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Population in Kuwait compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,897,263 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 5,100,145 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 2.29 times bigger than Kuwait's.
  • Kuwait is ranked the 127th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.06% for Kuwait vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Kuwait has had an average growth rate of +3.1% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 5.1M (115.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Kuwait vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Kuwait UAE
2100 9,589,440 26,368,750
2099 9,513,152 26,130,374
2098 9,437,521 25,894,010
2097 9,362,225 25,660,062
2096 9,287,200 25,427,961
2095 9,212,523 25,197,670
2094 9,138,210 24,968,891
2093 9,064,241 24,741,434
2092 8,990,676 24,515,086
2091 8,917,547 24,289,496
2090 8,844,888 24,064,404
2089 8,772,503 23,839,033
2088 8,700,563 23,613,963
2087 8,629,117 23,388,786
2086 8,558,199 23,163,641
2085 8,487,764 22,938,169
2084 8,417,828 22,711,804
2083 8,348,353 22,484,154
2082 8,279,354 22,255,625
2081 8,210,772 22,026,183
2080 8,142,636 21,796,073
2079 8,075,101 21,565,118
2078 8,008,036 21,333,574
2077 7,941,463 21,101,274
2076 7,875,406 20,868,733
2075 7,809,930 20,636,203
2074 7,745,028 20,404,044
2073 7,680,639 20,171,659
2072 7,616,806 19,940,853
2071 7,553,744 19,710,934
2070 7,491,390 19,483,026
2069 7,429,571 19,256,572
2068 7,368,423 19,032,681
2067 7,307,932 18,811,331
2066 7,248,116 18,593,017
2065 7,188,899 18,377,364
2064 7,130,298 18,164,584
2063 7,072,099 17,955,352
2062 7,014,494 17,749,596
2061 6,957,511 17,547,827
2060 6,901,153 17,349,620
2059 6,845,293 17,153,273
2058 6,789,909 16,959,263
2057 6,734,955 16,767,893
2056 6,680,523 16,579,195
2055 6,626,403 16,392,558
2054 6,572,580 16,207,309
2053 6,518,885 16,024,789
2052 6,465,284 15,844,357
2051 6,411,692 15,665,362
2050 6,358,029 15,487,008
2049 6,304,394 15,309,031
2048 6,250,650 15,132,784
2047 6,196,914 14,958,209
2046 6,143,120 14,788,046
2045 6,089,197 14,620,902
2044 6,035,156 14,454,466
2043 5,981,241 14,289,021
2042 5,927,307 14,124,515
2041 5,873,587 13,961,010
2040 5,820,161 13,798,651
2039 5,767,029 13,637,499
2038 5,714,211 13,477,450
2037 5,661,929 13,319,346
2036 5,610,194 13,163,073
2035 5,559,069 13,009,160
2034 5,508,623 12,857,729
2033 5,458,935 12,709,520
2032 5,410,081 12,564,906
2031 5,362,063 12,424,286
2030 5,314,935 12,288,186
2029 5,265,492 12,148,661
2028 5,212,438 11,999,549
2027 5,152,065 11,831,082
2026 5,080,894 11,632,806
2025 4,998,262 11,367,504
2024 4,897,263 10,986,400
2023 4,853,420 10,483,751
2022 4,589,643 10,074,977
2021 4,360,865 9,575,152
2020 4,400,267 9,401,038
2019 4,442,316 9,445,785
2018 4,323,515 9,346,701
2017 4,154,812 9,223,225
2016 4,004,096 8,935,095
2015 3,834,574 8,505,237
2014 3,665,876 8,059,440
2013 3,507,844 7,693,031
2012 3,337,109 7,391,448
2011 3,132,814 7,104,538
2010 2,943,372 6,869,838
2009 2,795,484 6,707,058
2008 2,651,421 6,302,664
2007 2,507,887 5,624,635
2006 2,364,733 5,009,100
2005 2,236,788 4,664,790
2004 2,157,320 4,428,967
2003 2,109,881 4,192,457
2002 2,059,974 3,956,826
2001 2,008,121 3,723,590
2000 1,954,709 3,493,575
1999 1,900,030 3,266,009
1998 1,844,302 3,040,421
1997 1,787,683 2,817,410
1996 1,730,246 2,597,564
1995 1,681,513 2,434,662
1994 1,664,361 2,328,188
1993 1,672,151 2,222,093
1992 1,634,961 2,114,730
1991 1,351,399 2,006,626
1990 1,684,819 1,898,220
1989 2,217,468 1,789,851
