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Kuwait economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Kuwait ranked 59/197 by economy size with a GDP of $160B and 37/197 by GDP per capita at $32,718. Kuwait has $4.68B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 2.92%.

In 2024, Kuwait made up 0.14% of the world's economy, compared to 0.12% in 1962.

Kuwait GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $160,227,273,053 -2.56%
2023 $165,384,407,116 -1.67%
2022 $183,502,046,694 6.76%
2021 $148,350,671,489 1.67%
2020 $111,045,470,606 -4.82%
2019 $140,856,394,861 2.26%
2018 $138,646,316,351 2.74%
2017 $120,687,539,806 -4.71%
2016 $109,406,674,125 2.93%
2015 $114,585,555,689 0.59%
2014 $162,650,450,685 0.5%
2013 $174,168,116,535 1.15%
2012 $174,047,662,680 6.63%
2011 $154,039,231,246 9.63%
2010 $115,416,245,242 -2.37%
2009 $105,968,691,905 -7.08%
2008 $147,379,737,230 2.48%
2007 $114,634,043,362 5.99%
2006 $101,557,330,723 7.51%
2005 $80,798,630,137 10.6%
2004 $59,439,090,601 10.2%
2003 $47,874,582,232 17.3%
2002 $38,135,788,414 3.01%
2001 $34,889,559,870 0.21%
2000 $37,718,743,480 4.69%
1999 $30,122,365,849 -1.79%
1998 $25,943,705,784 3.66%
1997 $30,350,190,704 2.47%
1996 $31,492,373,309 0.61%
1995 $27,186,980,647 4.86%
1994 $24,848,483,838 8.44%
1993 $23,941,391,391 34%
1992 $19,858,555,215 82.8%
1991 $11,009,993,703 -41%
1990 $18,427,777,778 -26.2%
1989 $24,313,855,653 25.9%
1988 $20,690,322,153 -10.1%
1987 $22,368,704,134 8.15%
1986 $17,903,989,745 8.57%
1985 $21,445,970,614 -4.26%
1984 $21,700,082,753 5.24%
1983 $20,871,081,080 7.94%
1982 $21,577,153,356 -11.7%
1981 $25,058,020,338 -18.9%
1980 $28,638,868,356 -19.4%
1979 $24,749,063,922 13.9%
1978 $15,503,557,496 7.35%
1977 $14,137,406,741 -3.85%
1976 $13,132,252,802 6.61%
1975 $12,022,811,621 -12.3%
1974 $13,006,948,296 -13%
1973 $5,408,804,607 -6.57%
1972 $4,450,537,925 3.9%
1971 $3,880,392,195 7.04%
1970 $2,873,638,851 -
1969 $2,769,198,892 -
1968 $2,662,798,935 -
1967 $2,441,599,023 -
1966 $2,391,199,044 -
1965 $2,097,199,161 -
1964 $2,071,668,533 -
1963 $1,900,895,857 -
1962 $1,828,107,503 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kuwait | CC BY

