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Population in Kuwait compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,865,298 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 4,981,316 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 3.66 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +2.64% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 4.98M (110.7% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).

Kuwait vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait Netherlands
2100 9,334,340 17,329,352
2099 9,260,081 17,362,626
2098 9,186,463 17,395,665
2097 9,113,170 17,429,925
2096 9,040,141 17,465,162
2095 8,967,450 17,502,567
2094 8,895,114 17,540,959
2093 8,823,113 17,580,632
2092 8,751,505 17,619,384
2091 8,680,321 17,658,238
2090 8,609,595 17,700,204
2089 8,539,136 17,739,947
2088 8,469,109 17,779,324
2087 8,399,564 17,815,257
2086 8,330,533 17,854,371
2085 8,261,971 17,890,610
2084 8,193,896 17,926,885
2083 8,126,269 17,963,416
2082 8,059,106 17,998,527
2081 7,992,347 18,032,297
2080 7,926,024 18,062,716
2079 7,860,286 18,093,254
2078 7,795,005 18,121,649
2077 7,730,203 18,150,234
2076 7,665,903 18,175,683
2075 7,602,169 18,196,574
2074 7,538,993 18,214,405
2073 7,476,318 18,232,486
2072 7,414,183 18,249,136
2071 7,352,798 18,264,367
2070 7,292,103 18,279,781
2069 7,231,928 18,295,123
2068 7,172,407 18,310,300
2067 7,113,525 18,325,333
2066 7,055,300 18,343,435
2065 6,997,659 18,364,513
2064 6,940,617 18,386,352
2063 6,883,966 18,409,851
2062 6,827,893 18,433,299
2061 6,772,426 18,460,766
2060 6,717,567 18,488,598
2059 6,663,194 18,517,020
2058 6,609,283 18,545,884
2057 6,555,790 18,576,502
2056 6,502,807 18,606,997
2055 6,450,126 18,634,546
2054 6,397,735 18,660,585
2053 6,345,468 18,686,212
2052 6,293,294 18,709,643
2051 6,241,127 18,736,166
2050 6,188,892 18,757,302
2049 6,136,684 18,777,673
2048 6,084,369 18,795,411
2047 6,032,063 18,812,362
2046 5,979,700 18,823,628
2045 5,927,211 18,834,974
2044 5,874,608 18,844,772
2043 5,822,127 18,850,396
2042 5,769,628 18,853,495
2041 5,717,337 18,852,912
2040 5,665,332 18,847,238
2039 5,613,613 18,837,931
2038 5,562,201 18,823,220
2037 5,511,310 18,804,912
2036 5,460,951 18,779,656
2035 5,411,185 18,751,144
2034 5,362,082 18,718,013
2033 5,313,716 18,676,061
2032 5,266,162 18,630,094
2031 5,219,420 18,577,582
2030 5,173,547 18,517,866
2029 5,125,419 18,449,618
2028 5,073,776 18,372,676
2027 5,015,009 18,289,268
2026 4,945,732 18,196,186
2025 4,865,298 18,087,633
2024 4,897,263 17,993,485
2023 4,853,420 17,877,117
2022 4,589,643 17,700,982
2021 4,360,865 17,533,044
2020 4,400,267 17,441,500
2019 4,442,316 17,344,874
2018 4,323,515 17,231,624
2017 4,154,812 17,131,296
2016 4,004,096 17,030,314
2015 3,834,574 16,939,923
2014 3,665,876 16,865,008
2013 3,507,844 16,804,432
2012 3,337,109 16,754,962
2011 3,132,814 16,693,074
2010 2,943,372 16,615,394
2009 2,795,484 16,530,388
2008 2,651,421 16,445,593
2007 2,507,887 16,381,696
2006 2,364,733 16,346,101
2005 2,236,788 16,319,868
2004 2,157,320 16,281,779
2003 2,109,881 16,225,302
2002 2,059,974 16,148,929
2001 2,008,121 16,046,180
2000 1,954,709 15,925,513
1999 1,900,030 15,812,088
1998 1,844,302 15,707,209
1997 1,787,683 15,610,650
1996 1,730,246 15,530,498
1995 1,681,513 15,459,006
1994 1,664,361 15,382,838
1993 1,672,151 15,290,368
1992 1,634,961 15,184,166
1991 1,351,399 15,069,798
1990 1,684,819 14,951,510
1989 2,217,468 14,848,907
