Kuwait

Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan·High income

Population: 4.85M; 127th of 217
GDP: $160B; 59th of 214 · 2024
GDP per capita: $32,214; 52nd of 214 · 2024
Life expectancy: 83.2; 17th of 217
Human development: 0.831; 49th of 189 · 2021

Benchmarked against

Kuwait

Bahrain

Saudi Arabia

Malta

United Arab Emirates

Default peers are drawn from region, income, and bloc membership — swap in any country you like. The gray tick on each strip is the world median.

small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy; renewable energy proponent; regional finance and investment leader; maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund; emerging space and tourism industries; mid-way through 25-year development program

Area: 17,818 km²
Resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Borders: Iraq; Saudi Arabia

Religion

who identifies with what, 2020

world view →

Muslim80.2%▼ 2.3pt
Christian10.5%▲ 1.1pt
Hindu8.5%▲ 1.1pt

Religious diversity: 3.94 / 10 · moderate · 79th of 193

Change markers show percentage-point shifts from 2010 to 2020 · Pew Research Center, Religious Composition 2010–2020.

Score card

quartile grades among all countries with data

A · Top quartileB · Above medianC · Below medianD · Bottom quartile

Topic

KWT

BHR

MLT

GDP

current US$

$160B–––

GDP per capita

current US$

–––

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

–––

GDP growth

annual %

–––

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

–––

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

–––

FDI inflows

current US$

$615M–––

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

71.2%–––

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

0.5%–––

Industry value added

% of GDP

57.1%–––

Unemployment

% of labor force

–––

GDP per capita, long run

2011 int'l $

–––

Human capital index

PWT, schooling × returns

–––

Annual hours worked

hours per worker

2,317.9–––

Labor share of GDP

share, 0–1

0.249–––

Total factor productivity

level, US = 1

–––

Population

people

4.85M–––

Population density

people per km²

257.6–––

Urban population

% of total

100%–––

Life expectancy

years at birth

–––

Fertility rate

births per woman

1.5–––

Net migration

people

61.6K–––

Population under 15

% of total

18.2%–––

Population 65+

% of total

3.1%–––

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Health expenditure

% of GDP

4.3%–––

Physicians

per 1,000 people

–––

Adult literacy

% ages 15+

–––

Education expenditure

% of GDP

5%–––

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

–––

Safe drinking water

% of population

–––

Internet users

% of population

–––

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

–––

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

–––

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

–––

Access to electricity

% of population

–––

Energy use per capita

kWh

106K–––

Electricity per capita

kWh

17.8K–––

Electricity generation

TWh

87.7–––

Renewable electricity

% of generation

–––

Fossil electricity

% of generation

–––

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

–––

CO₂ per capita

t per person

–––

Share of global CO₂

0.3%–––

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

–––

Top 1% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Top 10% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Bottom 50% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Top 1% wealth share

