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Iraq vs Kuwait statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has a population of 46M (ranked 34/197), compared with 4.9M in Kuwait (ranked 127/197). Iraq's land area is 167,619 sq mi versus 6,880 sq mi for Kuwait (ranked 57th vs. 153rd).

By GDP, Iraq ranks 50/197 ($280B) and Kuwait ranks 59/197 ($160B). By GDP per capita, Iraq ranks 113/197 ($6,074), while Kuwait ranks 37/197 ($32,718).

Main facts and rankings

Iraq Kuwait
Population
48289334
5100145
Population rank 33/197 127/197
GDP
$280B
2024
$160B
2024
GDP rank 50/197 59/197
GDP per capita
$6,074
2024
$32,718
2024
GDP per capita rank 113/197 37/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$14,464
2024
$52,444
2024
Government debt
$130B
2024
$4.68B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
46.5%
2024
2.92%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,822
2024
$956
2024
Government debt per person rank 105/185 143/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,928
2026
$23,828
2026
Land area 167,619 sq mi 6,880 sq mi
Population density
286.5 ppl/mi²
2026
738 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
3.25
2023
1.52
2023
Median age
21.6 years
2024
35.8 years
2024
Life expectancy
72.6 years
2026
81 years
2026

Iraq and Kuwait: Comparison Charts

Iraq and Kuwait economies compared

GDP
Iraq

Kuwait
1x
Year GDP
Iraq Kuwait
2024 $279,641,257,615 $160,227,273,053
2023 $268,881,051,644 $165,384,407,116
2022 $287,372,232,138 $183,502,046,694
2021 $209,691,945,713 $148,350,671,489
2020 $180,898,797,517 $111,045,470,606
2019 $233,636,097,800 $140,856,394,861
2018 $227,367,469,034 $138,646,316,351
2017 $187,217,660,051 $120,687,539,806
2016 $166,743,557,748 $109,406,674,125
2015 $166,774,104,959 $114,585,555,689
2014 $228,415,656,175 $162,650,450,685
2013 $234,637,675,129 $174,168,116,535
2012 $218,002,476,129 $174,047,662,680
2011 $185,749,664,444 $154,039,231,246
2010 $138,516,722,650 $115,416,245,242
2009 $111,657,580,326 $105,968,691,905
2008 $131,614,434,154 $147,379,737,230
2007 $88,837,057,320 $114,634,043,362
2006 $65,147,051,918 $101,557,330,723
2005 $50,065,104,668 $80,798,630,137
2004 $36,633,669,269 $59,439,090,601
2003 $21,921,569,479 $47,874,582,232
2002 $32,928,454,672 $38,135,788,414
2001 $36,176,430,129 $34,889,559,870
2000 $48,364,250,944 $37,718,743,480
1999 $36,881,601,584 $30,122,365,849
1998 $20,617,405,044 $25,943,705,784
1997 $20,764,857,056 $30,350,190,704
1996 $10,433,698,621 $31,492,373,309
1995 $12,894,029,888 $27,186,980,647
1994 $3,991,349,283 $24,848,483,838
1993 $1,031,944,881 $23,941,391,391
1992 $553,671,958 $19,858,555,215
1991 $407,796,350 $11,009,993,703
1990 $180,408,064,516 $18,427,777,778
1989 $65,831,935,484 $24,313,855,653
1988 $62,684,516,129 $20,690,322,153
1987 $56,774,193,548 $22,368,704,134
1986 $47,264,516,129 $17,903,989,745
1985 $48,425,161,290 $21,445,970,614
1984 $46,938,387,097 $21,700,082,753
1983 $40,712,903,226 $20,871,081,080
1982 $42,382,333,333 $21,577,153,356
1981 $37,823,000,000 $25,058,020,338
1980 $52,569,000,000 $28,638,868,356
1979 $37,816,457,839 $24,749,063,922
1978 $23,762,275,652 $15,503,557,496
1977 $19,838,130,715 $14,137,406,741
1976 $17,754,825,601 $13,132,252,802
1975 $13,458,516,763 $12,022,811,621
1974 $11,516,762,614 $13,006,948,296
1973 $5,134,367,778 $5,408,804,607
1972 $4,113,848,002 $4,450,537,925
1971 $3,865,346,535 $3,880,392,195
1970 $3,281,318,687 $2,873,638,851
1969 $3,007,758,797 $2,769,198,892
1968 $2,896,598,841 $2,662,798,935
1967 $2,551,522,656 $2,441,599,023
1966 $2,530,306,096 $2,391,199,044
1965 $2,335,785,506 $2,097,199,161
1964 $2,136,408,198 $2,071,668,533
1963 $1,805,901,510 $1,900,895,857
1962 $1,784,174,541 $1,828,107,503
1961 $1,671,960,965 -
1960 $1,537,252,193 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/iraq/kuwait | CC BY