1988 2,134,707 14,760,094
1987 2,052,994 14,665,037
1986 1,972,520 14,572,278
1985 1,894,242 14,491,632
1984 1,820,688 14,424,211
1983 1,744,295 14,367,070
1982 1,662,480 14,312,690
1981 1,583,426 14,247,208
1980 1,504,782 14,149,800
1979 1,423,514 14,038,270
1978 1,340,319 13,941,700
1977 1,258,023 13,856,185
1976 1,178,711 13,774,037
1975 1,104,863 13,666,335
1974 1,038,346 13,545,056
1973 977,654 13,439,322
1972 920,352 13,328,593
1971 865,076 13,194,497
1970 809,114 13,038,526
1969 749,452 12,877,984
1968 687,716 12,729,721
1967 628,089 12,598,201
1966 572,590 12,456,251
1965 521,174 12,294,732
1964 473,115 12,127,120
1963 427,694 11,965,966
1962 384,995 11,805,689
1961 345,945 11,638,712
1960 311,060 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 977,220 people (a 24.4% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.33M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait Netherlands
2100 0.8% -0.19%
2099 0.8% -0.19%
2098 0.8% -0.2%
2097 0.81% -0.2%
2096 0.81% -0.21%
2095 0.81% -0.22%
2094 0.82% -0.23%
2093 0.82% -0.22%
2092 0.82% -0.22%
2091 0.82% -0.24%
2090 0.83% -0.22%
2089 0.83% -0.22%
2088 0.83% -0.2%
2087 0.83% -0.22%
2086 0.83% -0.2%
2085 0.83% -0.2%
2084 0.83% -0.2%
2083 0.83% -0.2%
2082 0.84% -0.19%
2081 0.84% -0.17%
2080 0.84% -0.17%
2079 0.84% -0.16%
2078 0.84% -0.16%
2077 0.84% -0.14%
2076 0.84% -0.11%
2075 0.84% -0.1%
2074 0.84% -0.1%
2073 0.84% -0.09%
2072 0.83% -0.08%
2071 0.83% -0.08%
2070 0.83% -0.08%
2069 0.83% -0.08%
2068 0.83% -0.08%
2067 0.83% -0.1%
2066 0.82% -0.11%
2065 0.82% -0.12%
2064 0.82% -0.13%
2063 0.82% -0.13%
2062 0.82% -0.15%
2061 0.82% -0.15%
2060 0.82% -0.15%
2059 0.82% -0.16%
2058 0.82% -0.16%
2057 0.81% -0.16%
2056 0.82% -0.15%
2055 0.82% -0.14%
2054 0.82% -0.14%
2053 0.83% -0.13%
2052 0.84% -0.14%
2051 0.84% -0.11%
2050 0.85% -0.11%
2049 0.86% -0.09%
2048 0.87% -0.09%
2047 0.88% -0.06%
2046 0.89% -0.06%
2045 0.9% -0.05%
2044 0.9% -0.03%
2043 0.91% -0.02%
2042 0.91% 0.003%
2041 0.92% 0.03%
2040 0.92% 0.05%
2039 0.92% 0.08%
2038 0.92% 0.1%
2037 0.92% 0.13%
2036 0.92% 0.15%
2035 0.92% 0.18%
2034 0.91% 0.22%
2033 0.9% 0.25%
2032 0.9% 0.28%
2031 0.89% 0.32%
2030 0.94% 0.37%
2029 1.02% 0.42%
2028 1.17% 0.46%
2027 1.4% 0.51%
2026 1.65% 0.6%
2025 -0.65% 0.52%
2024 0.9% 0.65%
2023 5.75% 1%
2022 5.25% 0.96%
2021 -0.9% 0.52%
2020 -0.95% 0.56%
2019 2.75% 0.66%
2018 4.06% 0.59%
2017 3.76% 0.59%
2016 4.42% 0.53%
2015 4.6% 0.44%
2014 4.51% 0.36%
2013 5.12% 0.3%
2012 6.52% 0.37%
2011 6.44% 0.47%
2010 5.29% 0.51%
2009 5.43% 0.52%
2008 5.72% 0.39%
2007 6.05% 0.22%
2006 5.72% 0.16%
2005 3.68% 0.23%
2004 2.25% 0.35%
2003 2.42% 0.47%
2002 2.58% 0.64%
2001 2.73% 0.76%
2000 2.88% 0.72%
1999 3.02% 0.67%
1998 3.17% 0.62%
1997 3.32% 0.52%
1996 2.9% 0.46%
1995 1.03% 0.5%
1994 -0.47% 0.6%
1993 2.27% 0.7%
1992 21% 0.76%
1991 -19.8% 0.79%
1990 -24% 0.69%
1989 3.88% 0.6%
1988 3.98% 0.65%
1987 4.08% 0.64%
1986 4.13% 0.56%
1985 4.04% 0.47%
1984 4.38% 0.4%
1983 4.92% 0.38%
1982 4.99% 0.46%
1981 5.23% 0.69%
1980 5.71% 0.79%
1979 6.21% 0.69%
1978 6.54% 0.62%
1977 6.73% 0.6%
1976 6.68% 0.79%
1975 6.41% 0.9%
1974 6.21% 0.79%
1973 6.23% 0.83%
1972 6.39% 1.02%
1971 6.92% 1.2%
1970 7.96% 1.25%
1969 8.98% 1.16%
1968 9.49% 1.04%
1967 9.69% 1.14%
1966 9.87% 1.31%
1965 10.2% 1.38%
1964 10.6% 1.35%
1963 11.1% 1.36%
1962 11.3% 1.43%
1961 11.2% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kuwait declined by 0.65%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.

