Annual change in population in Kuwait
Kuwait: Annual change in population was 249,267 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
249,267 people
Change on year
up 9.0%
World rank
61st
of 236 countries
All-time high
283,565 people
in 1992
All-time low
-532,637 people
in 1990
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Kuwait, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in population in Kuwait is 249,267 people, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.0% on the previous year and up 46.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Kuwait peaked at 283,565 people in 1992 and was at its lowest, -532,637 people, in 1990.
That places Kuwait 61st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 4,489 people | — |
| 1952 | 4,707 people | +4.9% |
| 1953 | 4,933 people | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 5,154 people | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 12,869 people | +149.7% |
| 1956 | 21,097 people | +63.9% |
| 1957 | 19,830 people | -6.0% |
| 1958 | 23,164 people | +16.8% |
| 1959 | 29,316 people | +26.6% |
| 1960 | 31,534 people | +7.6% |
| 1961 | 34,887 people | +10.6% |
| 1962 | 39,052 people | +11.9% |
| 1963 | 42,697 people | +9.3% |
| 1964 | 45,420 people | +6.4% |
| 1965 | 48,058 people | +5.8% |
| 1966 | 51,417 people | +7.0% |
| 1967 | 55,507 people | +8.0% |
| 1968 | 59,622 people | +7.4% |
| 1969 | 61,734 people | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 59,658 people | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 55,961 people | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 55,279 people | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 57,307 people | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 60,689 people | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 66,515 people | +9.6% |
| 1976 | 73,848 people | +11.0% |
| 1977 | 79,312 people | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 82,294 people | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 83,200 people | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 81,266 people | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 78,639 people | -3.2% |
| 1982 | 79,061 people | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 81,813 people | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 76,390 people | -6.6% |
| 1985 | 73,563 people | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 78,265 people | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 80,487 people | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 81,701 people | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 82,762 people | +1.3% |
| 1990 | -532,637 people | -743.6% |
| 1991 | -333,430 people | -37.4% |
| 1992 | 283,565 people | -185.0% |
| 1993 | 37,190 people | -86.9% |
| 1994 | -7,787 people | -120.9% |
| 1995 | 17,147 people | -320.2% |
| 1996 | 48,737 people | +184.2% |
| 1997 | 57,437 people | +17.9% |
| 1998 | 56,616 people | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 55,727 people | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 54,678 people | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 53,414 people | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 51,856 people | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 49,903 people | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 47,443 people | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 79,468 people | +67.5% |
| 2006 | 127,944 people | +61.0% |
| 2007 | 143,149 people | +11.9% |
| 2008 | 143,543 people | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 144,056 people | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 147,885 people | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 189,441 people | +28.1% |
| 2012 | 204,210 people | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 170,730 people | -16.4% |
| 2014 | 158,014 people | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 168,696 people | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 169,511 people | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 150,710 people | -11.1% |
| 2018 | 168,703 people | +11.9% |
| 2019 | 118,812 people | -29.6% |
| 2020 | -42,055 people | -135.4% |
| 2021 | -39,398 people | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 228,766 people | -680.7% |
| 2023 | 249,267 people | +9.0% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 249,267 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people, 78.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 249,267 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 319,038 people, 78% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population in Kuwait changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -743.6% | 82,762 people | -532,637 people |
| 2022 | +680.7% | -39,398 people | 228,766 people |
| 1995 | +320.2% | -7,787 people | 17,147 people |
| 1992 | +185.0% | -333,430 people | 283,565 people |
| 1996 | +184.2% | 17,147 people | 48,737 people |
| 1955 | +149.7% | 5,154 people | 12,869 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,951 people | 4,489 people | 29,316 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 46,993 people | 31,534 people | 61,734 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 67,406 people | 55,279 people | 83,200 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 79,395 people | 73,563 people | 82,762 people | 10 |
| 1990s | -31,744 people | -532,637 people | 283,565 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 89,545 people | 47,443 people | 144,056 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 164,671 people | 118,812 people | 204,210 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 99,145 people | -42,055 people | 249,267 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More population data for Kuwait
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.801 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2043)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.801 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,155 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7699 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.9514 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.8% (2100)
- Population density 538.83 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 563,011 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Kuwait?
- Annual change in population in Kuwait was 249,267 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 283,565 people in 1992.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was -532,637 people in 1990.
- How does Kuwait rank for annual change in population?
- Kuwait ranks 61st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.