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Kuwait vs United Arab Emirates statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Kuwait has a population of 4.9M (ranked 127/197), compared with 11M in The United Arab Emirates (ranked 86/197). Kuwait's land area is 6,880 sq mi versus 27,421 sq mi for The United Arab Emirates (ranked 153rd vs. 117th).

By GDP, Kuwait ranks 59/197 ($160B) and The United Arab Emirates ranks 27/197 ($552B). By GDP per capita, Kuwait ranks 37/197 ($32,718), while The United Arab Emirates ranks 24/197 ($50,274).

Main facts and rankings

Kuwait UAE
Population
5100145
11686438
Population rank 127/197 84/197
GDP
$160B
2024
$552B
2024
GDP rank 59/197 27/197
GDP per capita
$32,718
2024
$50,274
2024
GDP per capita rank 37/197 24/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,444
2024
$79,229
2024
Government debt
$4.68B
2024
$193B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
2.92%
2024
34.9%
2024
Government debt per person
$956
2024
$17,568
2024
Government debt per person rank 143/185 36/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,828
2026
$40,522
2026
Land area 6,880 sq mi 27,421 sq mi
Population density
738 ppl/mi²
2026
424 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.52
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
35.8 years
2024
32.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
81 years
2026
83.4 years
2026

Kuwait and United Arab Emirates: Comparison Charts

Kuwait and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP
Kuwait

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP
Kuwait UAE
2024 $160,227,273,053 $552,324,846,835
2023 $165,384,407,116 $522,622,191,967
2022 $183,502,046,694 $511,403,403,676
2021 $148,350,671,489 $422,441,388,700
2020 $111,045,470,606 $357,161,878,829
2019 $140,856,394,861 $433,926,208,305
2018 $138,646,316,351 $440,560,108,918
2017 $120,687,539,806 $403,365,010,211
2016 $109,406,674,125 $381,717,086,453
2015 $114,585,555,689 $381,973,042,886
2014 $162,650,450,685 $424,935,874,745
2013 $174,168,116,535 $409,632,675,289
2012 $174,047,662,680 $392,793,464,942
2011 $154,039,231,246 $368,881,143,635
2010 $115,416,245,242 $307,736,419,333
2009 $105,968,691,905 $253,547,358,747
2008 $147,379,737,230 $315,474,615,739
2007 $114,634,043,362 $257,916,133,424
2006 $101,557,330,723 $222,116,541,865
2005 $80,798,630,137 $180,617,467,965
2004 $59,439,090,601 $147,824,370,320
2003 $47,874,582,232 $124,346,358,067
2002 $38,135,788,414 $109,816,201,498
2001 $34,889,559,870 $103,311,640,572
2000 $37,718,743,480 $104,337,372,362
1999 $30,122,365,849 $84,445,473,111
1998 $25,943,705,784 $75,674,336,283
1997 $30,350,190,704 $78,839,008,445
1996 $31,492,373,309 $73,571,233,996
1995 $27,186,980,647 $65,743,666,576
1994 $24,848,483,838 $59,305,093,980
1993 $23,941,391,391 $55,625,170,253
1992 $19,858,555,215 $54,239,171,888
1991 $11,009,993,703 $51,552,165,622
1990 $18,427,777,778 $50,701,443,748
1989 $24,313,855,653 $41,464,995,914
1988 $20,690,322,153 $36,275,674,203
1987 $22,368,704,134 $36,384,908,744
1986 $17,903,989,745 $33,943,612,095
1985 $21,445,970,614 $40,603,650,232
1984 $21,700,082,753 $41,807,954,236
1983 $20,871,081,080 $42,803,323,345
1982 $21,577,153,356 $46,622,718,605
1981 $25,058,020,338 $49,333,424,135
1980 $28,638,868,356 $43,599,160,050
1979 $24,749,063,922 $31,225,659,621
1978 $15,503,557,496 $23,775,764,225
1977 $14,137,406,741 $24,871,775,165
1976 $13,132,252,802 $19,213,158,779
1975 $12,022,811,621 $14,720,728,249
1974 $13,006,948,296 $11,651,505,689
1973 $5,408,804,607 $4,231,243,616
1972 $4,450,537,925 $1,415,086,929
1971 $3,880,392,195 $939,893,600
1970 $2,873,638,851 $685,986,701
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/facts/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Kuwait and United Arab Emirates economies compared

