Annual population growth in Kuwait
Kuwait: Annual population growth was 249,267 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
249,267
Change on year
up 9.0%
World rank
61st
of 236 countries
All-time high
283,565
in 1992
All-time low
-532,637
in 1990
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Kuwait, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual population growth in Kuwait is 249,267, 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 population growth in Kuwait peaked at 283,565 in 1992 and was at its lowest, -532,637, 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 population growth in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 4,489 | — |
| 1952 | 4,707 | +4.9% |
| 1953 | 4,933 | +4.8% |
| 1954 | 5,154 | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 12,869 | +149.7% |
| 1956 | 21,097 | +63.9% |
| 1957 | 19,830 | -6.0% |
| 1958 | 23,164 | +16.8% |
| 1959 | 29,316 | +26.6% |
| 1960 | 31,534 | +7.6% |
| 1961 | 34,887 | +10.6% |
| 1962 | 39,052 | +11.9% |
| 1963 | 42,697 | +9.3% |
| 1964 | 45,420 | +6.4% |
| 1965 | 48,058 | +5.8% |
| 1966 | 51,417 | +7.0% |
| 1967 | 55,507 | +8.0% |
| 1968 | 59,622 | +7.4% |
| 1969 | 61,734 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 59,658 | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 55,961 | -6.2% |
| 1972 | 55,279 | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 57,307 | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 60,689 | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 66,515 | +9.6% |
| 1976 | 73,848 | +11.0% |
| 1977 | 79,312 | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 82,294 | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 83,200 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 81,266 | -2.3% |
| 1981 | 78,639 | -3.2% |
| 1982 | 79,061 | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 81,813 | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 76,390 | -6.6% |
| 1985 | 73,563 | -3.7% |
| 1986 | 78,265 | +6.4% |
| 1987 | 80,487 | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 81,701 | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 82,762 | +1.3% |
| 1990 | -532,637 | -743.6% |
| 1991 | -333,430 | -37.4% |
| 1992 | 283,565 | -185.0% |
| 1993 | 37,190 | -86.9% |
| 1994 | -7,787 | -120.9% |
| 1995 | 17,147 | -320.2% |
| 1996 | 48,737 | +184.2% |
| 1997 | 57,437 | +17.9% |
| 1998 | 56,616 | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 55,727 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 54,678 | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 53,414 | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 51,856 | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 49,903 | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 47,443 | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 79,468 | +67.5% |
| 2006 | 127,944 | +61.0% |
| 2007 | 143,149 | +11.9% |
| 2008 | 143,543 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 144,056 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 147,885 | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 189,441 | +28.1% |
| 2012 | 204,210 | +7.8% |
| 2013 | 170,730 | -16.4% |
| 2014 | 158,014 | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 168,696 | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 169,511 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 150,710 | -11.1% |
| 2018 | 168,703 | +11.9% |
| 2019 | 118,812 | -29.6% |
| 2020 | -42,055 | -135.4% |
| 2021 | -39,398 | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 228,766 | -680.7% |
| 2023 | 249,267 | +9.0% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 249,267 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,163, 78.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 249,267 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 319,038, 78% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth 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 | -532,637 |
| 2022 | +680.7% | -39,398 | 228,766 |
| 1995 | +320.2% | -7,787 | 17,147 |
| 1992 | +185.0% | -333,430 | 283,565 |
| 1996 | +184.2% | 17,147 | 48,737 |
| 1955 | +149.7% | 5,154 | 12,869 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,951 | 4,489 | 29,316 | 9 |
| 1960s | 46,993 | 31,534 | 61,734 | 10 |
| 1970s | 67,406 | 55,279 | 83,200 | 10 |
| 1980s | 79,395 | 73,563 | 82,762 | 10 |
| 1990s | -31,744 | -532,637 | 283,565 | 10 |
| 2000s | 89,545 | 47,443 | 144,056 | 10 |
| 2010s | 164,671 | 118,812 | 204,210 | 10 |
| 2020s | 99,145 | -42,055 | 249,267 | 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)
- Population growth rate 0.797 (2100)
- Population density 538.83 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 563,011 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Kuwait?
- Annual population growth in Kuwait was 249,267 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 283,565 in 1992.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was -532,637 in 1990.
- How does Kuwait rank for annual population growth?
- Kuwait ranks 61st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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