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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,865,298 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 4,981,316 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 7.62 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.52% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +2.64% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 4.98M (110.7% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait Saudi Arabia
2100 9,334,340 76,380,382
2099 9,260,081 75,896,692
2098 9,186,463 75,410,485
2097 9,113,170 74,922,342
2096 9,040,141 74,431,436
2095 8,967,450 73,939,761
2094 8,895,114 73,447,628
2093 8,823,113 72,954,272
2092 8,751,505 72,460,372
2091 8,680,321 71,966,760
2090 8,609,595 71,474,363
2089 8,539,136 70,984,330
2088 8,469,109 70,494,851
2087 8,399,564 70,006,368
2086 8,330,533 69,519,641
2085 8,261,971 69,035,093
2084 8,193,896 68,551,533
2083 8,126,269 68,068,933
2082 8,059,106 67,587,034
2081 7,992,347 67,105,252
2080 7,926,024 66,624,751
2079 7,860,286 66,144,495
2078 7,795,005 65,664,508
2077 7,730,203 65,183,768
2076 7,665,903 64,701,603
2075 7,602,169 64,217,651
2074 7,538,993 63,731,809
2073 7,476,318 63,243,084
2072 7,414,183 62,750,764
2071 7,352,798 62,255,408
2070 7,292,103 61,756,796
2069 7,231,928 61,253,878
2068 7,172,407 60,746,216
2067 7,113,525 60,235,232
2066 7,055,300 59,720,954
2065 6,997,659 59,203,814
2064 6,940,617 58,684,254
2063 6,883,966 58,161,702
2062 6,827,893 57,637,152
2061 6,772,426 57,109,207
2060 6,717,567 56,579,736
2059 6,663,194 56,047,666
2058 6,609,283 55,513,281
2057 6,555,790 54,978,393
2056 6,502,807 54,441,706
2055 6,450,126 53,904,081
2054 6,397,735 53,364,635
2053 6,345,468 52,823,422
2052 6,293,294 52,280,914
2051 6,241,127 51,737,228
2050 6,188,892 51,192,924
2049 6,136,684 50,647,663
2048 6,084,369 50,100,576
2047 6,032,063 49,552,613
2046 5,979,700 49,002,774
2045 5,927,211 48,451,215
2044 5,874,608 47,898,754
2043 5,822,127 47,346,122
2042 5,769,628 46,792,504
2041 5,717,337 46,237,820
2040 5,665,332 45,682,139
2039 5,613,613 45,126,407
2038 5,562,201 44,569,427
2037 5,511,310 44,012,415
2036 5,460,951 43,454,985
2035 5,411,185 42,897,909
2034 5,362,082 42,342,044
2033 5,313,716 41,787,423
2032 5,266,162 41,233,964
2031 5,219,420 40,680,599
2030 5,173,547 40,128,273
2029 5,125,419 39,530,306
2028 5,073,776 38,906,191
2027 5,015,009 38,267,271
2026 4,945,732 37,625,434
2025 4,865,298 36,973,555
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 977,220 people (a 24.4% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.33M people compared to the peak of 76.4M 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 -0.65% 4.74%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kuwait declined by 0.65%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Kuwait Saudi Arabia
Current population
4981316
37955120
Population rank 127/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.46%
One net population change
16.5 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
10.7 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
1.18 hours
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline -88 +4,584
Annual growth/decline -31,965 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 2/197
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 41,627 61,624 499,782 122,170
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 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 (1960–2025, 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/saudi-arabia | 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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