Kuwait GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $32,718 $52,444
2023 $34,076 $53,025
2022 $39,982 $55,043
2021 $34,019 $50,652
2020 $25,236 $41,462
2019 $31,708 $50,703
2018 $32,068 $51,371
2017 $29,048 $46,566
2016 $27,324 $41,862
2015 $29,882 $45,267
2014 $44,369 $68,337
2013 $49,651 $76,813
2012 $52,155 $82,090
2011 $49,170 $79,037
2010 $39,212 $75,184
2009 $37,907 $80,110
2008 $55,585 $90,337
2007 $45,709 $91,435
2006 $42,947 $89,075
2005 $36,123 $84,968
2004 $27,552 $77,227
2003 $22,691 $69,752
2002 $18,513 $59,713
2001 $17,374 $58,553
2000 $19,296 $58,703
1999 $15,854 $56,406
1998 $14,067 $58,344
1997 $16,977 $57,420
1996 $18,201 $56,913
1995 $16,168 $57,163
1994 $14,930 $53,946
1993 $14,318 $48,482
1992 $12,146 $36,149
1991 $8,147 $23,390
1990 $10,938 $30,763
1989 $10,965 -
1988 $9,692 -
1987 $10,896 -
1986 $9,077 -
1985 $11,322 -
1984 $11,919 -
1983 $11,965 -
1982 $12,979 -
1981 $15,825 -
1980 $19,032 -
1979 $17,386 -
1978 $11,567 -
1977 $11,238 -
1976 $11,141 -
1975 $10,882 -
1974 $12,527 -
1973 $5,532 -
1972 $4,836 -
1971 $4,486 -
1970 $3,552 -
1969 $3,695 -
1968 $3,872 -
1967 $3,887 -
1966 $4,176 -
1965 $4,024 -
1964 $4,379 -
1963 $4,445 -
1962 $4,748 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kuwait | CC BY

Kuwait has a GDP per capita of $32,718, ranking 37/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $52,444, ranking 40/197, and a median annual after tax income of $23,828, ranking 34/197.

Kuwait GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 59 34 36
2023 58 33 37
2022 56 28 31
2021 58 32 29
2020 59 37 35
2019 58 33 26
2018 57 33 22
2017 57 33 26
2016 59 32 28
2015 58 33 25
2014 57 26 7
2013 57 21 7
2012 57 14 7
2011 57 20 7
2010 58 27 6
2009 57 26 5
2008 52 14 5
2007 53 20 4
2006 53 18 3
2005 53 22 3
2004 56 27 4
2003 56 28 4
2002 56 30 4
2001 57 30 4
2000 56 30 4
1999 59 30 4
1998 60 32 4
1997 57 31 4
1996 56 28 4
1995 57 28 4
1994 59 28 4
1993 57 28 5
1992 59 29 5
1991 74 36 12
1990 64 32 5
1989 56 29 -
1988 58 30 -
1987 56 26 -
1986 56 28 -
1985 50 18 -
1984 46 15 -
1983 48 14 -
1982 48 12 -
1981 44 8 -
1980 42 8 -
1979 41 8 -
1978 48 12 -
1977 49 9 -
1976 48 7 -
1975 46 5 -
1974 42 5 -
1973 52 13 -
1972 52 9 -
1971 52 7 -
1970 55 9 -
1969 54 4 -
1968 53 3 -
1967 54 2 -
1966 51 1 -
1965 52 1 -
1964 51 1 -
1963 49 1 -
1962 49 1 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kuwait | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Kuwait is ranked 59th out of 182 by GDP (down from 56th), 34th by GDP per capita (down from 30th), and 36th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 4th).

Economic indicators

Kuwait Rank
Gross domestic product
$160B
2024
59/197
GDP growth
-2.56%
2023-2024
188/194
GDP per capita
$32,718
2024
37/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,444
2024
40/197
Government debt
$4.68B
2024
144/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
2.92%
2024
184/185
Government debt per person
$956
2024
143/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,828
2026
34/197
Listed domestic companies
138
2024
42/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$141B
2024
36/100
Government expenditure, % of GDP
50.4%
2024
17/195
Consumer prices inflation
2.9%
2023-2024
108/195
Central bank interest rate
3.5%
2025
83/106
Unemployment rate
2.16%
2016
172/196
Population
5100145
127/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 50.4% 2.92% 23.8%
2023 48.3% 3.13% 28.2%
2022 39.6% 2.95% 30%
2021 48.3% 7.2% 9.98%
2020 62.9% 10.2% 0.14%
2019 50.3% 10.5% 13%
2018 51.1% 14.3% 17.5%
2017 51.9% 19.6% 15.3%
2016 54.1% 9.88% 13.1%
2015 55.4% 4.6% 16.6%
2014 45% 3.43% 30%
2013 38.4% 3.09% 40.6%
2012 38.2% 3.6% 40.7%
2011 39.7% 4.64% 38.8%
2010 45.5% 6.16% 31.9%
2009 42.9% 6.65% 31.3%
2008 40.9% 5.38% 21.3%
2007 30.4% 7.05% 37.1%
2006 32.3% 7.79% 28%
2005 28.8% 10.2% 38.9%
2004 35.3% 13.9% 32.5%
2003 38.2% 17.2% 27.2%
2002 42.8% 21.3% 31%
2001 41.4% 23% 45.2%
2000 29.9% 21.4% 52.5%
1999 44.5% 25.5% 28.2%
1998 51.7% 25.6% 19.5%
1997 43.8% 24.3% 29.5%
1996 42.8% 26.5% 24.3%
1995 52% 34.9% 11.7%
1994 57.8% 37.7% 1.76%
1993 58.2% 28.8% -3.12%
1992 77.6% 27.9% -28.1%
1991 208.9% 45.3% -145%
1990 122.9% - -50%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/kuwait | CC BY