1988 2,134,707 1,681,788
1987 2,052,994 1,574,244
1986 1,972,520 1,467,383
1985 1,894,242 1,377,911
1984 1,820,688 1,305,996
1983 1,744,295 1,235,305
1982 1,662,480 1,166,370
1981 1,583,426 1,099,855
1980 1,504,782 1,015,700
1979 1,423,514 912,010
1978 1,340,319 809,274
1977 1,258,023 710,209
1976 1,178,711 615,866
1975 1,104,863 542,856
1974 1,038,346 489,087
1973 977,654 436,399
1972 920,352 385,014
1971 865,076 335,027
1970 809,114 286,536
1969 749,452 239,660
1968 687,716 199,416
1967 628,089 179,700
1966 572,590 173,976
1965 521,174 167,103
1964 473,115 159,692
1963 427,694 152,211
1962 384,995 144,946
1961 345,945 137,989
1960 311,060 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Kuwait increased by 1,639,363 people (a 69.3% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Kuwait gained 1,096,049 people (a 27.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Kuwait was ranked 139th most populous country in 2006 and is 127th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.59M people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Kuwait
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Kuwait UAE
2100 0.8% 0.91%
2099 0.8% 0.91%
2098 0.8% 0.91%
2097 0.81% 0.91%
2096 0.81% 0.91%
2095 0.81% 0.92%
2094 0.82% 0.92%
2093 0.82% 0.92%
2092 0.82% 0.93%
2091 0.82% 0.94%
2090 0.83% 0.95%
2089 0.83% 0.95%
2088 0.83% 0.96%
2087 0.83% 0.97%
2086 0.83% 0.98%
2085 0.83% 1%
2084 0.83% 1.01%
2083 0.83% 1.03%
2082 0.84% 1.04%
2081 0.84% 1.06%
2080 0.84% 1.07%
2079 0.84% 1.09%
2078 0.84% 1.1%
2077 0.84% 1.11%
2076 0.84% 1.13%
2075 0.84% 1.14%
2074 0.84% 1.15%
2073 0.84% 1.16%
2072 0.83% 1.17%
2071 0.83% 1.17%
2070 0.83% 1.18%
2069 0.83% 1.18%
2068 0.83% 1.18%
2067 0.83% 1.17%
2066 0.82% 1.17%
2065 0.82% 1.17%
2064 0.82% 1.17%
2063 0.82% 1.16%
2062 0.82% 1.15%
2061 0.82% 1.14%
2060 0.82% 1.14%
2059 0.82% 1.14%
2058 0.82% 1.14%
2057 0.81% 1.14%
2056 0.82% 1.14%
2055 0.82% 1.14%
2054 0.82% 1.14%
2053 0.83% 1.14%
2052 0.84% 1.14%
2051 0.84% 1.15%
2050 0.85% 1.16%
2049 0.86% 1.16%
2048 0.87% 1.17%
2047 0.88% 1.15%
2046 0.89% 1.14%
2045 0.9% 1.15%
2044 0.9% 1.16%
2043 0.91% 1.16%
2042 0.91% 1.17%
2041 0.92% 1.18%
2040 0.92% 1.18%
2039 0.92% 1.19%
2038 0.92% 1.19%
2037 0.92% 1.19%
2036 0.92% 1.18%
2035 0.92% 1.18%
2034 0.91% 1.17%
2033 0.9% 1.15%
2032 0.9% 1.13%
2031 0.89% 1.11%
2030 0.94% 1.15%
2029 1.02% 1.24%
2028 1.17% 1.42%
2027 1.4% 1.7%
2026 1.65% 2.33%
2025 2.06% 3.47%
2024 0.9% 4.79%
2023 5.75% 4.06%
2022 5.25% 5.22%
2021 -0.9% 1.85%
2020 -0.95% -0.47%
2019 2.75% 1.06%
2018 4.06% 1.34%
2017 3.76% 3.22%
2016 4.42% 5.05%
2015 4.6% 5.53%
2014 4.51% 4.76%
2013 5.12% 4.08%
2012 6.52% 4.04%
2011 6.44% 3.42%
2010 5.29% 2.43%
2009 5.43% 6.42%
2008 5.72% 12.1%
2007 6.05% 12.3%
2006 5.72% 7.38%
2005 3.68% 5.32%
2004 2.25% 5.64%
2003 2.42% 5.96%
2002 2.58% 6.26%
2001 2.73% 6.58%
2000 2.88% 6.97%
1999 3.02% 7.42%
1998 3.17% 7.92%
1997 3.32% 8.46%
1996 2.9% 6.69%
1995 1.03% 4.57%
1994 -0.47% 4.77%
1993 2.27% 5.08%
1992 21% 5.39%
1991 -19.8% 5.71%
1990 -24% 6.05%
1989 3.88% 6.43%
1988 3.98% 6.83%
1987 4.08% 7.28%
1986 4.13% 6.49%
1985 4.04% 5.51%
1984 4.38% 5.72%
1983 4.92% 5.91%
1982 4.99% 6.05%
1981 5.23% 8.29%
1980 5.71% 11.4%
1979 6.21% 12.7%
1978 6.54% 13.9%
1977 6.73% 15.3%
1976 6.68% 13.4%
1975 6.41% 11%
1974 6.21% 12.1%
1973 6.23% 13.3%
1972 6.39% 14.9%
1971 6.92% 16.9%
1970 7.96% 19.6%
1969 8.98% 20.2%
1968 9.49% 11%
1967 9.69% 3.29%
1966 9.87% 4.11%
1965 10.2% 4.64%
1964 10.6% 4.91%
1963 11.1% 5.01%
1962 11.3% 5.04%
1961 11.2% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Kuwait grew by 0.9%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Kuwait UAE
