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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,897,263 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 5,100,145 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 10.1 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 +3.1% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 5.1M (115.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Kuwait vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait South Korea
2100 9,589,440 22,012,503
2099 9,513,152 22,335,528
2098 9,437,521 22,668,719
2097 9,362,225 23,009,661
2096 9,287,200 23,360,151
2095 9,212,523 23,722,747
2094 9,138,210 24,093,391
2093 9,064,241 24,473,038
2092 8,990,676 24,860,975
2091 8,917,547 25,255,379
2090 8,844,888 25,655,577
2089 8,772,503 26,060,945
2088 8,700,563 26,470,073
2087 8,629,117 26,884,813
2086 8,558,199 27,301,913
2085 8,487,764 27,723,736
2084 8,417,828 28,147,480
2083 8,348,353 28,578,182
2082 8,279,354 29,012,953
2081 8,210,772 29,456,022
2080 8,142,636 29,901,880
2079 8,075,101 30,352,062
2078 8,008,036 30,809,176
2077 7,941,463 31,273,700
2076 7,875,406 31,744,480
2075 7,809,930 32,221,226
2074 7,745,028 32,706,020
2073 7,680,639 33,196,556
2072 7,616,806 33,696,490
2071 7,553,744 34,203,935
2070 7,491,390 34,719,324
2069 7,429,571 35,241,850
2068 7,368,423 35,762,799
2067 7,307,932 36,292,307
2066 7,248,116 36,826,655
2065 7,188,899 37,368,086
2064 7,130,298 37,916,439
2063 7,072,099 38,469,051
2062 7,014,494 39,028,473
2061 6,957,511 39,584,621
2060 6,901,153 40,149,830
2059 6,845,293 40,712,514
2058 6,789,909 41,277,134
2057 6,734,955 41,833,887
2056 6,680,523 42,377,427
2055 6,626,403 42,909,302
2054 6,572,580 43,427,254
2053 6,518,885 43,938,741
2052 6,465,284 44,441,106
2051 6,411,692 44,923,604
2050 6,358,029 45,385,311
2049 6,304,394 45,832,153
2048 6,250,650 46,258,529
2047 6,196,914 46,668,898
2046 6,143,120 47,056,404
2045 6,089,197 47,433,205
2044 6,035,156 47,797,411
2043 5,981,241 48,144,730
2042 5,927,307 48,478,991
2041 5,873,587 48,806,273
2040 5,820,161 49,115,658
2039 5,767,029 49,412,830
2038 5,714,211 49,694,340
2037 5,661,929 49,957,504
2036 5,610,194 50,200,702
2035 5,559,069 50,426,000
2034 5,508,623 50,632,962
2033 5,458,935 50,821,090
2032 5,410,081 50,987,020
2031 5,362,063 51,134,940
2030 5,314,935 51,267,908
2029 5,265,492 51,385,868
2028 5,212,438 51,486,791
2027 5,152,065 51,576,746
2026 5,080,894 51,649,918
2025 4,998,262 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% 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 24.7% to 6,358,029 people with a rank change from 127th to 117th. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.59M 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 2.06% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/south-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kuwait grew by 0.9%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Kuwait South Korea
Current population
5100145
51649918
Population rank 127/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.62%
One net population change
12 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
10.5 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +120 +105
Annual growth/decline +43,843 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +0.9% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 106/197 160/197
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 - 61,624 - 75,963
2023 42,568 50,008 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 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 (1960–2024, 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/south-korea | 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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