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Population in Kuwait compared to Malaysia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,897,263 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 5,100,145 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 7.16 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 5.1M (115.7% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Kuwait vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait Malaysia
2100 9,589,440 44,353,615
2099 9,513,152 44,467,475
2098 9,437,521 44,579,971
2097 9,362,225 44,695,979
2096 9,287,200 44,814,885
2095 9,212,523 44,932,404
2094 9,138,210 45,047,479
2093 9,064,241 45,165,126
2092 8,990,676 45,278,674
2091 8,917,547 45,390,002
2090 8,844,888 45,501,495
2089 8,772,503 45,610,046
2088 8,700,563 45,717,882
2087 8,629,117 45,823,085
2086 8,558,199 45,926,712
2085 8,487,764 46,020,742
2084 8,417,828 46,111,490
2083 8,348,353 46,202,286
2082 8,279,354 46,284,929
2081 8,210,772 46,359,700
2080 8,142,636 46,435,482
2079 8,075,101 46,496,102
2078 8,008,036 46,549,167
2077 7,941,463 46,594,188
2076 7,875,406 46,619,045
2075 7,809,930 46,643,115
2074 7,745,028 46,658,350
2073 7,680,639 46,670,848
2072 7,616,806 46,670,426
2071 7,553,744 46,660,436
2070 7,491,390 46,645,623
2069 7,429,571 46,623,238
2068 7,368,423 46,600,060
2067 7,307,932 46,569,264
2066 7,248,116 46,530,377
2065 7,188,899 46,481,890
2064 7,130,298 46,417,369
2063 7,072,099 46,350,674
2062 7,014,494 46,272,105
2061 6,957,511 46,178,092
2060 6,901,153 46,075,877
2059 6,845,293 45,958,718
2058 6,789,909 45,837,407
2057 6,734,955 45,707,213
2056 6,680,523 45,566,357
2055 6,626,403 45,418,953
2054 6,572,580 45,252,995
2053 6,518,885 45,069,089
2052 6,465,284 44,873,927
2051 6,411,692 44,668,767
2050 6,358,029 44,445,677
2049 6,304,394 44,217,593
2048 6,250,650 43,974,925
2047 6,196,914 43,712,325
2046 6,143,120 43,438,283
2045 6,089,197 43,157,909
2044 6,035,156 42,866,716
2043 5,981,241 42,557,941
2042 5,927,307 42,239,980
2041 5,873,587 41,922,379
2040 5,820,161 41,598,231
2039 5,767,029 41,270,953
2038 5,714,211 40,929,067
2037 5,661,929 40,584,773
2036 5,610,194 40,234,128
2035 5,559,069 39,876,375
2034 5,508,623 39,515,857
2033 5,458,935 39,152,086
2032 5,410,081 38,772,414
2031 5,362,063 38,386,293
2030 5,314,935 37,995,617
2029 5,265,492 37,606,753
2028 5,212,438 37,207,852
2027 5,152,065 36,806,585
2026 5,080,894 36,403,076
2025 4,998,262 35,987,113
2024 4,897,263 35,557,673
2023 4,853,420 35,126,298
2022 4,589,643 34,695,493
2021 4,360,865 34,282,399
2020 4,400,267 33,889,558
2019 4,442,316 33,440,596
2018 4,323,515 32,910,967
2017 4,154,812 32,355,644
2016 4,004,096 31,789,685
2015 3,834,574 31,232,798
2014 3,665,876 30,696,137
2013 3,507,844 30,174,265
2012 3,337,109 29,662,831
2011 3,132,814 29,162,039
2010 2,943,372 28,655,776
2009 2,795,484 28,124,778
2008 2,651,421 27,570,059
2007 2,507,887 26,998,389
2006 2,364,733 26,417,909
2005 2,236,788 25,836,071
2004 2,157,320 25,256,772
2003 2,109,881 24,679,602
2002 2,059,974 24,102,477
2001 2,008,121 23,526,538
2000 1,954,709 22,967,816
1999 1,900,030 22,435,531
1998 1,844,302 21,906,713
1997 1,787,683 21,375,218
1996 1,730,246 20,850,087
1995 1,681,513 20,330,599
1994 1,664,361 19,820,446
1993 1,672,151 19,322,664
1992 1,634,961 18,834,572
1991 1,351,399 18,342,464
1990 1,684,819 17,833,171
1989 2,217,468 17,314,997
1988 2,134,707 16,796,605
