dynasty since the 18th century. The threat of Ottoman invasion in 1899 prompted Amir Mubarak AL-SABAH to seek protection from Britain, ceding foreign and defense responsibility to Britain until 1961, when the country attained its independence. Iraq attacked and overran Kuwait in 1990. After several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault in 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. In 1992, the Amir reconstituted the parliament that he had dissolved in 1986. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs known as Bidoon staged small protests demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Other demographic groups, notably Islamists and Kuwaitis from tribal backgrounds, soon joined the growing protest movements, which culminated with the resignation of the prime minister amid allegations of corruption. Demonstrations renewed in 2012 in response to a decree amending the electoral law that lessened the voting power of the tribal blocs.

An opposition coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribal populists, and some liberals largely boycotted legislative elections in 2012 and 2013, which ushered in a legislature more amenable to the government's agenda. Faced with the prospect of painful subsidy cuts, oppositionists and independents actively participated in the 2016 election, winning nearly half the seats, but the opposition became increasingly factionalized. Between 2006 and his death in 2020, the Amir dissolved the National Assembly on seven occasions and shuffled the cabinet over a dozen times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government.

The current Amir, who assumed his role in 2020, launched a "National Dialogue" in 2021 meant to resolve political gridlock. As part of this initiative, the Amir pardoned several opposition figures who had been living in exile, and they returned to Kuwait. Legislative challenges remain, and the cabinet has been reshuffled six times since 2020.

Geography

Area

Land: 17,818 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 17,818 sq km

Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Land Use

Other: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)

Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Coastline: 499 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: 3.6 km W. of Al-Salmi Border Post 300 m
Mean elevation: 108 m

Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2015)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Map references: Middle East

Land Boundaries

Total: 475 km
Border countries: Iraq 254 km; Saudi Arabia 221 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March and August
Geography note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Area comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Population distribution: densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Indian ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 97.1% (2020 est.)
Female: 95.3% (2020 est.)
Total population: 96.5% (2020 est.)

Languages

Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Major language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.36 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 17.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 31.1 years
Total: 30.4 years (2025 est.)
Female: 28.9 years

Population

Male: 1,827,274
Total: 3,172,511 (2025 est.)
Female: 1,345,237

Nationality

Noun: Kuwaiti(s)
Adjective: Kuwaiti

Tobacco Use

Male: 34.9% (2025 est.)
Total: 22.4% (2025 est.)
Female: 1.9% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 23% (male 376,415/female 346,190)
15 64 years: 73.4% (male 1,386,349/female 917,465)
65 years and over: 3.6% (2024 est.) (male 47,778/female 64,158)

Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 36 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 30.9 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 19.7 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 2.27 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -4.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 2.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.8% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 1.07% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.07 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 78.1 years
Female: 81.1 years
Total population: 79.6 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 3.298 million KUWAIT (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 37.9% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.8% (2023 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 13 years (2015 est.)
Total: 15 years (2015 est.)
Female: 16 years (2015 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a black trapezoid based on the left side

meaning: green stands for fertile fields, white for purity, red for blood on Kuwaiti swords, and black for defeating the enemy

history: colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Capital

Name: Kuwait City
Etymology: the name comes from the Arabic al-kuwayt, a diminutive of the Hindustani term kut, meaning a fortress-like house
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E

Suffrage: 21 years of age and at least 20-year citizenship

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: no
Citizenship BY descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kuwait
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: not specified

Constitution

Note: note: in May 2024, Amir Sheikh MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly and suspended several articles of the constitution for up to four years
History: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962; suspended 1976 to 1981 (4 articles); 1986 to 1991; May to July 1999
Amendment process: proposed by the amir or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds consent of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the amir; constitutional articles on the initiation, approval, and promulgation of general legislation cannot be amended

Country Name

Etymology: the name derives from the capital city, which comes from the Arabic al-kuwayt, itself a diminutive of the Hindustani term kut, meaning a fortress-like house
Local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Local short form: Al Kuwayt
Conventional long form: State of Kuwait
Conventional short form: Kuwait

Independence: 19 June 1961 (from the UK)
Legal system: mixed system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law
Government type: constitutional monarchy (emirate)

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with 5 judges)
Subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; Court of First Instance; Summary Court
Judge selection and term of office: all Kuwaiti judges appointed by the Amir on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, a consultative body comprised of Kuwaiti judges and Ministry of Justice officials

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir
Chief of state: Amir MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 16 December 2023)
Head of government: Prime Minister AHMAD ABDULLAH Al-Ahmad al Sabah (since 15 May 2024)
Election/appointment process: amir chosen from within the ruling family, confirmed by the National Assembly; prime minister appointed by the amir

National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)
National color(s): green, white, red, black
Political parties: none; the government does not recognize any political parties or allow their formation, although no formal law bans political parties

Legislative Branch

Note: note: the unicameral National Assembly was dissolved on 10 May 2024 by Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad AL-SABAH for a period of up to four years; the Emir and cabinet officials have assumed the role of the parliament
Expected date of next election: April 2028