This chart shows Kuwait's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Kuwait recorded a fiscal deficit in 4 of them, with an average annual surplus equal to 16.7% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $80.8B (50.4% of GDP), with a surplus of 23.8%.

The national debt reached $4.68B, ranking 144th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 2.92%, ranking 184th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 2.9%
2023 3.64%
2022 3.98%
2021 3.42%
2020 2.1%
2019 1.09%
2018 0.54%
2017 2.17%
2016 3.2%
2015 3.27%
2014 2.91%
2013 2.68%
2012 3.26%
2011 4.84%
2010 4.5%
2009 4.61%
2008 10.6%
2007 5.48%
2006 3.06%
2005 4.14%
2004 1.25%
2003 0.96%
2002 0.89%
2001 1.3%
2000 1.81%
1999 2.99%
1998 0.13%
1997 0.68%
1996 3.55%
1995 2.69%
1994 2.53%
1993 0.38%
1992 -0.55%
1991 9.06%
1990 9.83%
1989 3.34%
1988 1.47%
1987 0.65%
1986 0.95%
1985 1.49%
1984 1.18%
1983 4.72%
1982 7.78%
1981 7.37%
1980 6.93%
1979 7.05%
1978 8.69%
1977 9.89%
1976 5.24%
1975 8.39%
1974 13%
1973 8.27%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1973–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/kuwait | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Kuwait has had an average annual inflation rate of 3.62%. In 2024, inflation was 2.9%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Kuwait Rank
Current account balance
$46.7B
2024
15/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+29.1%
2024
2/190
Goods imports
$33.4B
2024
64/189
Goods exports
$77.5B
2024
45/189
Service imports
$28.1B
2024
42/189
Service exports
$12.2B
2024
63/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
38.3%
2023
104/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
57.7%
2023
42/193

Kuwait top 10 trading partners

Kuwait's biggest trading partner accounting for 17.7% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of -$6.56B: Kuwait exports $688M worth of goods and services to China and imports $7.24B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Kuwait.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 China $7.93B 17.7% $688M $7.24B Chemicals & pharma Machinery & equipment
2 UAE $6.17B 13.7% $1.36B $4.81B Machinery & equipment Precious metals & jewellery
3 United States $3.49B 7.77% $36.6M $3.45B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
4 India $3.18B 7.09% $1.24B $1.94B Chemicals & pharma Raw agricultural goods
5 Saudi Arabia $2.82B 6.29% $858M $1.96B Machinery & equipment Chemicals & pharma
6 Japan $1.99B 4.44% $3.57M $1.99B Chemicals & pharma Machinery & equipment
7 Germany $1.57B 3.51% $9.91M $1.56B Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
8 Italy $1.39B 3.09% $42.1M $1.35B Textiles & consumer goods Textiles & consumer goods
9 France $1.1B 2.45% $16.4M $1.08B Chemicals & pharma Chemicals & pharma
10 Switzerland $1.09B 2.43% $23.1M $1.07B Precious metals & jewellery Precious metals & jewellery

