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Population in Kuwait compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,865,298 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 4,981,316 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 10.4 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.68% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +2.64% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 4.98M (110.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Kuwait vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait South Korea
2100 9,334,340 22,001,649
2099 9,260,081 22,324,514
2098 9,186,463 22,657,541
2097 9,113,170 22,998,315
2096 9,040,141 23,348,632
2095 8,967,450 23,711,049
2094 8,895,114 24,081,510
2093 8,823,113 24,460,970
2092 8,751,505 24,848,715
2091 8,680,321 25,242,926
2090 8,609,595 25,642,926
2089 8,539,136 26,048,094
2088 8,469,109 26,457,020
2087 8,399,564 26,871,556
2086 8,330,533 27,288,450
2085 8,261,971 27,710,065
2084 8,193,896 28,133,600
2083 8,126,269 28,564,090
2082 8,059,106 28,998,646
2081 7,992,347 29,441,497
2080 7,926,024 29,887,135
2079 7,860,286 30,337,095
2078 7,795,005 30,793,984
2077 7,730,203 31,258,278
2076 7,665,903 31,728,826
2075 7,602,169 32,205,338
2074 7,538,993 32,689,892
2073 7,476,318 33,180,187
2072 7,414,183 33,679,874
2071 7,352,798 34,187,068
2070 7,292,103 34,702,204
2069 7,231,928 35,224,472
2068 7,172,407 35,745,164
2067 7,113,525 36,274,411
2066 7,055,300 36,808,495
2065 6,997,659 37,349,660
2064 6,940,617 37,897,742
2063 6,883,966 38,450,082
2062 6,827,893 39,009,227
2061 6,772,426 39,565,102
2060 6,717,567 40,130,032
2059 6,663,194 40,692,438
2058 6,609,283 41,256,780
2057 6,555,790 41,813,259
2056 6,502,807 42,356,530
2055 6,450,126 42,888,143
2054 6,397,735 43,405,840
2053 6,345,468 43,917,075
2052 6,293,294 44,419,192
2051 6,241,127 44,901,452
2050 6,188,892 45,362,931
2049 6,136,684 45,809,553
2048 6,084,369 46,235,718
2047 6,032,063 46,645,885
2046 5,979,700 47,033,200
2045 5,927,211 47,409,815
2044 5,874,608 47,773,842
2043 5,822,127 48,120,989
2042 5,769,628 48,455,085
2041 5,717,337 48,782,206
2040 5,665,332 49,091,438
2039 5,613,613 49,388,464
2038 5,562,201 49,669,835
2037 5,511,310 49,932,869
2036 5,460,951 50,175,947
2035 5,411,185 50,401,135
2034 5,362,082 50,607,994
2033 5,313,716 50,796,030
2032 5,266,162 50,961,878
2031 5,219,420 51,109,725
2030 5,173,547 51,242,628
2029 5,125,419 51,360,529
2028 5,073,776 51,461,403
2027 5,015,009 51,551,313
2026 4,945,732 51,624,449
2025 4,865,298 51,684,564
2024 4,897,263 51,751,065
2023 4,853,420 51,712,619
2022 4,589,643 51,672,569
2021 4,360,865 51,769,539
2020 4,400,267 51,836,239
2019 4,442,316 51,764,822
2018 4,323,515 51,585,058
2017 4,154,812 51,361,911
2016 4,004,096 51,217,803
2015 3,834,574 51,014,947
2014 3,665,876 50,746,659
2013 3,507,844 50,428,893
2012 3,337,109 50,199,853
2011 3,132,814 49,936,638
2010 2,943,372 49,554,112
2009 2,795,484 49,307,835
2008 2,651,421 49,054,708
2007 2,507,887 48,683,638
2006 2,364,733 48,438,292
2005 2,236,788 48,184,561
2004 2,157,320 48,082,519
2003 2,109,881 47,892,330
2002 2,059,974 47,644,736
2001 2,008,121 47,370,164
2000 1,954,709 47,008,111
1999 1,900,030 46,616,677
1998 1,844,302 46,286,503
1997 1,787,683 45,953,580
1996 1,730,246 45,524,681
1995 1,681,513 45,092,991
1994 1,664,361 44,641,540
1993 1,672,151 44,194,628
1992 1,634,961 43,747,962
1991 1,351,399 43,295,704