Iraq and Kuwait economies compared

GDP per capita
Iraq

Kuwait
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iraq Kuwait
2024 $6,074 $32,718
2023 $5,965 $34,076
2022 $6,521 $39,982
2021 $4,868 $34,019
2020 $4,295 $25,236
2019 $5,672 $31,708
2018 $5,647 $32,068
2017 $4,759 $29,048
2016 $4,334 $27,324
2015 $4,440 $29,882
2014 $6,249 $44,369
2013 $6,650 $49,651
2012 $6,478 $52,155
2011 $5,776 $49,170
2010 $4,462 $39,212
2009 $3,715 $37,907
2008 $4,543 $55,585
2007 $3,129 $45,709
2006 $2,277 $42,947
2005 $1,762 $36,123
2004 $1,328 $27,552
2003 $818 $22,691
2002 $1,266 $18,513
2001 $1,436 $17,374
2000 $1,980 $19,296
1999 $1,560 $15,854
1998 $901 $14,067
1997 $936 $16,977
1996 $485 $18,201
1995 $619 $16,168
1994 $198.2 $14,930
1993 $53.7 $14,318
1992 $30.3 $12,146
1991 $23 $8,147
1990 $10,261 $10,938
1989 $3,791 $10,965
1988 $3,707 $9,692
1987 $3,436 $10,896
1986 $2,940 $9,077
1985 $3,088 $11,322
1984 $3,066 $11,919
1983 $2,743 $11,965
1982 $2,942 $12,979
1981 $2,700 $15,825
1980 $3,868 $19,032
1979 $2,871 $17,386
1978 $1,863 $11,567
1977 $1,609 $11,238
1976 $1,489 $11,141
1975 $1,166 $10,882
1974 $1,031 $12,527
1973 $476 $5,532
1972 $394 $4,836
1971 $384 $4,486
1970 $337 $3,552
1969 $320 $3,695
1968 $319 $3,872
1967 $290.6 $3,887
1966 $298.2 $4,176
1965 $284.8 $4,024
1964 $269.4 $4,379
1963 $235.5 $4,445
1962 $240.7 $4,748
1961 $232.4 -
1960 $218.9 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/iraq/kuwait | CC BY

Iraq vs. Kuwait life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iraq

Kuwait
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iraq Kuwait
2026 72.6 81
2025 72.5 80.8
2024 72.4 80.6
2023 72.3 80.4
2022 72 78.8
2021 70.7 77.6
2020 69.7 78.2
2019 71.2 80
2018 71.1 79.9
2017 69.8 79.7
2016 68.7 79.5
2015 70 79.2
2014 69.7 78.9
2013 69 78.6
2012 68.8 78.2
2011 68.4 77.9
2010 68.1 77.5
2009 67.8 77.2
2008 66.5 76.9
2007 64.4 76.7
2006 64 76.6
2005 64.9 76.5
2004 64.6 76.4
2003 64.8 76.3
2002 65.7 76.2
2001 65.3 76
2000 64.9 75.9
1999 64.5 75.7
1998 64.4 75.6
1997 64.2 75.6
1996 64.6 75.6
1995 64.8 75.7
1994 65 75.7
1993 65.3 75.8
1992 65.3 75.7
1991 61.3 73.3
1990 57.6 72.9
1989 57.5 75
1988 56.7 74.6
1987 60.3 74.2
1986 60 73.8
1985 59.8 73.3
1984 59.5 72.9
1983 59.3 72.4
1982 59 71.9
1981 58.7 71.5
1980 60.9 71.1
1979 64.4 70.8
1978 64.2 70.5
1977 63.9 70.2
1976 63.6 69.9
1975 61.4 69.7
1974 61 69.4
1973 62.3 69.2
1972 61.8 68.9
1971 61.3 68.5
1970 60.5 68
1969 59.6 67.3
1968 59 66.6
1967 58.4 65.8
1966 57.3 64.9
1965 56.4 63.9
1964 55.2 63
1963 54.4 62
1962 53.5 61
1961 52.3 60
1960 51.5 58.9
1959 49.7 57.9
1958 49 56.9
1957 47.7 55.9
1956 46.4 54.9
1955 45 54
1954 43.5 53.1
1953 42.1 52.3
1952 40.5 51.4
1951 39 50.6
1950 37.4 49.7

