Military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait

Kuwait: Military personnel as a share of total population was 0.3922 in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
0.3922
Change on year
down 5.0%
World rank
56th
of 194 countries
All-time high
2.48
in 1975
All-time low
0.2801
in 1962
Years of data
62
1961–2022

Military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait, 1961–2022

0.511.522.5196119912022

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait is 0.3922, measured in 2022.

That represents a change of down 5.0% on the previous year and down 20.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait peaked at 2.48 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 0.2801, in 1962.

Kuwait ranks 56th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait, year by year

Annual values for Military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait, 1961 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1961 0.3077 —
1962 0.2801 -9.0%
1963 0.5089 +81.7%
1964 0.463 -9.0%
1965 1.68 +263.8%
1966 1.54 -8.7%
1967 1.4 -8.8%
1968 1.6 +14.0%
1969 1.46 -8.8%
1970 1.34 -8.3%
1971 1.77 +31.9%
1972 1.66 -5.8%
1973 1.57 -5.7%
1974 1.58 +0.9%
1975 2.48 +56.9%
1976 2.34 -5.9%
1977 0.8787 -62.4%
1978 0.8258 -6.0%
1979 0.8527 +3.3%
1980 0.8759 +2.7%
1981 0.838 -4.3%
1982 0.8684 +3.6%
1983 0.8301 -4.4%
1984 0.9163 +10.4%
1985 0.9302 +1.5%
1986 0.9989 +7.4%
1987 1.06 +6.2%
1988 0.7618 -28.2%
1989 0.9732 +27.8%
1990 0.327 -66.4%
1991 0.4773 +46.0%
1992 0.8439 +76.8%
1993 0.8214 -2.7%
1994 0.9259 +12.7%
1995 1.18 +27.7%
1996 1.25 +6.0%
1997 1.55 +23.4%
1998 1.16 -25.1%
1999 1.11 -4.5%
2000 0.7606 -31.3%
2001 0.8193 +7.7%
2002 0.7812 -4.6%
2003 0.7561 -3.2%
2004 0.7286 -3.6%
2005 0.6969 -4.4%
2006 0.662 -5.0%
2007 0.6262 -5.4%
2008 0.5922 -5.4%
2009 0.5614 -5.2%
2010 0.5348 -4.7%
2011 0.512 -4.3%
2012 0.4923 -3.8%
2013 0.4447 -9.7%
2014 0.4231 -4.9%
2015 0.4065 -3.9%
2016 0.3948 -2.9%
2017 0.3851 -2.5%
2018 0.3701 -3.9%
2019 0.4052 +9.5%
2020 0.4091 +1.0%
2021 0.4127 +0.9%
2022 0.3922 -5.0%

Kuwait compared with similar countries

  • Kuwait's 0.3922 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.3016, 1.3× the median. (64 countries reporting)
  • Kuwait's 0.3922 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.5235, 75% of the median. (22 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Military personnel as a share of total 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.

YearChange FromTo
1965 +263.8% 0.463 1.68
1963 +81.7% 0.2801 0.5089
1992 +76.8% 0.4773 0.8439
1990 -66.4% 0.9732 0.327
1975 +56.9% 1.58 2.48
1977 -62.4% 2.34 0.8787

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 1.03 0.2801 1.68 9
1970s 1.53 0.8258 2.48 10
1980s 0.9054 0.7618 1.06 10
1990s 0.9647 0.327 1.55 10
2000s 0.6985 0.5614 0.8193 10
2010s 0.4369 0.3701 0.5348 10
2020s 0.4047 0.3922 0.4127 3

Countries ranked near Kuwait

  1. 53 Ethiopia 0.4012 compare
  2. 54 El Salvador 0.3981 compare
  3. 55 United States 0.3945 compare
  4. 57 Egypt 0.3898 compare
  5. 58 Laos 0.3836 compare
  6. 59 Malta 0.3788 compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More population data for Kuwait

All data for Kuwait →

Frequently asked questions

What is military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait?
Military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait was 0.3922 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 2.48 in 1975.
What is the lowest military personnel as a share of total population recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 0.2801 in 1962.
How does Kuwait rank for military personnel as a share of total population?
Kuwait ranks 56th out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
Is military personnel as a share of total population rising or falling in Kuwait?
Over the last ten years it is down 20.3%. 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 Military personnel as a share of total population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Military personnel as a share of total population in Kuwait. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 12 November 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/military-personnel-as-a-share-of-total-population/kuwait/

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About this data

Indicator
Military personnel as a share of total population
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 15,765 data points, 1816–2022
Last refreshed