1990 1,684,819 42,869,283
1989 2,217,468 42,449,038
1988 2,134,707 42,031,247
1987 2,052,994 41,621,690
1986 1,972,520 41,213,674
1985 1,894,242 40,805,744
1984 1,820,688 40,405,956
1983 1,744,295 39,910,403
1982 1,662,480 39,326,352
1981 1,583,426 38,723,248
1980 1,504,782 38,123,775
1979 1,423,514 37,534,236
1978 1,340,319 36,969,185
1977 1,258,023 36,411,795
1976 1,178,711 35,848,523
1975 1,104,863 35,280,725
1974 1,038,346 34,692,266
1973 977,654 34,103,149
1972 920,352 33,505,406
1971 865,076 32,882,704
1970 809,114 32,240,827
1969 749,452 31,544,266
1968 687,716 30,838,302
1967 628,089 30,130,983
1966 572,590 29,435,571
1965 521,174 28,704,674
1964 473,115 27,984,155
1963 427,694 27,261,747
1962 384,995 26,513,030
1961 345,945 25,765,673
1960 311,060 25,012,374

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/south-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 977,220 people (a 24.4% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.33M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait South Korea
2100 0.8% -1.45%
2099 0.8% -1.47%
2098 0.8% -1.48%
2097 0.81% -1.5%
2096 0.81% -1.53%
2095 0.81% -1.54%
2094 0.82% -1.55%
2093 0.82% -1.56%
2092 0.82% -1.56%
2091 0.82% -1.56%
2090 0.83% -1.56%
2089 0.83% -1.55%
2088 0.83% -1.54%
2087 0.83% -1.53%
2086 0.83% -1.52%
2085 0.83% -1.51%
2084 0.83% -1.51%
2083 0.83% -1.5%
2082 0.84% -1.5%
2081 0.84% -1.49%
2080 0.84% -1.48%
2079 0.84% -1.48%
2078 0.84% -1.49%
2077 0.84% -1.48%
2076 0.84% -1.48%
2075 0.84% -1.48%
2074 0.84% -1.48%
2073 0.84% -1.48%
2072 0.83% -1.48%
2071 0.83% -1.48%
2070 0.83% -1.48%
2069 0.83% -1.46%
2068 0.83% -1.46%
2067 0.83% -1.45%
2066 0.82% -1.45%
2065 0.82% -1.45%
2064 0.82% -1.44%
2063 0.82% -1.43%
2062 0.82% -1.4%
2061 0.82% -1.41%
2060 0.82% -1.38%
2059 0.82% -1.37%
2058 0.82% -1.33%
2057 0.81% -1.28%
2056 0.82% -1.24%
2055 0.82% -1.19%
2054 0.82% -1.16%
2053 0.83% -1.13%
2052 0.84% -1.07%
2051 0.84% -1.02%
2050 0.85% -0.97%
2049 0.86% -0.92%
2048 0.87% -0.88%
2047 0.88% -0.82%
2046 0.89% -0.79%
2045 0.9% -0.76%
2044 0.9% -0.72%
2043 0.91% -0.69%
2042 0.91% -0.67%
2041 0.92% -0.63%
2040 0.92% -0.6%
2039 0.92% -0.57%
2038 0.92% -0.53%
2037 0.92% -0.48%
2036 0.92% -0.45%
2035 0.92% -0.41%
2034 0.91% -0.37%
2033 0.9% -0.33%
2032 0.9% -0.29%
2031 0.89% -0.26%
2030 0.94% -0.23%
2029 1.02% -0.2%
2028 1.17% -0.17%
2027 1.4% -0.14%
2026 1.65% -0.12%
2025 -0.65% -0.13%
2024 0.9% 0.07%
2023 5.75% 0.08%
2022 5.25% -0.19%
2021 -0.9% -0.13%
2020 -0.95% 0.14%
2019 2.75% 0.35%
2018 4.06% 0.43%
2017 3.76% 0.28%
2016 4.42% 0.4%
2015 4.6% 0.53%
2014 4.51% 0.63%
2013 5.12% 0.46%
2012 6.52% 0.53%
2011 6.44% 0.77%
2010 5.29% 0.5%
2009 5.43% 0.52%
2008 5.72% 0.76%
2007 6.05% 0.51%
2006 5.72% 0.53%
2005 3.68% 0.21%
2004 2.25% 0.4%
2003 2.42% 0.52%
2002 2.58% 0.58%
2001 2.73% 0.77%
2000 2.88% 0.84%
1999 3.02% 0.71%
1998 3.17% 0.72%
1997 3.32% 0.94%
1996 2.9% 0.96%
1995 1.03% 1.01%
1994 -0.47% 1.01%
1993 2.27% 1.02%
1992 21% 1.04%
1991 -19.8% 0.99%
1990 -24% 0.99%
1989 3.88% 0.99%
1988 3.98% 0.98%
1987 4.08% 0.99%
1986 4.13% 1%
1985 4.04% 0.99%
1984 4.38% 1.24%
1983 4.92% 1.49%
1982 4.99% 1.56%
1981 5.23% 1.57%
1980 5.71% 1.57%
1979 6.21% 1.53%
1978 6.54% 1.53%
1977 6.73% 1.57%
1976 6.68% 1.61%
1975 6.41% 1.7%
1974 6.21% 1.73%
1973 6.23% 1.78%
1972 6.39% 1.89%
1971 6.92% 1.99%
1970 7.96% 2.21%
1969 8.98% 2.29%
1968 9.49% 2.35%
1967 9.69% 2.36%
1966 9.87% 2.55%
1965 10.2% 2.57%
1964 10.6% 2.65%