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/iraq/kuwait | CC BY

Iraq and Kuwait population clocks and comparison

Population
Iraq

Kuwait
1x
Year Population
Iraq Kuwait
2024 46,042,015 4,897,263
2023 45,074,049 4,853,420
2022 44,070,551 4,589,643
2021 43,071,211 4,360,865
2020 42,116,605 4,400,267
2019 41,192,171 4,442,316
2018 40,265,624 4,323,515
2017 39,337,353 4,154,812
2016 38,469,627 4,004,096
2015 37,560,535 3,834,574
2014 36,550,059 3,665,876
2013 35,281,989 3,507,844
2012 33,654,842 3,337,109
2011 32,161,424 3,132,814
2010 31,045,366 2,943,372
2009 30,058,206 2,795,484
2008 28,971,036 2,651,421
2007 28,391,607 2,507,887
2006 28,616,515 2,364,733
2005 28,407,448 2,236,788
2004 27,577,878 2,157,320
2003 26,802,659 2,109,881
2002 26,006,559 2,059,974
2001 25,197,840 2,008,121
2000 24,424,056 1,954,709
1999 23,636,527 1,900,030
1998 22,884,399 1,844,302
1997 22,176,593 1,787,683
1996 21,501,321 1,730,246
1995 20,825,860 1,681,513
1994 20,139,807 1,664,361
1993 19,201,195 1,672,151
1992 18,300,845 1,634,961
1991 17,767,253 1,351,399
1990 17,581,206 1,684,819
1989 17,364,542 2,217,468
1988 16,908,819 2,134,707
1987 16,521,049 2,052,994
1986 16,074,145 1,972,520
1985 15,683,430 1,894,242
1984 15,310,733 1,820,688
1983 14,840,555 1,744,295
1982 14,406,083 1,662,480
1981 14,006,381 1,583,426
1980 13,591,992 1,504,782
1979 13,170,365 1,423,514
1978 12,753,355 1,340,319
1977 12,331,046 1,258,023
1976 11,927,651 1,178,711
1975 11,543,639 1,104,863
1974 11,167,761 1,038,346
1973 10,795,869 977,654
1972 10,430,164 920,352
1971 10,077,809 865,076
1970 9,735,611 809,114
1969 9,403,356 749,452
1968 9,085,016 687,716
1967 8,778,869 628,089
1966 8,485,104 572,590
1965 8,202,140 521,174
1964 7,929,566 473,115
1963 7,667,928 427,694
1962 7,413,875 384,995
1961 7,194,553 345,945
1960 7,022,052 311,060

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/iraq/kuwait | CC BY

Fertility rates in Iraq and Kuwait

Fertility rate
Iraq

Kuwait
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iraq Kuwait
2023 3.25 1.52
2022 3.29 1.55
2021 3.36 2.15
2020 3.42 2.03
2019 3.48 2.08
2018 3.55 2.12
2017 3.64 2.16
2016 3.84 2.06
2015 4.08 2.03
2014 4.31 2.06
2013 4.44 1.97
2012 4.54 1.99
2011 4.59 1.96
2010 4.46 2.04
2009 4.38 2.15
2008 4.37 2.27
2007 4.4 2.41
2006 4.46 2.59
2005 4.45 2.73
2004 4.53 2.76
2003 4.58 2.77
2002 4.67 2.8
2001 4.8 2.84
2000 4.92 2.89
1999 5.04 2.95
1998 5.11 3.04
1997 5.19 3.14
1996 5.25 3.22
1995 5.36 3.25
1994 5.49 3.27
1993 5.61 3.31
1992 5.72 3.35
1991 5.83 3.4
1990 5.93 3.49
1989 5.99 3.59
1988 6.05 3.7
1987 6.11 3.83
1986 6.18 4
1985 6.25 4.22
1984 6.32 4.45
1983 6.39 4.66
1982 6.46 4.85
1981 6.53 5.02
1980 6.59 5.18
1979 6.66 5.33
1978 6.73 5.52
1977 6.8 5.71
1976 6.86 5.9
1975 6.91 6.06
1974 6.95 6.23
1973 6.99 6.43
1972 7.02 6.64
1971 7.06 6.84
1970 7.07 7.03
1969 7.08 7.18
1968 7.06 7.28
1967 7.03 7.33
1966 7.02 7.34
1965 7.02 7.31
1964 7.01 7.29
1963 7.01 7.28
1962 6.99 7.25
1961 5.8 7.25
1960 5.3 7.22

