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Population in Kuwait compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,865,298 in 2025 vs 5,324,700 people in New Zealand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 4,981,316 people compared to 5,380,024 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 1.08 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +2.64% per year vs +1.51% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 4.98M (110.7% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.38M (28.6% growth).

Kuwait vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait New Zealand
2100 9,334,340 5,915,768
2099 9,260,081 5,920,061
2098 9,186,463 5,924,133
2097 9,113,170 5,927,189
2096 9,040,141 5,929,831
2095 8,967,450 5,931,770
2094 8,895,114 5,933,105
2093 8,823,113 5,935,725
2092 8,751,505 5,936,005
2091 8,680,321 5,937,584
2090 8,609,595 5,938,671
2089 8,539,136 5,941,788
2088 8,469,109 5,942,552
2087 8,399,564 5,945,502
2086 8,330,533 5,948,659
2085 8,261,971 5,952,187
2084 8,193,896 5,956,025
2083 8,126,269 5,960,521
2082 8,059,106 5,963,849
2081 7,992,347 5,965,417
2080 7,926,024 5,967,986
2079 7,860,286 5,969,234
2078 7,795,005 5,969,831
2077 7,730,203 5,968,708
2076 7,665,903 5,968,290
2075 7,602,169 5,967,889
2074 7,538,993 5,966,738
2073 7,476,318 5,965,412
2072 7,414,183 5,961,455
2071 7,352,798 5,961,400
2070 7,292,103 5,960,718
2069 7,231,928 5,959,460
2068 7,172,407 5,957,827
2067 7,113,525 5,955,348
2066 7,055,300 5,951,452
2065 6,997,659 5,947,293
2064 6,940,617 5,943,767
2063 6,883,966 5,941,828
2062 6,827,893 5,937,757
2061 6,772,426 5,936,521
2060 6,717,567 5,933,016
2059 6,663,194 5,928,350
2058 6,609,283 5,922,743
2057 6,555,790 5,916,754
2056 6,502,807 5,910,221
2055 6,450,126 5,901,290
2054 6,397,735 5,891,739
2053 6,345,468 5,881,824
2052 6,293,294 5,873,115
2051 6,241,127 5,861,135
2050 6,188,892 5,849,861
2049 6,136,684 5,841,135
2048 6,084,369 5,830,154
2047 6,032,063 5,819,016
2046 5,979,700 5,806,848
2045 5,927,211 5,792,780
2044 5,874,608 5,777,886
2043 5,822,127 5,761,590
2042 5,769,628 5,743,549
2041 5,717,337 5,724,283
2040 5,665,332 5,705,914
2039 5,613,613 5,687,068
2038 5,562,201 5,667,019
2037 5,511,310 5,647,323
2036 5,460,951 5,627,207
2035 5,411,185 5,606,247
2034 5,362,082 5,585,417
2033 5,313,716 5,562,621
2032 5,266,162 5,539,615
2031 5,219,420 5,514,530
2030 5,173,547 5,488,472
2029 5,125,419 5,460,094
2028 5,073,776 5,429,936
2027 5,015,009 5,397,099
2026 4,945,732 5,361,990
2025 4,865,298 5,324,700
2024 4,897,263 5,290,000
2023 4,853,420 5,200,000
2022 4,589,643 5,081,700
2021 4,360,865 5,084,600
2020 4,400,267 5,072,400
2019 4,442,316 4,970,300
2018 4,323,515 4,900,600
2017 4,154,812 4,813,600
2016 4,004,096 4,714,100
2015 3,834,574 4,609,400
2014 3,665,876 4,516,500
2013 3,507,844 4,442,100
2012 3,337,109 4,408,100
2011 3,132,814 4,384,000
2010 2,943,372 4,350,700
2009 2,795,484 4,302,600
2008 2,651,421 4,259,800
2007 2,507,887 4,223,800
2006 2,364,733 4,184,600
2005 2,236,788 4,133,900
2004 2,157,320 4,087,500
2003 2,109,881 4,027,200
2002 2,059,974 3,948,500
2001 2,008,121 3,880,500
2000 1,954,709 3,857,700
1999 1,900,030 3,835,100
1998 1,844,302 3,815,000
1997 1,787,683 3,781,300
1996 1,730,246 3,732,000
1995 1,681,513 3,673,400
1994 1,664,361 3,620,000
1993 1,672,151 3,572,200
1992 1,634,961 3,531,700
1991 1,351,399 3,495,100
1990 1,684,819 3,329,800
1989 2,217,468 3,299,200
1988 2,134,707 3,283,400
