Skip to content

Kuwait vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Kuwait has a population of 4.9M (ranked 127/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Kuwait's land area is 6,880 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 153rd vs. 105th).

By GDP, Kuwait ranks 59/197 ($160B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Kuwait ranks 37/197 ($32,718), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Kuwait South Korea
Population
5100145
51649918
Population rank 127/197 31/197
GDP
$160B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 59/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$32,718
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 37/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,444
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$4.68B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
2.92%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$956
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 143/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,828
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 6,880 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
738 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.52
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
35.8 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
81 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Kuwait and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Kuwait and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Kuwait

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Kuwait South Korea
2024 $160,227,273,053 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $165,384,407,116 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $183,502,046,694 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $148,350,671,489 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $111,045,470,606 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $140,856,394,861 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $138,646,316,351 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $120,687,539,806 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $109,406,674,125 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $114,585,555,689 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $162,650,450,685 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $174,168,116,535 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $174,047,662,680 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $154,039,231,246 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $115,416,245,242 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $105,968,691,905 $983,065,242,417
2008 $147,379,737,230 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $114,634,043,362 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $101,557,330,723 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $80,798,630,137 $971,740,329,984
2004 $59,439,090,601 $823,251,107,639
2003 $47,874,582,232 $728,516,494,684
2002 $38,135,788,414 $650,014,391,470
2001 $34,889,559,870 $567,564,806,235
2000 $37,718,743,480 $597,487,173,479
1999 $30,122,365,849 $515,697,079,289
1998 $25,943,705,784 $397,297,216,492
1997 $30,350,190,704 $589,202,526,424
1996 $31,492,373,309 $631,196,863,758
1995 $27,186,980,647 $586,286,469,401
1994 $24,848,483,838 $479,181,794,217
1993 $23,941,391,391 $405,705,302,846
1992 $19,858,555,215 $366,921,291,825
1991 $11,009,993,703 $340,851,946,804
1990 $18,427,777,778 $292,064,221,389
1989 $24,313,855,653 $254,236,243,100
1988 $20,690,322,153 $205,477,530,605
1987 $22,368,704,134 $152,240,393,646
1986 $17,903,989,745 $119,965,960,795
1985 $21,445,970,614 $103,764,281,281
1984 $21,700,082,753 $99,749,645,089
1983 $20,871,081,080 $89,621,208,322
1982 $21,577,153,356 $79,921,300,447
1981 $25,058,020,338 $74,287,368,087
1980 $28,638,868,356 $66,547,970,351
1979 $24,749,063,922 $68,083,884,298
1978 $15,503,557,496 $52,824,793,388
1977 $14,137,406,741 $39,064,462,810
1976 $13,132,252,802 $30,371,074,380
1975 $12,022,811,621 $22,126,033,058
1974 $13,006,948,296 $19,860,929,977
1973 $5,408,804,607 $14,067,523,813
1972 $4,450,537,925 $10,990,490,570
1971 $3,880,392,195 $10,005,257,131
1970 $2,873,638,851 $9,085,001,794
1969 $2,769,198,892 $7,743,940,189
1968 $2,662,798,935 $6,167,109,472
1967 $2,441,599,023 $4,895,076,718
1966 $2,391,199,044 $3,957,064,541
1965 $2,097,199,161 $3,141,131,708
1964 $2,071,668,533 $3,476,789,682
1963 $1,900,895,857 $4,007,692,308
1962 $1,828,107,503 $2,826,923,077
1961 - $2,427,244,761
1960 - $3,973,069,307

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/south-korea | CC BY

Kuwait and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Kuwait

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Kuwait South Korea
2024 $32,718 $36,239
2023 $34,076 $35,674
2022 $39,982 $34,822
2021 $34,019 $37,518
2020 $25,236 $33,646
2019 $31,708 $33,827
2018 $32,068 $35,364
2017 $29,048 $33,297
2016 $27,324 $30,832
2015 $29,882 $30,172
2014 $44,369 $30,667
2013 $49,651 $28,449
2012 $52,155 $26,601
2011 $49,170 $26,175
2010 $39,212 $24,071
2009 $37,907 $19,937
2008 $55,585 $22,252
2007 $45,709 $25,078
2006 $42,947 $22,610
2005 $36,123 $20,167
2004 $27,552 $17,122
2003 $22,691 $15,212
2002 $18,513 $13,643
2001 $17,374 $11,981
2000 $19,296 $12,710
1999 $15,854 $11,063
1998 $14,067 $8,583
1997 $16,977 $12,822
1996 $18,201 $13,865
1995 $16,168 $13,002
1994 $14,930 $10,734
1993 $14,318 $9,180
1992 $12,146 $8,387
1991 $8,147 $7,873
1990 $10,938 $6,813
1989 $10,965 $5,989
1988 $9,692 $4,889
1987 $10,896 $3,658
1986 $9,077 $2,911
1985 $11,322 $2,543
1984 $11,919 $2,469
1983 $11,965 $2,246
1982 $12,979 $2,032
1981 $15,825 $1,918
1980 $19,032 $1,746
1979 $17,386 $1,814
1978 $11,567 $1,429
1977 $11,238 $1,073
1976 $11,141 $847
1975 $10,882 $627
1974 $12,527 $572
1973 $5,532 $412
1972 $4,836 $328
1971 $4,486 $304
1970 $3,552 $281.8
1969 $3,695 $245.5
1968 $3,872 $200
1967 $3,887 $162.5
1966 $4,176 $134.4
1965 $4,024 $109.4
1964 $4,379 $124.2
1963 $4,445 $147
1962 $4,748 $106.6
1961 - $94.2
1960 - $158.8