1963 11.1% 2.82%
1962 11.3% 2.9%
1961 11.2% 3.01%

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/south-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kuwait declined by 0.65%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Kuwait South Korea
Current population
4981316
51624449
Population rank 127/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.62%
One net population change
16.5 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
10.7 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline -88 -182
Annual growth/decline -31,965 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 169/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +42,775 +65,731
Net migration rank 24/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - 65,731
2024 41,627 61,624 -119,027 75,963
2023 42,568 50,008 -124,111 87,800
2022 41,752 368,560 -124,014 87,800
2021 42,057 19,678 -56,947 -16,778
2020 41,083 -168,379 -31,101 112,631
2019 46,268 181 10,353 128,622
2018 47,222 145,973 30,951 118,220
2017 51,498 92,717 71,907 104,029
2016 51,397 105,818 122,923 91,568
2015 52,127 129,695 163,248 276,427
2014 54,673 100,891 167,464 308,037
2013 52,666 107,821 166,415 301,926
2012 53,181 127,777 215,859 281,866
2011 50,733 176,732 214,728 269,958
2010 49,838 101,566 213,083 52,042
2009 48,879 95,483 197,231 5,308
2008 47,505 96,268 215,841 -19,630
2007 46,539 96,765 248,286 -42,293
2006 45,911 97,087 203,441 -28,434
2005 45,243 67,638 187,920 -47,821
2004 44,341 1,713 225,988 -42,549
2003 42,934 5,895 244,251 -31,994
2002 41,651 9,335 247,752 -18,105
2001 40,662 12,055 312,643 -28,006
2000 39,811 14,296 390,167 -84,960
1999 39,342 15,912 368,272 -107,448
1998 39,324 16,878 393,436 -98,044
1997 39,581 17,457 422,773 -109,130
1996 39,920 17,914 446,142 -115,705
1995 39,198 438 468,967 -208,491
1994 36,533 -41,862 473,200 -208,309
1993 33,239 -43,501 477,302 -222,802
1992 32,016 52,620 494,352 -265,849
1991 21,867 460,628 467,594 -270,754
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 411,546 79,294
1989 49,390 34,643 403,266 186,120
1988 50,037 31,455 399,297 192,534
1987 50,690 31,243 378,758 198,057
1986 51,824 27,187 395,651 189,782
1985 51,772 25,777 416,219 97,949
1984 52,539 17,020 436,384 101,394
1983 51,460 31,758 514,844 102,167
1982 49,981 30,437 605,626 48,638
1981 48,098 29,600 631,189 18,442
1980 47,096 32,483 583,294 -148,341
1979 45,569 37,383 623,068 -139,566
1978 44,277 39,159 499,084 -85,721
1977 42,922 38,225 578,947 -90,737
1976 41,439 36,050 530,558 -92,314
1975 39,295 30,909 603,300 -52,332
1974 37,425 25,398 673,030 27,005
1973 35,741 22,830 699,115 35,779
1972 34,045 21,984 740,469 25,382
1971 32,339 22,182 789,185 -6,326
1970 30,789 26,614 747,987 -27,999
1969 28,774 33,143 694,227 -21,175
1968 26,161 35,399 684,487 -16,868
1967 23,520 34,177 692,169 -16,484
1966 20,914 32,383 623,534 -16,688
1965 18,952 30,580 641,090 -146,386
1964 17,064 29,537 655,501 -102,284
1963 15,357 28,889 685,824 -80,226
1962 13,730 27,417 712,590 -94,606
1961 12,327 24,618 730,173 -93,179
1960 11,054 21,769 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/south-korea | 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 South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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/south-korea | 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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