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem)
History: adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions
Lyrics/music: Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA

National symbol(s): golden falcon
Administrative divisions: 6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 966-8468
Chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
Chief of mission: Ambassador AL-ZAIN Sabah Naser Saud Al-Sabah (since 19 April 2023)
Consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (CA), New York
Email address and website: info@kuwaitembassy.us

https://www.kuwaitembassy.us/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [00] (965) 2538-0282
Embassy: P.O. Box 77, Safat 13001
Telephone: [00] (965) 2259-1001
Mailing address: 6200 Kuwait Place, Washington DC  20521-6200
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Steven R. BUTLER (since July 2025)
Email address and website: KuwaitACS@state.gov

https://kw.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Legislature

KUWAIT · LEGISLATURE

National Assembly

65 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Hadas

Parties

All political parties6 parties · 65 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

MA
Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
- Head of StateSince 2023
SA
Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah
- Head of GovernmentDate unknown

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $44.254 billion (2015 est.)
Expenditures: $59.584 billion (2015 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $95.5B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $110.923 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $95.476 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $89.71 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $63.4B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $55.909 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $63.43 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $61.521 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials
Labor force: 3.003 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 9.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 9.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 0% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 0.306 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.302 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.306 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.307 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 0.307 (2024 est.)

Economic overview: small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy; renewable energy proponent; regional finance and investment leader; maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund; emerging space and tourism industries; mid-way through 25-year development program

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.2%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 2.2% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: China 25%, India 13%, Japan 13%, Taiwan 7%, UK 5% (2023)
Imports partners: China 18%, UAE 10%, USA 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $52,444

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $51,400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $47,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $45,400 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): -2.6%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: -2.6% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: dates, eggs, milk, tomatoes, chicken, lamb/mutton, cucumbers/gherkins, vegetables, maize, eggplants (2023)
Exports commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, hydrocarbons, plastics (2023)
Imports commodities: cars, natural gas, garments, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $46.7B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: $63.078 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $51.396 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: $46.703 billion (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $160.227 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 32.6% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 20.7% (2022 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.8% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 60.4% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -30.5% (2022 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 19.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 0.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.9%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: -5.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $225.947 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $235.815 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $231.884 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $225.947 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 9.3% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 15.4% (2024 est.)
Female: 28.9% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $52.462 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $52.619 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $50.728 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 57.1% (2024 est.)
Services: 55.9% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 0.5% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 11 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 152,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 60,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 2.91 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 101.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 430,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 78.047 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 20.294 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 7.516 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Imports: 8.433 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production: 19.207 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 26.296 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.784 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 389.848 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 97.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters; satellite TV available, and pan-Arab TV stations are especially popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels in Arabic and English; first private radio station in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .kw

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 573,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 8.11 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 168 (2023 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 49,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 1
Medium: 2
Key ports: Al Kuwayt, Doha Harbor, Mina Abd Allah, Mina Al Ahmadi, Mina Ash Shuaybah, Mina Az Zawr
Very small: 3
Total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 4

Airports: 6 (2025)
Heliports: 20 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 176 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 28, other 133

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9K

Environment

Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Land Use

Other: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 256.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 819.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 7.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.75 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.4% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; air and water pollution; desertification; loss of biodiversity

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 448.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 23.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 778.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 100.459 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 51.587 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 149,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 48.723 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 54.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention

Military & Security

Military note: the Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF) are responsible for defending Kuwait's sovereignty and territory; Kuwait’s security concerns include regional threats from state and non-state actors, maritime security, and terrorism; the KAF participates in bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as a limited number of multinational security operations such as maritime patrols in the Persian Gulf; it also provided a few fighter aircraft to the Saudi-led coalition intervention in Yemen in 2015; the KAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region

Kuwait's key security partner since the 1991 Gulf War has been the US; the US maintains thousands of military personnel as well as logistics and training facilities in Kuwait as part of mutual cooperation agreements signed in 1991 and 2013; the KAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and would look to US assistance in the event of an external attack; Kuwait has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.8%

Military expenditures 2020: 6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 6.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 4.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwait Army (aka Kuwait Land Forces, KLF), Kuwait Navy (aka Kuwait Naval Force), Kuwait Air Force; Kuwait National Guard (KNG)

Ministry of Interior: Kuwait Police, State Security, Kuwait Coast Guard (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month compulsory service for men aged 18-35; mandatory service is divided into two phases – 4 months for training and 8 months for military service (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of armaments from Western Europe, Russia, and particularly the US (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 17,000 active Kuwait Armed Forces; approximately 7,000 National Guard (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees: 1,271 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 92,000 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index40.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4112 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.27as of 2024-Q4101 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (33/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Kuwait — vintage 2026-Q1: Kuwait factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/kuwait

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Kuwait

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Literacy

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

National Assembly

Current

Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Average Household Expenditures

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural Gas

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Methane Emissions

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Military Expenditures

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

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