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Population in Kuwait compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,897,263 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 5,100,145 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 7.2 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 5.1M (115.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait Saudi Arabia
2100 9,589,440 74,230,118
2099 9,513,152 73,760,045
2098 9,437,521 73,287,526
2097 9,362,225 72,813,125
2096 9,287,200 72,336,039
2095 9,212,523 71,858,206
2094 9,138,210 71,379,928
2093 9,064,241 70,900,460
2092 8,990,676 70,420,464
2091 8,917,547 69,940,749
2090 8,844,888 69,462,214
2089 8,772,503 68,985,976
2088 8,700,563 68,510,277
2087 8,629,117 68,035,545
2086 8,558,199 67,562,521
2085 8,487,764 67,091,615
2084 8,417,828 66,621,667
2083 8,348,353 66,152,653
2082 8,279,354 65,684,321
2081 8,210,772 65,216,102
2080 8,142,636 64,749,128
2079 8,075,101 64,282,393
2078 8,008,036 63,815,918
2077 7,941,463 63,348,712
2076 7,875,406 62,880,120
2075 7,809,930 62,409,793
2074 7,745,028 61,937,628
2073 7,680,639 61,462,662
2072 7,616,806 60,984,202
2071 7,553,744 60,502,791
2070 7,491,390 60,018,216
2069 7,429,571 59,529,456
2068 7,368,423 59,036,086
2067 7,307,932 58,539,487
2066 7,248,116 58,039,687
2065 7,188,899 57,537,106
2064 7,130,298 57,032,172
2063 7,072,099 56,524,331
2062 7,014,494 56,014,549
2061 6,957,511 55,501,467
2060 6,901,153 54,986,901
2059 6,845,293 54,469,809
2058 6,789,909 53,950,469
2057 6,734,955 53,430,639
2056 6,680,523 52,909,061
2055 6,626,403 52,386,571
2054 6,572,580 51,862,312
2053 6,518,885 51,336,335
2052 6,465,284 50,809,100
2051 6,411,692 50,280,719
2050 6,358,029 49,751,739
2049 6,304,394 49,221,828
2048 6,250,650 48,690,143
2047 6,196,914 48,157,605
2046 6,143,120 47,623,246
2045 6,089,197 47,087,215
2044 6,035,156 46,550,306
2043 5,981,241 46,013,232
2042 5,927,307 45,475,200
2041 5,873,587 44,936,131
2040 5,820,161 44,396,093
2039 5,767,029 43,856,006
2038 5,714,211 43,314,707
2037 5,661,929 42,773,375
2036 5,610,194 42,231,639
2035 5,559,069 41,690,245
2034 5,508,623 41,150,029
2033 5,458,935 40,611,021
2032 5,410,081 40,073,144
2031 5,362,063 39,535,357
2030 5,314,935 38,998,581
2029 5,265,492 38,417,447
2028 5,212,438 37,810,902
2027 5,152,065 37,189,969
2026 5,080,894 36,566,201
2025 4,998,262 35,932,673
2024 4,897,263 35,300,280
2023 4,853,420 33,702,731
2022 4,589,643 32,175,224
2021 4,360,865 30,784,383
2020 4,400,267 31,552,510
2019 4,442,316 30,063,799
2018 4,323,515 30,196,281
2017 4,154,812 30,977,355
2016 4,004,096 30,954,198
2015 3,834,574 29,816,382
2014 3,665,876 28,309,273
2013 3,507,844 27,624,004
2012 3,337,109 26,168,861
2011 3,132,814 25,091,867
2010 2,943,372 23,978,487
2009 2,795,484 24,217,654
2008 2,651,421 23,287,877
2007 2,507,887 22,368,313
2006 2,364,733 21,459,144
2005 2,236,788 20,559,890
2004 2,157,320 19,669,480
2003 2,109,881 18,786,767
2002 2,059,974 17,910,910
2001 2,008,121 17,041,397
2000 1,954,709 16,177,722
1999 1,900,030 15,472,075
1998 1,844,302 14,922,185
1997 1,787,683 14,374,943
1996 1,730,246 13,831,009
1995 1,681,513 13,289,245
1994 1,664,361 12,750,040
1993 1,672,151 12,215,862
1992 1,634,961 11,686,676