1987 2,052,994 16,276,737
1986 1,972,520 15,760,419
1985 1,894,242 15,252,258
1984 1,820,688 14,759,009
1983 1,744,295 14,285,907
1982 1,662,480 13,832,798
1981 1,583,426 13,399,203
1980 1,504,782 12,983,363
1979 1,423,514 12,627,862
1978 1,340,319 12,328,157
1977 1,258,023 12,035,713
1976 1,178,711 11,750,097
1975 1,104,863 11,471,914
1974 1,038,346 11,200,906
1973 977,654 10,935,621
1972 920,352 10,676,835
1971 865,076 10,423,453
1970 809,114 10,178,802
1969 749,452 9,947,597
1968 687,716 9,725,281
1967 628,089 9,507,099
1966 572,590 9,284,688
1965 521,174 9,056,408
1964 473,115 8,828,406
1963 427,694 8,602,160
1962 384,995 8,380,172
1961 345,945 8,164,443
1960 311,060 7,956,197

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Kuwait's population will grow by 24.7% to 6,358,029 people with a rank change from 127th to 117th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.59M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait Malaysia
2100 0.8% -0.26%
2099 0.8% -0.25%
2098 0.8% -0.26%
2097 0.81% -0.27%
2096 0.81% -0.26%
2095 0.81% -0.26%
2094 0.82% -0.26%
2093 0.82% -0.25%
2092 0.82% -0.25%
2091 0.82% -0.25%
2090 0.83% -0.24%
2089 0.83% -0.24%
2088 0.83% -0.23%
2087 0.83% -0.23%
2086 0.83% -0.2%
2085 0.83% -0.2%
2084 0.83% -0.2%
2083 0.83% -0.18%
2082 0.84% -0.16%
2081 0.84% -0.16%
2080 0.84% -0.13%
2079 0.84% -0.11%
2078 0.84% -0.1%
2077 0.84% -0.05%
2076 0.84% -0.05%
2075 0.84% -0.03%
2074 0.84% -0.03%
2073 0.84% 0.001%
2072 0.83% 0.02%
2071 0.83% 0.03%
2070 0.83% 0.05%
2069 0.83% 0.05%
2068 0.83% 0.07%
2067 0.83% 0.08%
2066 0.82% 0.1%
2065 0.82% 0.14%
2064 0.82% 0.14%
2063 0.82% 0.17%
2062 0.82% 0.2%
2061 0.82% 0.22%
2060 0.82% 0.25%
2059 0.82% 0.26%
2058 0.82% 0.28%
2057 0.81% 0.31%
2056 0.82% 0.32%
2055 0.82% 0.37%
2054 0.82% 0.41%
2053 0.83% 0.43%
2052 0.84% 0.46%
2051 0.84% 0.5%
2050 0.85% 0.52%
2049 0.86% 0.55%
2048 0.87% 0.6%
2047 0.88% 0.63%
2046 0.89% 0.65%
2045 0.9% 0.68%
2044 0.9% 0.73%
2043 0.91% 0.75%
2042 0.91% 0.76%
2041 0.92% 0.78%
2040 0.92% 0.79%
2039 0.92% 0.84%
2038 0.92% 0.85%
2037 0.92% 0.87%
2036 0.92% 0.9%
2035 0.92% 0.91%
2034 0.91% 0.93%
2033 0.9% 0.98%
2032 0.9% 1.01%
2031 0.89% 1.03%
2030 0.94% 1.03%
2029 1.02% 1.07%
2028 1.17% 1.09%
2027 1.4% 1.11%
2026 1.65% 1.16%
2025 2.06% 1.21%
2024 0.9% 1.23%
2023 5.75% 1.24%
2022 5.25% 1.2%
2021 -0.9% 1.16%
2020 -0.95% 1.34%
2019 2.75% 1.61%
2018 4.06% 1.72%
2017 3.76% 1.78%
2016 4.42% 1.78%
2015 4.6% 1.75%
2014 4.51% 1.73%
2013 5.12% 1.72%
2012 6.52% 1.72%
2011 6.44% 1.77%
2010 5.29% 1.89%
2009 5.43% 2.01%
2008 5.72% 2.12%
2007 6.05% 2.2%
2006 5.72% 2.25%
2005 3.68% 2.29%
2004 2.25% 2.34%
2003 2.42% 2.39%
2002 2.58% 2.45%
2001 2.73% 2.43%
2000 2.88% 2.37%
1999 3.02% 2.41%
1998 3.17% 2.49%
1997 3.32% 2.52%
1996 2.9% 2.56%
1995 1.03% 2.57%
1994 -0.47% 2.58%
1993 2.27% 2.59%
1992 21% 2.68%
1991 -19.8% 2.86%
1990 -24% 2.99%
1989 3.88% 3.09%
1988 3.98% 3.19%
1987 4.08% 3.28%
1986 4.13% 3.33%
1985 4.04% 3.34%
1984 4.38% 3.31%
1983 4.92% 3.28%
1982 4.99% 3.24%
1981 5.23% 3.2%
1980 5.71% 2.82%
1979 6.21% 2.43%
1978 6.54% 2.43%
1977 6.73% 2.43%
1976 6.68% 2.42%
1975 6.41% 2.42%
1974 6.21% 2.43%
1973 6.23% 2.42%
1972 6.39% 2.43%
1971 6.92% 2.4%
1970 7.96% 2.32%
1969 8.98% 2.29%
1968 9.49% 2.29%
1967 9.69% 2.4%
1966 9.87% 2.52%
1965 10.2% 2.58%
1964 10.6% 2.63%
1963 11.1% 2.65%
1962 11.3% 2.64%