1987 2,052,994 3,274,400
1986 1,972,520 3,246,300
1985 1,894,242 3,247,100
1984 1,820,688 3,227,100
1983 1,744,295 3,199,300
1982 1,662,480 3,156,100
1981 1,583,426 3,124,900
1980 1,504,782 3,112,900
1979 1,423,514 3,109,000
1978 1,340,319 3,121,200
1977 1,258,023 3,120,200
1976 1,178,711 3,110,500
1975 1,104,863 3,083,100
1974 1,038,346 3,023,700
1973 977,654 2,961,300
1972 920,352 2,903,900
1971 865,076 2,853,000
1970 809,114 2,810,700
1969 749,452 2,772,800
1968 687,716 2,748,100
1967 628,089 2,724,100
1966 572,590 2,675,900
1965 521,174 2,628,400
1964 473,115 2,585,400
1963 427,694 2,531,800
1962 384,995 2,482,000
1961 345,945 2,419,700
1960 311,060 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 977,220 people (a 24.4% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.73% to 5,849,861 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.33M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait New Zealand
2100 0.8% -0.07%
2099 0.8% -0.07%
2098 0.8% -0.05%
2097 0.81% -0.04%
2096 0.81% -0.03%
2095 0.81% -0.02%
2094 0.82% -0.04%
2093 0.82% -0.005%
2092 0.82% -0.03%
2091 0.82% -0.02%
2090 0.83% -0.05%
2089 0.83% -0.01%
2088 0.83% -0.05%
2087 0.83% -0.05%
2086 0.83% -0.06%
2085 0.83% -0.06%
2084 0.83% -0.08%
2083 0.83% -0.06%
2082 0.84% -0.03%
2081 0.84% -0.04%
2080 0.84% -0.02%
2079 0.84% -0.01%
2078 0.84% 0.02%
2077 0.84% 0.007%
2076 0.84% 0.007%
2075 0.84% 0.02%
2074 0.84% 0.02%
2073 0.84% 0.07%
2072 0.83% 0.001%
2071 0.83% 0.01%
2070 0.83% 0.02%
2069 0.83% 0.03%
2068 0.83% 0.04%
2067 0.83% 0.07%
2066 0.82% 0.07%
2065 0.82% 0.06%
2064 0.82% 0.03%
2063 0.82% 0.07%
2062 0.82% 0.02%
2061 0.82% 0.06%
2060 0.82% 0.08%
2059 0.82% 0.09%
2058 0.82% 0.1%
2057 0.81% 0.11%
2056 0.82% 0.15%
2055 0.82% 0.16%
2054 0.82% 0.17%
2053 0.83% 0.15%
2052 0.84% 0.2%
2051 0.84% 0.19%
2050 0.85% 0.15%
2049 0.86% 0.19%
2048 0.87% 0.19%
2047 0.88% 0.21%
2046 0.89% 0.24%
2045 0.9% 0.26%
2044 0.9% 0.28%
2043 0.91% 0.31%
2042 0.91% 0.34%
2041 0.92% 0.32%
2040 0.92% 0.33%
2039 0.92% 0.35%
2038 0.92% 0.35%
2037 0.92% 0.36%
2036 0.92% 0.37%
2035 0.92% 0.37%
2034 0.91% 0.41%
2033 0.9% 0.42%
2032 0.9% 0.45%
2031 0.89% 0.47%
2030 0.94% 0.52%
2029 1.02% 0.56%
2028 1.17% 0.61%
2027 1.4% 0.65%
2026 1.65% 0.7%
2025 -0.65% 0.66%
2024 0.9% 1.73%
2023 5.75% 2.33%
2022 5.25% -0.06%
2021 -0.9% 0.24%
2020 -0.95% 2.05%
2019 2.75% 1.42%
2018 4.06% 1.81%
2017 3.76% 2.11%
2016 4.42% 2.27%
2015 4.6% 2.06%
2014 4.51% 1.67%
2013 5.12% 0.77%
2012 6.52% 0.55%
2011 6.44% 0.77%
2010 5.29% 1.12%
2009 5.43% 1%
2008 5.72% 0.85%
2007 6.05% 0.94%
2006 5.72% 1.23%
2005 3.68% 1.14%
2004 2.25% 1.5%
2003 2.42% 1.99%
2002 2.58% 1.75%
2001 2.73% 0.59%
2000 2.88% 0.59%
1999 3.02% 0.53%
1998 3.17% 0.89%
1997 3.32% 1.32%
1996 2.9% 1.6%
1995 1.03% 1.48%
1994 -0.47% 1.34%
1993 2.27% 1.15%
1992 21% 1.05%
1991 -19.8% 4.96%
1990 -24% 0.93%
1989 3.88% 0.48%
1988 3.98% 0.27%
1987 4.08% 0.87%
1986 4.13% -0.02%
1985 4.04% 0.62%
1984 4.38% 0.87%
1983 4.92% 1.37%
1982 4.99% 1%
1981 5.23% 0.39%
1980 5.71% 0.13%
1979 6.21% -0.39%
1978 6.54% 0.03%
1977 6.73% 0.31%
1976 6.68% 0.89%
1975 6.41% 1.96%
1974 6.21% 2.11%
1973 6.23% 1.98%
1972 6.39% 1.78%
1971 6.92% 1.5%
1970 7.96% 1.37%
1969 8.98% 0.9%
1968 9.49% 0.88%
1967 9.69% 1.8%
1966 9.87% 1.81%
1965 10.2% 1.66%
1964 10.6% 2.12%
1963 11.1% 2.01%
1962 11.3% 2.57%
1961 11.2% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kuwait declined by 0.65%, while New Zealand's population grew by 0.66%.