Current population
5100145
11686438
Population rank 127/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.14%
One net population change
12 minutes
1.05 minutes
One birth every
10.5 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +120 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +43,843 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +0.9% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 106/197 3/197
One migration net change every
12.3 minutes
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +42,775 +158,634
Net migration rank 24/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 3,323,191 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 20/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 67.3% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 5/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Kuwait
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Kuwait UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 42,775 - 158,634
2024 - 61,624 - 278,439
2023 42,568 50,008 92,698 300,004
2022 41,752 368,560 81,758 322,773
2021 42,057 19,678 76,802 421,663
2020 41,083 -168,379 87,871 92,541
2019 46,268 181 86,296 -125,186
2018 47,222 145,973 86,840 14,611
2017 51,498 92,717 89,382 34,155
2016 51,397 105,818 87,028 195,317
2015 52,127 129,695 85,044 342,468
2014 54,673 100,891 84,277 360,174
2013 52,666 107,821 82,977 279,269
2012 53,181 127,777 78,682 225,921
2011 50,733 176,732 73,496 215,183
2010 49,838 101,566 69,907 161,842
2009 48,879 95,483 66,521 163,643
2008 47,505 96,268 55,426 523,207
2007 46,539 96,765 55,048 722,380
2006 45,911 97,087 54,338 399,306
2005 45,243 67,638 60,046 174,926
2004 44,341 1,713 60,344 176,319
2003 42,934 5,895 59,118 177,237
2002 41,651 9,335 55,922 178,988
2001 40,662 12,055 52,789 178,779
2000 39,811 14,296 49,993 178,469
1999 39,342 15,912 46,198 180,469
1998 39,324 16,878 41,176 183,329
1997 39,581 17,457 38,207 183,310
1996 39,920 17,914 37,886 180,296
1995 39,198 438 38,685 68,938
1994 36,533 -41,862 42,976 62,352
1993 33,239 -43,501 41,324 65,545
1992 32,016 52,620 42,119 65,739
1991 21,867 460,628 41,409 66,943
1990 46,720 -1,196,050 41,339 67,118
1989 49,390 34,643 40,148 68,132
1988 50,037 31,455 38,861 68,991
1987 50,690 31,243 37,741 69,493
1986 51,824 27,187 36,829 69,655
1985 51,772 25,777 34,855 37,605
1984 52,539 17,020 33,250 38,124
1983 51,460 31,758 31,480 38,536
1982 49,981 30,437 29,585 38,276
1981 48,098 29,600 27,560 37,600
1980 47,096 32,483 25,005 78,148
1979 45,569 37,383 21,987 82,238
1978 44,277 39,159 18,879 82,359
1977 42,922 38,225 15,787 81,111
1976 41,439 36,050 12,876 78,903
1975 39,295 30,909 11,859 42,380
1974 37,425 25,398 10,835 42,474
1973 35,741 22,830 9,822 42,243
1972 34,045 21,984 8,818 41,888
1971 32,339 22,182 7,839 41,425
1970 30,789 26,614 6,922 40,792
1969 28,774 33,143 6,138 39,902
1968 26,161 35,399 5,588 28,866
1967 23,520 34,177 5,264 -283
1966 20,914 32,383 4,955 1,516
1965 18,952 30,580 4,675 2,598
1964 17,064 29,537 4,410 3,126
1963 15,357 28,889 4,157 3,264
1962 13,730 27,417 3,901 3,212
1961 12,327 24,618 3,657 3,141
1960 11,054 21,769 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 3,323,191 residents or 67.3% of the population were not native-born in Kuwait, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

Biggest cities by population

Kuwait
City Population
Kuwait 2.99M
Al Wafrah 10K
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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