GDP per capita
Kuwait

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year GDP per capita
Kuwait UAE
2024 $32,718 $50,274
2023 $34,076 $49,851
2022 $39,982 $50,760
2021 $34,019 $44,119
2020 $25,236 $37,992
2019 $31,708 $45,939
2018 $32,068 $47,135
2017 $29,048 $43,734
2016 $27,324 $42,721
2015 $29,882 $44,910
2014 $44,369 $52,725
2013 $49,651 $53,247
2012 $52,155 $53,142
2011 $49,170 $51,922
2010 $39,212 $44,795
2009 $37,907 $37,803
2008 $55,585 $50,054
2007 $45,709 $45,855
2006 $42,947 $44,343
2005 $36,123 $38,719
2004 $27,552 $33,377
2003 $22,691 $29,660
2002 $18,513 $27,754
2001 $17,374 $27,745
2000 $19,296 $29,866
1999 $15,854 $25,856
1998 $14,067 $24,889
1997 $16,977 $27,983
1996 $18,201 $28,323
1995 $16,168 $27,003
1994 $14,930 $25,473
1993 $14,318 $25,033
1992 $12,146 $25,648
1991 $8,147 $25,691
1990 $10,938 $26,710
1989 $10,965 $23,167
1988 $9,692 $21,570
1987 $10,896 $23,113
1986 $9,077 $23,132
1985 $11,322 $29,468
1984 $11,919 $32,012
1983 $11,965 $34,650
1982 $12,979 $39,972
1981 $15,825 $44,854
1980 $19,032 $42,925
1979 $17,386 $34,238
1978 $11,567 $29,379
1977 $11,238 $35,020
1976 $11,141 $31,197
1975 $10,882 $27,117
1974 $12,527 $23,823
1973 $5,532 $9,696
1972 $4,836 $3,675
1971 $4,486 $2,805
1970 $3,552 $2,394
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/facts/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Kuwait vs. United Arab Emirates life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Kuwait

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Kuwait UAE
2026 81 83.4
2025 80.8 83.2
2024 80.6 83.1
2023 80.4 82.9
2022 78.8 80.5
2021 77.6 79.1
2020 78.2 81.9
2019 80 82.6
2018 79.9 82.4
2017 79.7 82.4
2016 79.5 82.2
2015 79.2 82.1
2014 78.9 82
2013 78.6 82
2012 78.2 81.9
2011 77.9 81.9
2010 77.5 81.9
2009 77.2 81.7
2008 76.9 81.6
2007 76.7 81.4
2006 76.6 81.2
2005 76.5 80.8
2004 76.4 80.3
2003 76.3 79.6
2002 76.2 78.7
2001 76 77.6
2000 75.9 76.3
1999 75.7 75
1998 75.6 73.7
1997 75.6 72.6
1996 75.6 71.8
1995 75.7 71.4
1994 75.7 71.2
1993 75.8 71.2
1992 75.7 71.2
1991 73.3 71.1
1990 72.9 71.1
1989 75 71
1988 74.6 70.8
1987 74.2 70.6
1986 73.8 70.4
1985 73.3 70.1
1984 72.9 69.8
1983 72.4 69.4
1982 71.9 69.1
1981 71.5 68.6
1980 71.1 68.2
1979 70.8 67.6
1978 70.5 67.1
1977 70.2 66.5
1976 69.9 65.8
1975 69.7 65.1
1974 69.4 64.4
1973 69.2 63.5
1972 68.9 62.7
1971 68.5 61.8
1970 68 60.8
1969 67.3 59.8
1968 66.6 58.7
1967 65.8 57.6
1966 64.9 56.6
1965 63.9 55.5
1964 63 54.5
1963 62 53.5
1962 61 52.5
1961 60 51.6
1960 58.9 50.7
1959 57.9 49.7
1958 56.9 48.8
1957 55.9 47.8
1956 54.9 46.9
1955 54 46
1954 53.1 45.2
1953 52.3 44.4
1952 51.4 43.6
1951 50.6 42.9
1950 49.7 42.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Kuwait and United Arab Emirates population clocks and comparison

