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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Kuwait was 4,865,298 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Kuwait's population is 4,981,316 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 2.39 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 +2.64% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Kuwait has increased from 2.36M people to 4.98M (110.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% 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 9,334,340 26,706,595
2099 9,260,081 26,465,166
2098 9,186,463 26,225,773
2097 9,113,170 25,988,828
2096 9,040,141 25,753,753
2095 8,967,450 25,520,511
2094 8,895,114 25,288,801
2093 8,823,113 25,058,430
2092 8,751,505 24,829,182
2091 8,680,321 24,600,702
2090 8,609,595 24,372,725
2089 8,539,136 24,144,467
2088 8,469,109 23,916,513
2087 8,399,564 23,688,452
2086 8,330,533 23,460,422
2085 8,261,971 23,232,061
2084 8,193,896 23,002,795
2083 8,126,269 22,772,229
2082 8,059,106 22,540,771
2081 7,992,347 22,308,390
2080 7,926,024 22,075,331
2079 7,860,286 21,841,417
2078 7,795,005 21,606,907
2077 7,730,203 21,371,631
2076 7,665,903 21,136,110
2075 7,602,169 20,900,601
2074 7,538,993 20,665,468
2073 7,476,318 20,430,105
2072 7,414,183 20,196,342
2071 7,352,798 19,963,477
2070 7,292,103 19,732,649
2069 7,231,928 19,503,294
2068 7,172,407 19,276,535
2067 7,113,525 19,052,348
2066 7,055,300 18,831,237
2065 6,997,659 18,612,821
2064 6,940,617 18,397,315
2063 6,883,966 18,185,402
2062 6,827,893 17,977,010
2061 6,772,426 17,772,656
2060 6,717,567 17,571,910
2059 6,663,194 17,373,047
2058 6,609,283 17,176,551
2057 6,555,790 16,982,730
2056 6,502,807 16,791,613
2055 6,450,126 16,602,585
2054 6,397,735 16,414,963
2053 6,345,468 16,230,105
2052 6,293,294 16,047,360
2051 6,241,127 15,866,073
2050 6,188,892 15,685,433
2049 6,136,684 15,505,176
2048 6,084,369 15,326,671
2047 6,032,063 15,149,859
2046 5,979,700 14,977,516
2045 5,927,211 14,808,230
2044 5,874,608 14,639,661
2043 5,822,127 14,472,097
2042 5,769,628 14,305,483
2041 5,717,337 14,139,883
2040 5,665,332 13,975,444
2039 5,613,613 13,812,227
2038 5,562,201 13,650,128
2037 5,511,310 13,489,998
2036 5,460,951 13,331,723
2035 5,411,185 13,175,838
2034 5,362,082 13,022,467
2033 5,313,716 12,872,359
2032 5,266,162 12,725,892
2031 5,219,420 12,583,470
2030 5,173,547 12,445,626
2029 5,125,419 12,304,314
2028 5,073,776 12,153,292
2027 5,015,009 11,982,666
2026 4,945,732 11,781,850
2025 4,865,298 11,513,149
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 977,220 people (a 24.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% 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 24.2% to 6,188,892 people with a rank change from 127th to 119th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

Kuwait is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 9.33M people compared to the peak of 26.7M 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 -0.65% 4.79%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Kuwait declined by 0.65%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Kuwait UAE
Current population
4981316
11885001
Population rank 127/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.06% 0.14%
One net population change
16.5 minutes
1 minute
One birth every
10.7 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
1.18 hours
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline -88 +1,443
Annual growth/decline -31,965 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate -0.65% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 188/197 1/197
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 41,627 61,624 97,197 278,439
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/kuwait/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 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
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
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 (1960–2025, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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