1991 1,351,399 11,160,744
1990 1,684,819 10,640,691
1989 2,217,468 10,128,394
1988 2,134,707 9,629,165
1987 2,052,994 9,130,194
1986 1,972,520 8,628,639
1985 1,894,242 8,151,779
1984 1,820,688 7,697,307
1983 1,744,295 7,252,941
1982 1,662,480 6,824,486
1981 1,583,426 6,420,551
1980 1,504,782 6,047,997
1979 1,423,514 5,703,698
1978 1,340,319 5,381,902
1977 1,258,023 5,083,048
1976 1,178,711 4,807,933
1975 1,104,863 4,556,287
1974 1,038,346 4,323,632
1973 977,654 4,106,344
1972 920,352 3,905,722
1971 865,076 3,724,031
1970 809,114 3,562,470
1969 749,452 3,417,114
1968 687,716 3,282,711
1967 628,089 3,157,242
1966 572,590 3,039,887
1965 521,174 2,928,771
1964 473,115 2,821,968
1963 427,694 2,719,341
1962 384,995 2,620,910
1961 345,945 2,526,347
1960 311,060 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.59M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait Saudi Arabia
2100 0.8% 0.64%
2099 0.8% 0.64%
2098 0.8% 0.65%
2097 0.81% 0.66%
2096 0.81% 0.66%
2095 0.81% 0.67%
2094 0.82% 0.68%
2093 0.82% 0.68%
2092 0.82% 0.69%
2091 0.82% 0.69%
2090 0.83% 0.69%
2089 0.83% 0.69%
2088 0.83% 0.7%
2087 0.83% 0.7%
2086 0.83% 0.7%
2085 0.83% 0.71%
2084 0.83% 0.71%
2083 0.83% 0.71%
2082 0.84% 0.72%
2081 0.84% 0.72%
2080 0.84% 0.73%
2079 0.84% 0.73%
2078 0.84% 0.74%
2077 0.84% 0.75%
2076 0.84% 0.75%
2075 0.84% 0.76%
2074 0.84% 0.77%
2073 0.84% 0.78%
2072 0.83% 0.8%
2071 0.83% 0.81%
2070 0.83% 0.82%
2069 0.83% 0.84%
2068 0.83% 0.85%
2067 0.83% 0.86%
2066 0.82% 0.87%
2065 0.82% 0.89%
2064 0.82% 0.9%
2063 0.82% 0.91%
2062 0.82% 0.92%
2061 0.82% 0.94%
2060 0.82% 0.95%
2059 0.82% 0.96%
2058 0.82% 0.97%
2057 0.81% 0.99%
2056 0.82% 1%
2055 0.82% 1.01%
2054 0.82% 1.02%
2053 0.83% 1.04%
2052 0.84% 1.05%
2051 0.84% 1.06%
2050 0.85% 1.08%
2049 0.86% 1.09%
2048 0.87% 1.11%
2047 0.88% 1.12%
2046 0.89% 1.14%
2045 0.9% 1.15%
2044 0.9% 1.17%
2043 0.91% 1.18%
2042 0.91% 1.2%
2041 0.92% 1.22%
2040 0.92% 1.23%
2039 0.92% 1.25%
2038 0.92% 1.27%
2037 0.92% 1.28%
2036 0.92% 1.3%
2035 0.92% 1.31%
2034 0.91% 1.33%
2033 0.9% 1.34%
2032 0.9% 1.36%
2031 0.89% 1.38%
2030 0.94% 1.51%
2029 1.02% 1.6%
2028 1.17% 1.67%
2027 1.4% 1.71%
2026 1.65% 1.76%
2025 2.06% 1.79%
2024 0.9% 4.74%
2023 5.75% 4.75%
2022 5.25% 4.52%
2021 -0.9% -2.43%
2020 -0.95% 4.95%
2019 2.75% -0.44%
2018 4.06% -2.52%
2017 3.76% 0.07%
2016 4.42% 3.82%
2015 4.6% 5.32%
2014 4.51% 2.48%
2013 5.12% 5.56%
2012 6.52% 4.29%
2011 6.44% 4.64%
2010 5.29% -0.99%
2009 5.43% 3.99%
2008 5.72% 4.11%
2007 6.05% 4.24%
2006 5.72% 4.37%
2005 3.68% 4.53%
2004 2.25% 4.7%
2003 2.42% 4.89%
2002 2.58% 5.1%
2001 2.73% 5.34%
2000 2.88% 4.56%
1999 3.02% 3.69%
1998 3.17% 3.81%
1997 3.32% 3.93%
1996 2.9% 4.08%
1995 1.03% 4.23%
1994 -0.47% 4.37%
1993 2.27% 4.53%
1992 21% 4.71%
1991 -19.8% 4.89%
1990 -24% 5.06%
1989 3.88% 5.18%
1988 3.98% 5.47%
1987 4.08% 5.81%
1986 4.13% 5.85%
1985 4.04% 5.9%
1984 4.38% 6.13%
1983 4.92% 6.28%
1982 4.99% 6.29%
1981 5.23% 6.16%
1980 5.71% 6.04%
1979 6.21% 5.98%
1978 6.54% 5.88%
1977 6.73% 5.72%
1976 6.68% 5.52%
1975 6.41% 5.38%
1974 6.21% 5.29%
1973 6.23% 5.14%
1972 6.39% 4.88%
1971 6.92% 4.54%
1970 7.96% 4.25%
1969 8.98% 4.09%
1968 9.49% 3.97%
1967 9.69% 3.86%
1966 9.87% 3.79%
1965 10.2% 3.78%
1964 10.6% 3.77%