Population
Kuwait

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Population
Kuwait UAE
2024 4,897,263 10,986,400
2023 4,853,420 10,483,751
2022 4,589,643 10,074,977
2021 4,360,865 9,575,152
2020 4,400,267 9,401,038
2019 4,442,316 9,445,785
2018 4,323,515 9,346,701
2017 4,154,812 9,223,225
2016 4,004,096 8,935,095
2015 3,834,574 8,505,237
2014 3,665,876 8,059,440
2013 3,507,844 7,693,031
2012 3,337,109 7,391,448
2011 3,132,814 7,104,538
2010 2,943,372 6,869,838
2009 2,795,484 6,707,058
2008 2,651,421 6,302,664
2007 2,507,887 5,624,635
2006 2,364,733 5,009,100
2005 2,236,788 4,664,790
2004 2,157,320 4,428,967
2003 2,109,881 4,192,457
2002 2,059,974 3,956,826
2001 2,008,121 3,723,590
2000 1,954,709 3,493,575
1999 1,900,030 3,266,009
1998 1,844,302 3,040,421
1997 1,787,683 2,817,410
1996 1,730,246 2,597,564
1995 1,681,513 2,434,662
1994 1,664,361 2,328,188
1993 1,672,151 2,222,093
1992 1,634,961 2,114,730
1991 1,351,399 2,006,626
1990 1,684,819 1,898,220
1989 2,217,468 1,789,851
1988 2,134,707 1,681,788
1987 2,052,994 1,574,244
1986 1,972,520 1,467,383
1985 1,894,242 1,377,911
1984 1,820,688 1,305,996
1983 1,744,295 1,235,305
1982 1,662,480 1,166,370
1981 1,583,426 1,099,855
1980 1,504,782 1,015,700
1979 1,423,514 912,010
1978 1,340,319 809,274
1977 1,258,023 710,209
1976 1,178,711 615,866
1975 1,104,863 542,856
1974 1,038,346 489,087
1973 977,654 436,399
1972 920,352 385,014
1971 865,076 335,027
1970 809,114 286,536
1969 749,452 239,660
1968 687,716 199,416
1967 628,089 179,700
1966 572,590 173,976
1965 521,174 167,103
1964 473,115 159,692
1963 427,694 152,211
1962 384,995 144,946
1961 345,945 137,989
1960 311,060 131,334

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Fertility rates in Kuwait and United Arab Emirates

Fertility rate
Kuwait

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Fertility rate
Kuwait UAE
2023 1.52 1.2
2022 1.55 1.15
2021 2.15 1.16
2020 2.03 1.29
2019 2.08 1.25
2018 2.12 1.29
2017 2.16 1.35
2016 2.06 1.37
2015 2.03 1.42
2014 2.06 1.48
2013 1.97 1.53
2012 1.99 1.53
2011 1.96 1.54
2010 2.04 1.57
2009 2.15 1.58
2008 2.27 1.52
2007 2.41 1.79
2006 2.59 1.96
2005 2.73 2.23
2004 2.76 2.38
2003 2.77 2.49
2002 2.8 2.54
2001 2.84 2.62
2000 2.89 2.73
1999 2.95 2.79
1998 3.04 2.77
1997 3.14 2.83
1996 3.22 3.06
1995 3.25 3.28
1994 3.27 3.76
1993 3.31 3.82
1992 3.35 4.09
1991 3.4 4.25
1990 3.49 4.51
1989 3.59 4.65
1988 3.7 4.77
1987 3.83 4.88
1986 4 5
1985 4.22 5.13
1984 4.45 5.3
1983 4.66 5.48
1982 4.85 5.66
1981 5.02 5.81
1980 5.18 5.95
1979 5.33 6.06
1978 5.52 6.15
1977 5.71 6.22
1976 5.9 6.29
1975 6.06 6.35
1974 6.23 6.41
1973 6.43 6.46
1972 6.64 6.5
1971 6.84 6.52
1970 7.03 6.52
1969 7.18 6.52
1968 7.28 6.53
1967 7.33 6.51
1966 7.34 6.5
1965 7.31 6.5
1964 7.29 6.49
1963 7.28 6.5
1962 7.25 6.49
1961 7.25 6.49
1960 7.22 6.5

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Kuwait and United Arab Emirates demographics compared

