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Population in Kuwait compared to Syria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,865,298 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 4,981,316 people compared to 26,956,472 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 5.41 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.38% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +2.64% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 4.98M (110.7% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Kuwait vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait Syria
2100 9,334,340 44,500,028
2099 9,260,081 44,570,009
2098 9,186,463 44,629,837
2097 9,113,170 44,692,566
2096 9,040,141 44,747,012
2095 8,967,450 44,774,686
2094 8,895,114 44,824,294
2093 8,823,113 44,853,295
2092 8,751,505 44,882,700
2091 8,680,321 44,895,349
2090 8,609,595 44,926,869
2089 8,539,136 44,925,891
2088 8,469,109 44,920,667
2087 8,399,564 44,928,298
2086 8,330,533 44,947,658
2085 8,261,971 44,913,669
2084 8,193,896 44,878,845
2083 8,126,269 44,850,592
2082 8,059,106 44,790,014
2081 7,992,347 44,723,244
2080 7,926,024 44,624,321
2079 7,860,286 44,567,127
2078 7,795,005 44,529,618
2077 7,730,203 44,484,155
2076 7,665,903 44,400,339
2075 7,602,169 44,306,882
2074 7,538,993 44,209,517
2073 7,476,318 44,102,028
2072 7,414,183 43,965,642
2071 7,352,798 43,821,617
2070 7,292,103 43,678,154
2069 7,231,928 43,530,683
2068 7,172,407 43,348,487
2067 7,113,525 43,154,741
2066 7,055,300 42,944,885
2065 6,997,659 42,695,249
2064 6,940,617 42,445,036
2063 6,883,966 42,198,056
2062 6,827,893 41,949,014
2061 6,772,426 41,695,586
2060 6,717,567 41,410,547
2059 6,663,194 41,097,942
2058 6,609,283 40,815,606
2057 6,555,790 40,534,091
2056 6,502,807 40,224,053
2055 6,450,126 39,918,930
2054 6,397,735 39,584,624
2053 6,345,468 39,242,144
2052 6,293,294 38,940,206
2051 6,241,127 38,629,604
2050 6,188,892 38,307,069
2049 6,136,684 37,986,965
2048 6,084,369 37,682,780
2047 6,032,063 37,391,752
2046 5,979,700 37,081,479
2045 5,927,211 36,744,441
2044 5,874,608 36,428,225
2043 5,822,127 36,090,851
2042 5,769,628 35,729,021
2041 5,717,337 35,352,033
2040 5,665,332 34,947,817
2039 5,613,613 34,533,772
2038 5,562,201 34,091,760
2037 5,511,310 33,612,993
2036 5,460,951 33,134,445
2035 5,411,185 32,608,669
2034 5,362,082 32,062,309
2033 5,313,716 31,477,500
2032 5,266,162 30,883,996
2031 5,219,420 30,248,264
2030 5,173,547 29,592,787
2029 5,125,419 28,871,638
2028 5,073,776 28,141,821
2027 5,015,009 27,355,002
2026 4,945,732 26,535,554
2025 4,865,298 25,620,427
2024 4,897,263 24,672,760
2023 4,853,420 23,594,623
2022 4,589,643 22,462,173
2021 4,360,865 21,628,839
2020 4,400,267 21,049,429
2019 4,442,316 20,353,534
2018 4,323,515 19,577,845
2017 4,154,812 19,224,668
2016 4,004,096 19,193,834
2015 3,834,574 19,424,618
2014 3,665,876 20,273,659
2013 3,507,844 21,666,917
2012 3,337,109 22,759,763
2011 3,132,814 22,878,098
2010 2,943,372 22,482,421
2009 2,795,484 21,976,969
2008 2,651,421 21,636,564
2007 2,507,887 20,884,125
2006 2,364,733 19,637,022
2005 2,236,788 18,814,091
2004 2,157,320 18,336,875
2003 2,109,881 17,889,296
2002 2,059,974 17,468,332
2001 2,008,121 17,051,338
2000 1,954,709 16,637,888
1999 1,900,030 16,228,061
1998 1,844,302 15,820,413
1997 1,787,683 15,417,542
1996 1,730,246 15,018,104