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/south-korea | CC BY

Kuwait vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Kuwait

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Kuwait South Korea
2026 81 84.6
2025 80.8 84.5
2024 80.6 84.4
2023 80.4 84.3
2022 78.8 82.7
2021 77.6 83.9
2020 78.2 83.7
2019 80 83.7
2018 79.9 83.3
2017 79.7 83.3
2016 79.5 82.9
2015 79.2 82.5
2014 78.9 82.4
2013 78.6 81.8
2012 78.2 81.3
2011 77.9 81.2
2010 77.5 80.7
2009 77.2 80.6
2008 76.9 80
2007 76.7 79.4
2006 76.6 79
2005 76.5 78.4
2004 76.4 78
2003 76.3 77.5
2002 76.2 77.2
2001 76 76.9
2000 75.9 76.2
1999 75.7 75.6
1998 75.6 75
1997 75.6 74.5
1996 75.6 74
1995 75.7 73.4
1994 75.7 72.9
1993 75.8 72.7
1992 75.7 72.2
1991 73.3 71.4
1990 72.9 71
1989 75 70.7
1988 74.6 70.2
1987 74.2 69.3
1986 73.8 69
1985 73.3 68.4
1984 72.9 68.1
1983 72.4 66.7
1982 71.9 67.1
1981 71.5 67.1
1980 71.1 64.8
1979 70.8 66.1
1978 70.5 65
1977 70.2 64.6
1976 69.9 65
1975 69.7 64.7
1974 69.4 64.2
1973 69.2 63.8
1972 68.9 63.2
1971 68.5 62.7
1970 68 62.2
1969 67.3 61.4
1968 66.6 60.9
1967 65.8 60.9
1966 64.9 55.4
1965 63.9 55.8
1964 63 55.3
1963 62 55
1962 61 55
1961 60 54.4
1960 58.9 53.8
1959 57.9 52.9
1958 56.9 51.8
1957 55.9 51.6
1956 54.9 50.2
1955 54 48.4
1954 53.1 46.1
1953 52.3 40.5
1952 51.4 36.6
1951 50.6 26.6
1950 49.7 22.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/south-korea | CC BY

Kuwait and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Kuwait

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Kuwait South Korea
2024 4,897,263 51,751,065
2023 4,853,420 51,712,619
2022 4,589,643 51,672,569
2021 4,360,865 51,769,539
2020 4,400,267 51,836,239
2019 4,442,316 51,764,822
2018 4,323,515 51,585,058
2017 4,154,812 51,361,911
2016 4,004,096 51,217,803
2015 3,834,574 51,014,947
2014 3,665,876 50,746,659
2013 3,507,844 50,428,893
2012 3,337,109 50,199,853
2011 3,132,814 49,936,638
2010 2,943,372 49,554,112
2009 2,795,484 49,307,835
2008 2,651,421 49,054,708
2007 2,507,887 48,683,638
2006 2,364,733 48,438,292
2005 2,236,788 48,184,561
2004 2,157,320 48,082,519
2003 2,109,881 47,892,330
2002 2,059,974 47,644,736
2001 2,008,121 47,370,164
2000 1,954,709 47,008,111
1999 1,900,030 46,616,677
1998 1,844,302 46,286,503
1997 1,787,683 45,953,580
1996 1,730,246 45,524,681
1995 1,681,513 45,092,991
1994 1,664,361 44,641,540
1993 1,672,151 44,194,628
1992 1,634,961 43,747,962
1991 1,351,399 43,295,704
1990 1,684,819 42,869,283
1989 2,217,468 42,449,038
1988 2,134,707 42,031,247
1987 2,052,994 41,621,690
1986 1,972,520 41,213,674
1985 1,894,242 40,805,744
1984 1,820,688 40,405,956
1983 1,744,295 39,910,403
1982 1,662,480 39,326,352
1981 1,583,426 38,723,248
1980 1,504,782 38,123,775
1979 1,423,514 37,534,236
1978 1,340,319 36,969,185
1977 1,258,023 36,411,795
1976 1,178,711 35,848,523
1975 1,104,863 35,280,725
1974 1,038,346 34,692,266
1973 977,654 34,103,149
1972 920,352 33,505,406
1971 865,076 32,882,704
1970 809,114 32,240,827
1969 749,452 31,544,266
1968 687,716 30,838,302
1967 628,089 30,130,983
1966 572,590 29,435,571
1965 521,174 28,704,674
1964 473,115 27,984,155
1963 427,694 27,261,747
1962 384,995 26,513,030
1961 345,945 25,765,673
1960 311,060 25,012,374