Live population counters

Kuwait New Zealand
Current population
4981316
5380024
Population rank 127/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.06%
One net population change
16.5 minutes
15.2 minutes
One birth every
10.7 minutes
9.01 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
13.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -88 +95
Annual growth/decline -31,965 +34,700
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +0.66%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 118/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change +42,775 +17,403
Net migration rank 24/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - 17,403
2024 41,627 61,624 20,631 18,766
2023 42,568 50,008 19,031 21,404
2022 41,752 368,560 20,276 21,404
2021 42,057 19,678 23,745 -14,944
2020 41,083 -168,379 25,007 42,124
2019 46,268 181 25,349 69,770
2018 47,222 145,973 24,797 59,139
2017 51,498 92,717 26,282 68,349
2016 51,397 105,818 28,237 75,512
2015 52,127 129,695 29,408 70,870
2014 54,673 100,891 26,196 57,974
2013 52,666 107,821 29,096 26,385
2012 53,181 127,777 31,077 -1,015
2011 50,733 176,732 31,302 -2,196
2010 49,838 101,566 35,458 6,722
2009 48,879 95,483 33,560 12,700
2008 47,505 96,268 35,143 4,804
2007 46,539 96,765 35,480 3,053
2006 45,911 97,087 30,924 14,542
2005 45,243 67,638 30,674 19,212
2004 44,341 1,713 29,634 24,521
2003 42,934 5,895 28,150 42,456
2002 41,651 9,335 25,941 48,195
2001 40,662 12,055 27,939 17,793
2000 39,811 14,296 29,897 -6,604
1999 39,342 15,912 28,916 -7,634
1998 39,324 16,878 29,146 -1,387
1997 39,581 17,457 30,137 12,040
1996 39,920 17,914 28,997 25,169
1995 39,198 438 29,828 26,743
1994 36,533 -41,862 30,372 20,420
1993 33,239 -43,501 31,685 12,638
1992 32,016 52,620 32,067 6,460
1991 21,867 460,628 33,518 31,156
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 33,298 70,432
1989 49,390 34,643 30,749 -8,818
1988 50,037 31,455 29,846 -17,005
1987 50,690 31,243 27,603 -7,631
1986 51,824 27,187 25,549 -10,234
1985 51,772 25,777 24,126 -13,462
1984 52,539 17,020 26,043 -901
1983 51,460 31,758 24,315 11,464
1982 49,981 30,437 24,207 7,982
1981 48,098 29,600 25,374 -7,606
1980 47,096 32,483 23,658 -15,423
1979 45,569 37,383 26,675 -26,694
1978 44,277 39,159 26,156 -28,783
1977 42,922 38,225 28,020 -22,697
1976 41,439 36,050 29,456 -9,138
1975 39,295 30,909 31,355 13,196
1974 37,425 25,398 33,896 27,580
1973 35,741 22,830 35,239 28,261
1972 34,045 21,984 38,244 17,779
1971 32,339 22,182 40,000 7,547
1970 30,789 26,614 37,101 4,511
1969 28,774 33,143 38,098 -5,212
1968 26,161 35,399 37,594 -11,853
1967 23,520 34,177 37,974 -2,289
1966 20,914 32,383 36,151 9,161
1965 18,952 30,580 36,982 9,245
1964 17,064 29,537 39,375 9,806
1963 15,357 28,889 42,027 10,226
1962 13,730 27,417 42,865 12,697
1961 12,327 24,618 43,482 10,689
1960 11,054 21,769 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 36% is from natural causes (a gain of 242,763 people) and 64% is from migration (a gain of 432,394 people).

As of 2024, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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