Live population counters

Kuwait Netherlands
Current population
4981316
18243998
Population rank 127/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.22%
One net population change
16.5 minutes
5.6 minutes
One birth every
10.7 minutes
3.18 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
3.04 minutes
Daily growth/decline -88 +258
Annual growth/decline -31,965 +94,148
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +0.52%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 127/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change +42,775 +104,681
Net migration rank 24/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - 104,681
2024 41,627 61,624 -7,197 121,628
2023 42,568 50,008 -5,363 144,558
2022 41,752 368,560 -1,770 224,472
2021 42,057 19,678 7,014 106,416
2020 41,083 -168,379 0 67,598
2019 46,268 181 17,345 109,003
2018 47,222 145,973 15,508 87,197
2017 51,498 92,717 18,844 86,332
2016 51,397 105,818 23,843 88,743
2015 52,127 129,695 23,716 55,585
2014 54,673 100,891 35,417 36,591
2013 52,666 107,821 30,248 19,973
2012 53,181 127,777 35,186 14,861
2011 50,733 176,732 45,072 31,224
2010 49,838 101,566 48,184 33,703
2009 48,879 95,483 51,244 39,832
2008 47,505 96,268 49,337 32,406
2007 46,539 96,765 49,145 -304
2006 45,911 97,087 49,038 -25,401
2005 45,243 67,638 50,592 -22,496
2004 44,341 1,713 56,987 -9,230
2003 42,934 5,895 58,411 7,937
2002 41,651 9,335 59,751 28,824
2001 40,662 12,055 62,580 56,096
2000 39,811 14,296 66,887 59,308
1999 39,342 15,912 60,086 47,179
1998 39,324 16,878 61,258 52,058
1997 39,581 17,457 56,198 31,302
1996 39,920 17,914 51,251 21,792
1995 39,198 438 54,106 15,056
1994 36,533 -41,862 61,532 20,193
1993 33,239 -43,501 58,103 44,514
1992 32,016 52,620 66,811 50,148
1991 21,867 460,628 69,321 51,670
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 68,777 53,564
1989 49,390 34,643 59,396 31,165
1988 50,037 31,455 61,993 31,026
1987 50,690 31,243 64,526 39,559
1986 51,824 27,187 59,746 30,380
1985 51,772 25,777 55,069 27,356
1984 52,539 17,020 54,812 12,902
1983 51,460 31,758 51,722 11,007
1982 49,981 30,437 54,388 7,644
1981 48,098 29,600 62,688 17,643
1980 47,096 32,483 66,504 54,010
1979 45,569 37,383 63,172 42,772
1978 44,277 39,159 61,344 26,639
1977 42,922 38,225 63,739 19,809
1976 41,439 36,050 63,361 18,774
1975 39,295 30,909 64,232 68,569
1974 37,425 25,398 75,853 31,645
1973 35,741 22,830 84,668 18,705
1972 34,045 21,984 101,297 17,470
1971 32,339 22,182 116,112 32,756
1970 30,789 26,614 129,082 32,438
1969 28,774 33,143 139,082 21,850
1968 26,161 35,399 132,389 7,243
1967 23,520 34,177 138,580 -10,673
1966 20,914 32,383 138,265 20,740
1965 18,952 30,580 146,308 19,444
1964 17,064 29,537 157,653 15,014
1963 15,357 28,889 154,361 -21
1962 13,730 27,417 153,474 18,024
1961 12,327 24,618 159,450 8,258
1960 11,054 21,769 151,623 -13,235

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 people).

As of 2024, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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