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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,865,298 in 2025 vs 35,977,838 people in Malaysia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 4,981,316 people compared to 36,600,906 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 7.35 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 +2.64% per year vs +1.45% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 4.98M (110.7% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.6M (38.5% growth).

Kuwait vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait Malaysia
2100 9,334,340 44,342,183
2099 9,260,081 44,456,013
2098 9,186,463 44,568,480
2097 9,113,170 44,684,459
2096 9,040,141 44,803,334
2095 8,967,450 44,920,823
2094 8,895,114 45,035,868
2093 8,823,113 45,153,485
2092 8,751,505 45,267,003
2091 8,680,321 45,378,303
2090 8,609,595 45,489,767
2089 8,539,136 45,598,290
2088 8,469,109 45,706,098
2087 8,399,564 45,811,274
2086 8,330,533 45,914,874
2085 8,261,971 46,008,880
2084 8,193,896 46,099,604
2083 8,126,269 46,190,377
2082 8,059,106 46,272,999
2081 7,992,347 46,347,751
2080 7,926,024 46,423,514
2079 7,860,286 46,484,118
2078 7,795,005 46,537,169
2077 7,730,203 46,582,178
2076 7,665,903 46,607,029
2075 7,602,169 46,631,092
2074 7,538,993 46,646,324
2073 7,476,318 46,658,819
2072 7,414,183 46,658,396
2071 7,352,798 46,648,409
2070 7,292,103 46,633,600
2069 7,231,928 46,611,221
2068 7,172,407 46,588,049
2067 7,113,525 46,557,261
2066 7,055,300 46,518,384
2065 6,997,659 46,469,909
2064 6,940,617 46,405,405
2063 6,883,966 46,338,727
2062 6,827,893 46,260,178
2061 6,772,426 46,166,190
2060 6,717,567 46,064,001
2059 6,663,194 45,946,872
2058 6,609,283 45,825,593
2057 6,555,790 45,695,432
2056 6,502,807 45,554,612
2055 6,450,126 45,407,246
2054 6,397,735 45,241,331
2053 6,345,468 45,057,472
2052 6,293,294 44,862,361
2051 6,241,127 44,657,253
2050 6,188,892 44,434,221
2049 6,136,684 44,206,196
2048 6,084,369 43,963,591
2047 6,032,063 43,701,058
2046 5,979,700 43,427,087
2045 5,927,211 43,146,785
2044 5,874,608 42,855,667
2043 5,822,127 42,546,972
2042 5,769,628 42,229,093
2041 5,717,337 41,911,573
2040 5,665,332 41,587,509
2039 5,613,613 41,260,315
2038 5,562,201 40,918,517
2037 5,511,310 40,574,312
2036 5,460,951 40,223,758
2035 5,411,185 39,866,097
2034 5,362,082 39,505,672
2033 5,313,716 39,141,994
2032 5,266,162 38,762,420
2031 5,219,420 38,376,399
2030 5,173,547 37,985,824
2029 5,125,419 37,597,060
2028 5,073,776 37,198,261
2027 5,015,009 36,797,098
2026 4,945,732 36,393,693
2025 4,865,298 35,977,838
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 977,220 people (a 24.4% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% 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 24.2% to 6,188,892 people with a rank change from 127th to 119th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.4% to 44,434,221 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.33M 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 -0.65% 1.18%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Kuwait declined by 0.65%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.18%.

Live population counters

Kuwait Malaysia
Current population
4981316
36600906
Population rank 127/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.44%
One net population change
16.5 minutes
1.25 minutes
One birth every
10.7 minutes
1.2 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
2.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -88 +1,151
Annual growth/decline -31,965 +420,165
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +1.18%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 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 41,627 61,624 252,068 174,770
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 36.2% of the population change in Kuwait is from natural causes (a gain of 457,599 people) and 63.8% is from migration (a gain of 805,875 people). In Malaysia 60.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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