1995 1,681,513 14,616,801
1994 1,664,361 14,208,583
1993 1,672,151 13,795,686
1992 1,634,961 13,385,571
1991 1,351,399 12,980,821
1990 1,684,819 12,579,208
1989 2,217,468 12,179,060
1988 2,134,707 11,782,264
1987 2,052,994 11,388,923
1986 1,972,520 11,002,844
1985 1,894,242 10,625,672
1984 1,820,688 10,258,398
1983 1,744,295 9,904,809
1982 1,662,480 9,572,511
1981 1,583,426 9,260,189
1980 1,504,782 8,957,663
1979 1,423,514 8,661,909
1978 1,340,319 8,372,759
1977 1,258,023 8,090,501
1976 1,178,711 7,817,320
1975 1,104,863 7,554,364
1974 1,038,346 7,302,160
1973 977,654 7,060,321
1972 920,352 6,826,024
1971 865,076 6,598,094
1970 809,114 6,380,609
1969 749,452 6,175,166
1968 687,716 5,978,742
1967 628,089 5,790,198
1966 572,590 5,609,047
1965 521,174 5,435,267
1964 473,115 5,269,087
1963 427,694 5,110,467
1962 384,995 4,959,340
1961 345,945 4,815,466
1960 311,060 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 977,220 people (a 24.4% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.33M people compared to the peak of 44.9M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait Syria
2100 0.8% -0.16%
2099 0.8% -0.13%
2098 0.8% -0.14%
2097 0.81% -0.12%
2096 0.81% -0.06%
2095 0.81% -0.11%
2094 0.82% -0.06%
2093 0.82% -0.07%
2092 0.82% -0.03%
2091 0.82% -0.07%
2090 0.83% 0.002%
2089 0.83% 0.01%
2088 0.83% -0.02%
2087 0.83% -0.04%
2086 0.83% 0.08%
2085 0.83% 0.08%
2084 0.83% 0.06%
2083 0.83% 0.14%
2082 0.84% 0.15%
2081 0.84% 0.22%
2080 0.84% 0.13%
2079 0.84% 0.08%
2078 0.84% 0.1%
2077 0.84% 0.19%
2076 0.84% 0.21%
2075 0.84% 0.22%
2074 0.84% 0.24%
2073 0.84% 0.31%
2072 0.83% 0.33%
2071 0.83% 0.33%
2070 0.83% 0.34%
2069 0.83% 0.42%
2068 0.83% 0.45%
2067 0.83% 0.49%
2066 0.82% 0.58%
2065 0.82% 0.59%
2064 0.82% 0.59%
2063 0.82% 0.59%
2062 0.82% 0.61%
2061 0.82% 0.69%
2060 0.82% 0.76%
2059 0.82% 0.69%
2058 0.82% 0.69%
2057 0.81% 0.77%
2056 0.82% 0.76%
2055 0.82% 0.84%
2054 0.82% 0.87%
2053 0.83% 0.78%
2052 0.84% 0.8%
2051 0.84% 0.84%
2050 0.85% 0.84%
2049 0.86% 0.81%
2048 0.87% 0.78%
2047 0.88% 0.84%
2046 0.89% 0.92%
2045 0.9% 0.87%
2044 0.9% 0.93%
2043 0.91% 1.01%
2042 0.91% 1.07%
2041 0.92% 1.16%
2040 0.92% 1.2%
2039 0.92% 1.3%
2038 0.92% 1.42%
2037 0.92% 1.44%
2036 0.92% 1.61%
2035 0.92% 1.7%
2034 0.91% 1.86%
2033 0.9% 1.92%
2032 0.9% 2.1%
2031 0.89% 2.21%
2030 0.94% 2.5%
2029 1.02% 2.59%
2028 1.17% 2.88%
2027 1.4% 3.09%
2026 1.65% 3.57%
2025 -0.65% 3.84%
2024 0.9% 4.57%
2023 5.75% 5.04%
2022 5.25% 3.85%
2021 -0.9% 2.75%
2020 -0.95% 3.42%
2019 2.75% 3.96%
2018 4.06% 1.84%
2017 3.76% 0.16%
2016 4.42% -1.19%
2015 4.6% -4.19%
2014 4.51% -6.43%
2013 5.12% -4.8%
2012 6.52% -0.52%
2011 6.44% 1.76%
2010 5.29% 2.3%
2009 5.43% 1.57%
2008 5.72% 3.6%
2007 6.05% 6.35%
2006 5.72% 4.37%
2005 3.68% 2.6%
2004 2.25% 2.5%
2003 2.42% 2.41%
2002 2.58% 2.45%
2001 2.73% 2.48%
2000 2.88% 2.53%
1999 3.02% 2.58%
1998 3.17% 2.61%
1997 3.32% 2.66%
1996 2.9% 2.75%
1995 1.03% 2.87%
1994 -0.47% 2.99%
1993 2.27% 3.06%
1992 21% 3.12%
1991 -19.8% 3.19%
1990 -24% 3.29%
1989 3.88% 3.37%
1988 3.98% 3.45%
1987 4.08% 3.51%
1986 4.13% 3.55%
1985 4.04% 3.58%
1984 4.38% 3.57%
1983 4.92% 3.47%
1982 4.99% 3.37%
1981 5.23% 3.38%
1980 5.71% 3.41%
1979 6.21% 3.45%
1978 6.54% 3.49%
1977 6.73% 3.49%
1976 6.68% 3.48%
1975 6.41% 3.45%
1974 6.21% 3.43%
1973 6.23% 3.43%
1972 6.39% 3.45%
1971 6.92% 3.41%
1970 7.96% 3.33%
1969 8.98% 3.29%
1968 9.49% 3.26%