1963 11.1% 3.76%
1962 11.3% 3.74%
1961 11.2% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kuwait grew by 0.9%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Kuwait Saudi Arabia
Current population
5100145
36734925
Population rank 127/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.44%
One net population change
12 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
10.5 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
1.18 hours
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +120 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +43,843 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +0.9% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 106/197 4/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +42,775 +119,738
Net migration rank 24/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - 119,738
2024 - 61,624 - 122,170
2023 42,568 50,008 474,366 325,691
2022 41,752 368,560 406,920 977,072
2021 42,057 19,678 409,032 -106,287
2020 41,083 -168,379 447,036 -74,725
2019 46,268 181 474,407 191,582
2018 47,222 145,973 528,767 -988,751
2017 51,498 92,717 546,751 -920,812
2016 51,397 105,818 537,829 -26,997
2015 52,127 129,695 511,023 465,292
2014 54,673 100,891 493,431 469,144
2013 52,666 107,821 475,299 485,794
2012 53,181 127,777 465,649 479,206
2011 50,733 176,732 443,675 491,253
2010 49,838 101,566 418,641 504,955
2009 48,879 95,483 438,557 496,229
2008 47,505 96,268 433,457 491,337
2007 46,539 96,765 425,199 489,136
2006 45,911 97,087 399,333 504,661
2005 45,243 67,638 375,938 518,565
2004 44,341 1,713 362,843 523,472
2003 42,934 5,895 364,520 514,606
2002 41,651 9,335 372,099 500,508
2001 40,662 12,055 382,153 484,252
2000 39,811 14,296 392,407 468,515
1999 39,342 15,912 390,112 160,263
1998 39,324 16,878 389,499 159,898
1997 39,581 17,457 385,033 160,066
1996 39,920 17,914 382,248 160,532
1995 39,198 438 380,231 160,512
1994 36,533 -41,862 377,351 160,306
1993 33,239 -43,501 372,621 158,074
1992 32,016 52,620 366,763 160,908
1991 21,867 460,628 361,329 162,857
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 355,495 160,416
1989 49,390 34,643 349,399 159,273
1988 50,037 31,455 342,865 146,918
1987 50,690 31,243 333,088 175,075
1986 51,824 27,187 322,340 172,606
1985 51,772 25,777 310,558 148,208
1984 52,539 17,020 296,615 153,562
1983 51,460 31,758 280,616 157,930
1982 49,981 30,437 264,831 153,528
1981 48,098 29,600 249,156 140,355
1980 47,096 32,483 234,372 121,220
1979 45,569 37,383 220,186 112,826
1978 44,277 39,159 205,331 105,263
1977 42,922 38,225 191,103 96,015
1976 41,439 36,050 178,024 85,083
1975 39,295 30,909 166,223 73,960
1974 37,425 25,398 155,478 69,653
1973 35,741 22,830 145,450 63,995
1972 34,045 21,984 136,360 55,439
1971 32,339 22,182 127,600 43,989
1970 30,789 26,614 120,440 31,097
1969 28,774 33,143 113,859 25,312
1968 26,161 35,399 108,281 21,366
1967 23,520 34,177 103,343 17,947
1966 20,914 32,383 98,361 15,054
1965 18,952 30,580 93,820 15,000
1964 17,064 29,537 89,776 15,000
1963 15,357 28,889 85,480 15,000
1962 13,730 27,417 81,393 15,000
1961 12,327 24,618 77,743 15,000
1960 11,054 21,769 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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