Median age
Kuwait

United Arab Emirates
1x
Year Median age, years
Kuwait UAE
2024 35.8 32.6
2023 35.5 32.2
2022 34.4 31.9
2021 35.8 31.9
2020 37.7 31.8
2019 37.1 31.8
2018 36.4 31.8
2017 35.6 31.8
2016 34.7 31.8
2015 33.8 31.8
2014 33 31.8
2013 32.3 31.7
2012 31.5 31.7
2011 30.5 31.7
2010 29.6 31.7
2009 29.2 31.6
2008 28.8 31.6
2007 28.6 31.6
2006 28.5 31.4
2005 28.3 30.9
2004 27.9 30.3
2003 27.3 29.6
2002 26.8 29.1
2001 26.3 28.6
2000 25.9 28.2
1999 25.6 28
1998 25.5 27.9
1997 25.5 27.9
1996 25.5 28.1
1995 25.5 28
1994 25.1 27.4
1993 24.2 26.8
1992 23.8 26.4
1991 23.6 26
1990 23.4 25.8
1989 23.2 25.8
1988 23 25.9
1987 22.8 26.1
1986 22.7 26.5
1985 22.4 26.6
1984 22.1 26.4
1983 21.7 26.4
1982 21.3 26.4
1981 20.9 26.4
1980 20.5 26.2
1979 20.1 25.8
1978 19.6 25.5
1977 19.2 25.4
1976 18.7 25.6
1975 18.4 25.4
1974 18.4 24.7
1973 18.3 24.1
1972 18.3 23.6
1971 18.3 23.2
1970 18.5 23
1969 18.8 23.1
1968 19.2 23.5
1967 19.6 23.3
1966 20 22.6
1965 20.4 22
1964 20.7 21.5
1963 21 21
1962 21.5 20.6
1961 21.8 20.1
1960 22 19.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Kuwait UAE
GNI, Atlas method
$200B
2024
$566B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
50.4%
2024
21.4%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
6.44%
2024
3.89%
2021
Military expenditure, % of GDP
4.84%
2024
5.64%
2014
Armed forces personnel
25,000
2020
63,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+23.8%
2024
+6.41%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.16%
2016
1.88%
2024
Services, % of GDP
55.9%
2024
54.9%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
57.1%
2024
44.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
59.9
2026
71.9
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
20.5%
2018
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
2.8%
2018
Number of millionaires n/a
339,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
3.89%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
6
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
138
2024
154
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$141B
2024
$1.05T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$50.7B
2024
$238B
2024
Personal remittances received
$20.4M
2024
$1.8B
2024
International tourist arrivals
2,161,000
2020
8,084,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.11%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
74.5%
2024
85.7%
2021

Energy

Kuwait UAE
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
9,130 kg
2022
8,336 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$6.03
2022
$9.01
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
115.9 megatons
2024
200.6 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
23.7 tons
2024
18.3 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
99.9%
2022
92.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0.1%
2021
1%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.08%
2022
7.24%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-283.1%
2022
-171.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
16,571 kWh
2022
14,688 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
0.27%
2021
4.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Nuclear share
0%
2021
13.3%
2022
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Kuwait UAE
% of world population
0.06%
2024
0.14%
2024
Annual migration change
+42,775
2025
+158,634
2025
Urban population
100%
2024
85.8%
2024
Male:Female ratio
61.1:38.9
2024
63.9:36.1
2024
Average male height
5.74 ft
2025
5.71 ft
2025
Average female height
5.25 ft
2025
5.27 ft
2025
Quality of life index
71
2026
84
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
46
2025
69
2025
Higher education index
51
2026
66
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.25
2020
0.75
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.4
2019
8.9
2019
Visa free countries
110
2025
181
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.5%
2020
98.8%
2024
English speaking
20%
2025
65%
2025
People using the Internet
99.7%
2023
100%
2024

Health

Kuwait UAE
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,679
2023
$2,402
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$168
2023
$232.1
2023
Life expectancy
81 years
2026
83.4 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.27
2020
2.99
2023
Maternal mortality per 100K births
8
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
8.8
2023
5
2023
Obesity rate
44.4%
2022
32.6%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
25.6%
2024
20.7%
2024
Air quality index
16
2026
11
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.9%
2022
9%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0 liters
2020
2.08 liters
2020

Territory

Kuwait UAE
% of world land
0.01%
2026
0.05%
2026
Land area per capita
1,405 sq mi
2024
2,496 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
579 sq mi
2026
1,512 sq mi
2026
Forest area
24.1 sq mi
2026
1,225 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,572 mi
2018
2,535 mi
2008

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. 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)

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