1967 9.69% 3.23%
1966 9.87% 3.2%
1965 10.2% 3.15%
1964 10.6% 3.1%
1963 11.1% 3.05%
1962 11.3% 2.99%
1961 11.2% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kuwait declined by 0.65%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Kuwait Syria
Current population
4981316
26956472
Population rank 127/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.32%
One net population change
16.5 minutes
33.4 seconds
One birth every
10.7 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
1.18 hours
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline -88 +2,596
Annual growth/decline -31,965 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 5/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +42,775 +421,693
Net migration rank 24/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - 421,693
2024 41,627 61,624 449,784 546,494
2023 42,568 50,008 402,713 757,309
2022 41,752 368,560 369,750 735,142
2021 42,057 19,678 350,560 211,220
2020 41,083 -168,379 327,992 269,050
2019 46,268 181 293,762 500,985
2018 47,222 145,973 242,530 514,102
2017 51,498 92,717 237,214 -287,501
2016 51,397 105,818 236,007 -124,063
2015 52,127 129,695 253,977 -827,496
2014 54,673 100,891 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 52,666 107,821 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 53,181 127,777 475,520 -999,267
2011 50,733 176,732 543,950 -256,888
2010 49,838 101,566 558,666 -54,359
2009 48,879 95,483 559,314 -52,703
2008 47,505 96,268 576,593 -402,393
2007 46,539 96,765 529,162 801,514
2006 45,911 97,087 480,616 682,911
2005 45,243 67,638 468,960 13,382
2004 44,341 1,713 461,209 10,881
2003 42,934 5,895 457,000 -33,920
2002 41,651 9,335 453,967 -35,096
2001 40,662 12,055 451,503 -36,383
2000 39,811 14,296 446,211 -34,425
1999 39,342 15,912 439,261 -31,394
1998 39,324 16,878 433,447 -26,025
1997 39,581 17,457 429,887 -31,571
1996 39,920 17,914 430,765 -30,197
1995 39,198 438 430,172 -28,122
1994 36,533 -41,862 426,996 -12,630
1993 33,239 -43,501 420,244 -8,828
1992 32,016 52,620 412,878 -4,063
1991 21,867 460,628 410,830 -10,154
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 409,177 -6,620
1989 49,390 34,643 406,111 -8,379
1988 50,037 31,455 404,285 -8,426
1987 50,690 31,243 399,159 -8,335
1986 51,824 27,187 390,821 -9,485
1985 51,772 25,777 379,231 -6,221
1984 52,539 17,020 366,768 -5,245
1983 51,460 31,758 355,375 -9,729
1982 49,981 30,437 319,664 -721
1981 48,098 29,600 330,237 -24,536
1980 47,096 32,483 332,464 -33,114
1979 45,569 37,383 324,943 -32,793
1978 44,277 39,159 316,724 -30,567
1977 42,922 38,225 306,630 -28,275
1976 41,439 36,050 294,267 -26,268
1975 39,295 30,909 282,299 -24,389
1974 37,425 25,398 270,735 -24,242
1973 35,741 22,830 254,687 -17,502
1972 34,045 21,984 249,027 -17,610
1971 32,339 22,182 239,610 -15,167
1970 30,789 26,614 230,117 -19,594
1969 28,774 33,143 219,114 -18,749
1968 26,161 35,399 209,454 -16,968
1967 23,520 34,177 199,223 -14,618
1966 20,914 32,383 191,122 -13,434
1965 18,952 30,580 182,560 -12,704
1964 17,064 29,537 174,549 -12,044
1963 15,357 28,889 166,555 -11,817
1962 13,730 27,417 159,155 -11,641
1961 12,327 24,618 151,485 -11,237
1960 11,054 21,769 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 people).

As of 2024, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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