Top 10 exports

Kuwait Rank
Raw materials & minerals $69.1B 20/193
IT & IP services $4.61B 32/183
Transport & tourism services $3.59B 81/188
Chemicals & pharma $3.16B 53/193
Machinery & equipment $2.22B 70/193
Business & finance services $1.77B 65/188
Manufacturing & construction services $795M 49/164
Government & miscellaneous services $554M 28/180
Precious metals & jewellery $341M 81/190
Textiles & consumer goods $294M 98/193

Top 10 imports

Kuwait Rank
Transport & tourism services $20.4B 35/188
Machinery & equipment $13.5B 60/193
Chemicals & pharma $5.51B 62/193
Business & finance services $5.41B 45/188
Textiles & consumer goods $3.66B 57/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.74B 63/193
Precious metals & jewellery $2.73B 28/193
Metals $2.46B 69/193
Manufacturing & construction services $2.42B 24/163
Animal & marine products $2.01B 42/193

Economic freedom indices

Kuwait Rank
Economic freedom 59.9 100/197
Property rights 42 115/182
Government integrity 47.9 71/182
Judicial effectiveness 43.4 95/182
Tax burden 97.7 6/182
Government spending 36.2 157/180
Fiscal health 99.9 1/181
Business freedom 57.4 119/182
Labor freedom 49.2 139/182
Monetary freedom 68.7 140/180
Trade freedom 75.8 70/181
Investment freedom 50 114/181
Financial freedom 50 86/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 59.9 43.4 97.7 36.2 99.9
2025 59.9 42.9 97.7 38.2 100
2024 58.5 41.4 97.7 11.3 100
2023 56.7 43.8 97.7 3.2 80.9
2022 58.3 42 97.7 4 99.7
2021 64.1 52.6 97.7 21.4 99.7
2020 63.2 47 97.7 22.4 99.6
2019 60.8 43.3 97.7 17.3 99.1
2018 62.2 53.5 97.7 20.5 99.3
2017 65.1 56.4 97.7 40.8 99.8
2016 62.7 - 97.7 57.7 -
2015 62.5 - 97.7 61.1 -
2014 62.3 - 97.7 55.6 -
2013 63.1 - 99.9 61.5 -
2012 62.5 - 99.9 47.2 -
2011 64.9 - 99.9 69.7 -
2010 67.7 - 99.9 76.6 -
2009 65.6 - 99.9 63.7 -
2008 68.1 - 99.9 74.6 -
2007 66.4 - 99.9 60.7 -
2006 66.5 - 99.9 57.1 -
2005 64.6 - 99.9 51.3 -
2004 63.6 - 99.9 42.2 -
2003 66.7 - 99.9 48.8 -
2002 65.4 - 99.9 41.9 -
2001 68.2 - 99.9 44.5 -
2000 69.7 - 99.9 39.3 -
1999 69.5 - 99.9 40.6 -
1998 66.3 - 99.9 16.4 -
1997 64.8 - 99.9 0.8 -
1996 66.1 - 99.9 10.9 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/kuwait | CC BY

Kuwait is ranked 88/174 for economic freedom with a score of 59.9, compared to 38/162 and a score of 66.5 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Kuwait Rank
Services, % of GDP
55.9%
2024
105/191
Industry, % of GDP
57.1%
2024
5/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.49%
2024
183/193
GNI, Atlas method
$200B
2024
56/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$63,270
2024
25/191
Total reserves including gold
$50.7B
2024
41/177
Net foreign direct investment
$9.71B
2024
17/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$615M
2024
109/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$10.3B
2024
27/193
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17.7%
2023
142/178

Compare Kuwait vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/kuwait | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1962–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.