% of net wealth

–––

Gini, pre-tax income

0–1

–––

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Civil liberties

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Political corruption

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Academic freedom

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

–––

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Conflict deaths

deaths per year, best estimate

–––

State-based conflict deaths

deaths per year, best estimate

–––

One-sided violence deaths

civilian deaths per year

–––

Emancipative values

Welzel index, 0–1

0.306–––

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

2.5–––

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

4.13–––

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

63.2%–––

Men make better leaders

agree, 1–4

3.25–––

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

28.1%–––

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

37.2%–––

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

41.8%–––

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

56.3%–––

Environment over economy

% choosing environment

33.1%–––

Luck matters more than work

1–10

3.87–––

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

3.94–––

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

0.2%–––

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

–––

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

2.88–––

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

2.2–––

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

3.17–––

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

2.49–––

Importance of democracy

mean, 1–10

8.17–––

National pride

mean, 1–4

3.77–––

Would fight for country

% yes

81.4%–––

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

2.7–––

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

–––

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

–––

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

–––

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

–––

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

–––

Global Peace Index

1–5

–––

Military expenditure

% of GDP

4.9%–––

Economy & Trade

Output, growth, prices, and openness

theme overview →

GDP

current US$

#59/214

$160B2024

GDP per capita

current US$

#52/214

$32,2142024

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

#41/203

$53,025latest

GDP growth

annual %

#207/214

-2.6%2024

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

#32/207

$40,2502024

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

#10/213

-0.7%2024

FDI inflows

current US$

#113/201

$615M2024

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

#61/205

71.2%2024

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

#190/206

0.5%2024

Industry value added

% of GDP

#5/208

57.1%2024

Unemployment

% of labor force

#16/187

2.1%latest

GDP per capita, long run

2011 int'l $

#5/165

$71,5342022

Human capital index

PWT, schooling × returns

#106/144

2.32023

Annual hours worked

hours per worker

#16/129

2,317.92023

Labor share of GDP

share, 0–1

#135/139

0.2492023

Total factor productivity

level, US = 1

#31/119

0.7852023

People & Society

Population structure, urbanization, and migration

theme overview →

Population

people

#127/217

4.85Mlatest

Population density

people per km²

#50/216

257.6latest

Urban population

% of total

#5/215

100%latest

Life expectancy

years at birth

#17/217

83.2latest

Fertility rate

births per woman

#149/217

1.5latest

Net migration

people

#22/217

61.6K2024

Population under 15

% of total

#140/217

18.2%2024

Population 65+

% of total

#189/217

3.1%2024

Health & Education

Longevity, mortality, learning, and public spending

theme overview →

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

#63/196

7.6latest

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

#62/196

8.8latest

Health expenditure

% of GDP

#150/192

4.3%latest

Physicians

per 1,000 people

#79/195

2.3latest

Adult literacy

% ages 15+

#68/160

96%latest

Education expenditure

% of GDP

#60/199

5%latest

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

#58/194

61.6%latest

Safe drinking water

% of population

#5/139

100%latest

Connectivity

Internet, mobile, and digital infrastructure

theme overview →

Internet users

% of population

#5/210

99.7%latest

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

#17/214

167.72023

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

#169/208

12023

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

#137/215

378.42024

Access to electricity

% of population

#61/215

100%latest

Energy & Climate

Energy use, electricity mix, and emissions

theme overview →

Energy use per capita

kWh

#7/198

106K2024

Electricity per capita

kWh

#5/202

17.8K2024

Electricity generation

TWh

#39/202

87.72024

Renewable electricity

% of generation

#178/202

2.2%2024

Fossil electricity

% of generation

#178/202

97.8%2024

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

#169/204

129.52024

CO₂ per capita

t per person

#203/204

26.22024

Share of global CO₂

#36/204

0.3%2024

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

#189/193

292023

Inequality

Who gets what — top and bottom shares of income and wealth, from tax data and national accounts

theme overview →

Top 1% income share

% of pre-tax income

#133/210

0.2%2024

Top 10% income share

% of pre-tax income

#93/210

0.5%2024

Bottom 50% income share

% of pre-tax income

#67/210

0.2%2024

Top 1% wealth share

% of net wealth

#62/210

0.2%2024

Gini, pre-tax income

0–1

#78/210

0.552024

Governance & Democracy

Democratic institutions, corruption, and rule of law

theme overview →

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#160/175

0.1382025

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#126/175

0.1272025

Civil liberties

V-Dem, 0–1

#123/175

0.4882025

Political corruption

V-Dem, 0–1

#66/175

0.3462025

Academic freedom

V-Dem, 0–1

#111/175

0.4182025

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

#78/178

422022

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#74/193

0.1272022

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#75/193

0.1122022

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#75/193

0.282022

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#81/193

0.2812022

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

#164/175

0.3572025

Conflict & Security

Organized violence since 1989 — every battle death georeferenced by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program

theme overview →

Conflict deaths

deaths per year, best estimate

#24/126

02025

State-based conflict deaths

deaths per year, best estimate

#29/126

02025

One-sided violence deaths

civilian deaths per year

#29/126

02025

Values & Beliefs

What people hold sacred, permit, and pass on — from 40 years of World Values Survey interviews

theme overview →

Emancipative values

Welzel index, 0–1

#91/104

0.3062014

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

#80/114

2.52014

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

#79/114

4.132014

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

#96/114

2.422014

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

#90/111

2.892014

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

#19/113

63.2%2014

Men make better leaders

agree, 1–4

#5/109

3.252014

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

#17/112

28.1%2014

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

#18/112

37.2%2014

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

#56/114

41.8%2014

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

#22/114

56.3%2014

Environment over economy

% choosing environment

#109/110

33.1%2014

Luck matters more than work

1–10

#86/109

3.872014

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

#79/193

3.942020

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

#151/193

0.2%2020

Trust & Institutions

Who people trust, and how much faith they place in government, press, and courts

theme overview →

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

#33/114

30%2014

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

#16/112

2.882014

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

#59/113

2.22014

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

#4/110

3.172014

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

#51/111

2.492014

Importance of democracy

mean, 1–10

#69/104

8.172014

National pride

mean, 1–4

#23/114

3.772014

Would fight for country

% yes

#28/113

81.4%2014

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

#14/114

2.72014

Development & Wellbeing

Composite measures of how life is going

theme overview →

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

#49/189

0.8312021

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

#74/170

0.3052021

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

#40/164

6.542025

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

#9/113

7.962014

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

#56/114

7.212014

Global Peace Index

1–5

#34/158

1.672023

Military expenditure

% of GDP

#15/161

4.9%latest

Explore any measure in depth on its own page — try GDP per capita or electoral democracy.