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/iraq/kuwait | CC BY

Iraq and Kuwait demographics compared

Median age
Iraq

Kuwait
1x
Year Median age, years
Iraq Kuwait
2024 21.6 35.8
2023 21.4 35.5
2022 21.1 34.4
2021 20.9 35.8
2020 20.6 37.7
2019 20.4 37.1
2018 20.1 36.4
2017 19.9 35.6
2016 19.7 34.7
2015 19.5 33.8
2014 19.4 33
2013 19.3 32.3
2012 19.2 31.5
2011 19.1 30.5
2010 19 29.6
2009 18.9 29.2
2008 18.8 28.8
2007 18.7 28.6
2006 18.6 28.5
2005 18.5 28.3
2004 18.3 27.9
2003 18.2 27.3
2002 18.1 26.8
2001 18 26.3
2000 17.9 25.9
1999 17.9 25.6
1998 17.8 25.5
1997 17.7 25.5
1996 17.6 25.5
1995 17.5 25.5
1994 17.4 25.1
1993 17.3 24.2
1992 17.3 23.8
1991 17.2 23.6
1990 17.1 23.4
1989 17 23.2
1988 16.9 23
1987 16.9 22.8
1986 16.8 22.7
1985 16.7 22.4
1984 16.6 22.1
1983 16.6 21.7
1982 16.5 21.3
1981 16.5 20.9
1980 16.5 20.5
1979 16.5 20.1
1978 16.6 19.6
1977 16.6 19.2
1976 16.7 18.7
1975 17 18.4
1974 17.2 18.4
1973 17.5 18.3
1972 17.7 18.3
1971 17.9 18.3
1970 18.1 18.5
1969 18.3 18.8
1968 18.5 19.2
1967 18.7 19.6
1966 19 20
1965 19.3 20.4
1964 19.5 20.7
1963 19.8 21
1962 20.1 21.5
1961 20.4 21.8
1960 20.4 22

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/iraq/kuwait | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iraq Kuwait
GNI, Atlas method
$277B
2024
$200B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
42.9%
2024
50.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.55%
1989
6.44%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.36%
2024
4.84%
2024
Armed forces personnel
459,000
2020
25,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-4.14%
2024
+23.8%
2024
Unemployment rate
16.2%
2021
2.16%
2016
Services, % of GDP
45.8%
2024
55.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
51.6%
2024
57.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
15.6
2002
59.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
24.2%
2023
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2023
n/a
Listed domestic companies n/a
138
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$141B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$101B
2024
$50.7B
2024
Personal remittances received
$696M
2024
$20.4M
2024
International tourist arrivals
892,000
2013
2,161,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.88%
2020
1.11%
2020
Banked people share
30.2%
2024
74.5%
2024

Energy

Iraq Kuwait
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
1,412 kg
2022
9,130 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.2
2022
$6.03
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
238.7 megatons
2024
115.9 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
5.18 tons
2024
23.7 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
98.7%
2022
99.9%
2022
Renewable energy use share
1.1%
2021
0.1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.37%
2022
0.08%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-274.9%
2022
-283.1%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
1,373 kWh
2022
16,571 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
3.78%
2021
0.27%
2021
Hydroelectric share
1.98%
2022
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Iraq Kuwait
% of world population
0.57%
2024
0.06%
2024
Annual migration change
-1,064
2025
+42,775
2025
Urban population
69.9%
2024
100%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.2:49.8
2024
61.1:38.9
2024
Average male height
5.7 ft
2025
5.74 ft
2025
Average female height
5.21 ft
2025
5.25 ft
2025
Quality of life index
39.7
2026
71
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
28
2025
46
2025
Higher education index
52
2026
51
2026
Homicides per 100K people
9.41
2013
0.25
2020
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
27.3
2019
15.4
2019
Visa free countries
41
2025
110
2025
Adult literacy rate
84.1%
2021
96.5%
2020
English speaking
35%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
81.7%
2023
99.7%
2023

Health

Iraq Kuwait
Government health expenditure per capita
$333
2023
$1,679
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$179.9
2023
$168
2023
Life expectancy
72.6 years
2026
81 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
1.15%
2022
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
1.02
2022
2.27
2020
Maternal mortality per 100K births
66
2023
8
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
22.6
2023
8.8
2023
Obesity rate
41.4%
2022
44.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
13.4%
2024
25.6%
2024
Air quality index
14
2026
16
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.2%
2022
19.9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.24 liters
2020
0 liters
2020

Territory

Iraq Kuwait
% of world land
0.29%
2026
0.01%
2026
Land area per capita
3,641 sq mi
2024
1,405 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
36,592 sq mi
2026
579 sq mi
2026
Forest area
3,185 sq mi
2026
24.1 sq mi
2026
Roads length n/a
3,572 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2002–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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.