1961 11.2% 2.62%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kuwait grew by 0.9%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Kuwait Malaysia
Current population
5100145
36512221
Population rank 127/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.44%
One net population change
12 minutes
1.22 minutes
One birth every
10.5 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +120 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +43,843 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +0.9% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 106/197 89/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change +42,775 +166,615
Net migration rank 24/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - 166,615
2024 - 61,624 - 174,770
2023 42,568 50,008 254,806 181,071
2022 41,752 368,560 237,560 188,154
2021 42,057 19,678 212,002 188,506
2020 41,083 -168,379 283,282 101,907
2019 46,268 181 309,426 203,284
2018 47,222 145,973 324,568 221,965
2017 51,498 92,717 336,434 227,677
2016 51,397 105,818 345,681 222,141
2015 52,127 129,695 358,302 187,663
2014 54,673 100,891 367,587 159,791
2013 52,666 107,821 366,738 149,637
2012 53,181 127,777 371,497 134,975
2011 50,733 176,732 372,836 122,269
2010 49,838 101,566 360,260 157,164
2009 48,879 95,483 366,157 178,410
2008 47,505 96,268 362,380 202,481
2007 46,539 96,765 348,711 229,784
2006 45,911 97,087 349,509 232,971
2005 45,243 67,638 355,324 225,864
2004 44,341 1,713 365,138 212,278
2003 42,934 5,895 377,425 199,510
2002 41,651 9,335 381,084 196,227
2001 40,662 12,055 400,939 173,613
2000 39,811 14,296 417,371 125,499
1999 39,342 15,912 432,355 89,335
1998 39,324 16,878 436,316 99,639
1997 39,581 17,457 447,768 79,266
1996 39,920 17,914 450,174 73,040
1995 39,198 438 443,349 72,393
1994 36,533 -41,862 437,873 66,685
1993 33,239 -43,501 429,910 61,079
1992 32,016 52,620 418,900 66,286
1991 21,867 460,628 401,938 97,111
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 384,518 135,020
1989 49,390 34,643 373,277 143,544
1988 50,037 31,455 386,507 133,478
1987 50,690 31,243 381,999 137,759
1986 51,824 27,187 385,799 127,081
1985 51,772 25,777 383,243 120,215
1984 52,539 17,020 376,797 106,248
1983 51,460 31,758 365,290 97,862
1982 49,981 30,437 353,138 89,942
1981 48,098 29,600 339,991 84,142
1980 47,096 32,483 326,947 80,617
1979 45,569 37,383 317,439 -13,980
1978 44,277 39,159 311,027 -15,059
1977 42,922 38,225 305,515 -16,601
1976 41,439 36,050 300,615 -18,316
1975 39,295 30,909 294,541 -20,480
1974 37,425 25,398 289,880 -21,919
1973 35,741 22,830 284,611 -21,995
1972 34,045 21,984 276,263 -21,305
1971 32,339 22,182 272,323 -20,535
1970 30,789 26,614 269,341 -31,839
1969 28,774 33,143 264,327 -39,420
1968 26,161 35,399 260,705 -40,996
1967 23,520 34,177 258,764 -42,108
1966 20,914 32,383 262,162 -33,993
1965 18,952 30,580 264,836 -36,456
1964 17,064 29,537 266,406 -38,785
1963 15,357 28,889 265,815 -40,952
1962 13,730 27,417 262,140 -43,033
1961 12,327 24,618 257,270 -44,916
1960 11,054 21,769 251,090 -46,948

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/malaysia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 35.8% of the population change in Kuwait is from natural causes (a gain of 470,645 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 845,142 people). In Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/malaysia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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