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/south-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Kuwait and South Korea

Fertility rate
Kuwait

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Kuwait South Korea
2023 1.52 0.72
2022 1.55 0.78
2021 2.15 0.81
2020 2.03 0.84
2019 2.08 0.92
2018 2.12 0.98
2017 2.16 1.05
2016 2.06 1.17
2015 2.03 1.24
2014 2.06 1.21
2013 1.97 1.19
2012 1.99 1.3
2011 1.96 1.24
2010 2.04 1.23
2009 2.15 1.15
2008 2.27 1.19
2007 2.41 1.26
2006 2.59 1.13
2005 2.73 1.09
2004 2.76 1.16
2003 2.77 1.19
2002 2.8 1.18
2001 2.84 1.31
2000 2.89 1.48
1999 2.95 1.43
1998 3.04 1.46
1997 3.14 1.54
1996 3.22 1.57
1995 3.25 1.63
1994 3.27 1.66
1993 3.31 1.65
1992 3.35 1.76
1991 3.4 1.71
1990 3.49 1.57
1989 3.59 1.56
1988 3.7 1.55
1987 3.83 1.53
1986 4 1.58
1985 4.22 1.66
1984 4.45 1.74
1983 4.66 2.06
1982 4.85 2.39
1981 5.02 2.57
1980 5.18 2.82
1979 5.33 2.9
1978 5.52 2.64
1977 5.71 2.99
1976 5.9 3
1975 6.06 3.43
1974 6.23 3.77
1973 6.43 4.07
1972 6.64 4.12
1971 6.84 4.54
1970 7.03 4.53
1969 7.18 4.45
1968 7.28 4.51
1967 7.33 4.62
1966 7.34 4.78
1965 7.31 4.89
1964 7.29 5.07
1963 7.28 5.33
1962 7.25 5.56
1961 7.25 5.8
1960 7.22 5.99

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/south-korea | CC BY

Kuwait and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Kuwait

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Kuwait South Korea
2024 35.8 46.1
2023 35.5 45.5
2022 34.4 44.9
2021 35.8 44.4
2020 37.7 43.8
2019 37.1 43.1
2018 36.4 42.5
2017 35.6 41.9
2016 34.7 41.4
2015 33.8 40.8
2014 33 40.2
2013 32.3 39.5
2012 31.5 38.8
2011 30.5 38.2
2010 29.6 37.6
2009 29.2 37
2008 28.8 36.4
2007 28.6 35.8
2006 28.5 35.2
2005 28.3 34.5
2004 27.9 33.9
2003 27.3 33.4
2002 26.8 32.8
2001 26.3 32.3
2000 25.9 31.7
1999 25.6 31.2
1998 25.5 30.7
1997 25.5 30.2
1996 25.5 29.8
1995 25.5 29.4
1994 25.1 28.9
1993 24.2 28.3
1992 23.8 27.8
1991 23.6 27.2
1990 23.4 26.7
1989 23.2 26.3
1988 23 25.8
1987 22.8 25.3
1986 22.7 24.8
1985 22.4 24.2
1984 22.1 23.7
1983 21.7 23.3
1982 21.3 22.8
1981 20.9 22.5
1980 20.5 22.1
1979 20.1 21.6
1978 19.6 21.1
1977 19.2 20.7
1976 18.7 20.2
1975 18.4 19.9
1974 18.4 19.6
1973 18.3 19.3
1972 18.3 19.1
1971 18.3 19
1970 18.5 18.9
1969 18.8 18.8
1968 19.2 18.7
1967 19.6 18.6
1966 20 18.5
1965 20.4 18.6
1964 20.7 18.8
1963 21 19
1962 21.5 19.1
1961 21.8 19.2
1960 22 19.3

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/south-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Kuwait and South Korea.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Kuwait South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$200B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
50.4%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.44%
2024
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
4.84%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
25,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+23.8%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.16%
2016
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
55.9%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
57.1%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
59.9
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires n/a
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
138
2024
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$141B
2024
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$50.7B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$20.4M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,161,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.11%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
74.5%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Kuwait South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9,130 kg
2022
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.03
2022
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
115.9 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
23.7 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
99.9%
2022
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
0.1%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.08%
2022
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-283.1%
2022
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
16,571 kWh
2022
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
0.27%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Kuwait South Korea
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+42,775
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
100%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
61.1:38.9
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.74 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.25 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
71
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
46
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
51
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.25
2020
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.4
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
110
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.5%
2020
98.8%
2018
English speaking
20%
2025
20%
2025
People using the Internet
99.7%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Kuwait South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,679
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$168
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
81 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.27
2020
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
8
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
8.8
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
44.4%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
25.6%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
16
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.9%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Kuwait South Korea
% of world land
0.01%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
1,405 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
579 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24.1 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,572 mi
2018
68,794 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  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.