Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Kuwait
Kuwait: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was 2.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Kuwait, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 2.5% for population growth in 2024.
That represents a change of down 56.1% on the previous year and down 44.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Kuwait peaked at 19.0% in 1992 and was at its lowest, -27.5%, in 1990.
That places Kuwait 29th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.7% | — |
| 1971 | 6.7% | -12.7% |
| 1972 | 6.2% | -7.4% |
| 1973 | 6.0% | -2.5% |
| 1974 | 6.0% | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 6.2% | +3.1% |
| 1976 | 6.5% | +4.2% |
| 1977 | 6.5% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 6.3% | -2.7% |
| 1979 | 6.0% | -5.0% |
| 1980 | 5.6% | -7.8% |
| 1981 | 5.1% | -8.2% |
| 1982 | 4.9% | -4.4% |
| 1983 | 4.8% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 4.3% | -10.8% |
| 1985 | 4.0% | -7.6% |
| 1986 | 4.0% | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 4.0% | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 3.9% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 3.8% | -2.5% |
| 1990 | -27.5% | -822.2% |
| 1991 | -22.1% | -19.7% |
| 1992 | 19.0% | -186.4% |
| 1993 | 2.2% | -88.2% |
| 1994 | -0.5% | -120.8% |
| 1995 | 1.0% | -319.6% |
| 1996 | 2.9% | +178.7% |
| 1997 | 3.3% | +14.3% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | -4.5% |
| 2000 | 2.8% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 2.7% | -5.0% |
| 2002 | 2.5% | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 2.4% | -6.1% |
| 2004 | 2.2% | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | +62.7% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | +53.8% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 5.6% | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 5.2% | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | +21.0% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 5.0% | -21.0% |
| 2014 | 4.4% | -11.7% |
| 2015 | 4.5% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 3.7% | -14.6% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | -31.9% |
| 2020 | -1.0% | -135.1% |
| 2021 | -0.9% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | -668.5% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | +9.3% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | -56.1% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 2.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.5%, 4.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 2.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.7%, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 | -822.2% | 3.8% | -27.5% |
| 2022 | +668.5% | -0.9% | 5.1% |
| 1995 | +319.6% | -0.5% | 1.0% |
| 1992 | +186.4% | -22.1% | 19.0% |
| 1996 | +178.7% | 1.0% | 2.9% |
| 2020 | -135.1% | 2.7% | -1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.4% | 6.0% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.4% | 3.8% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.5% | -27.5% | 19.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.9% | 2.2% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | 2.7% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.3% | -1.0% | 5.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 26 Ethiopia 2.6% compare
- 27 Malawi 2.6% compare
- 28 Benin 2.5% compare
- 30 Cote d'Ivoire 2.4% compare
- 31 Madagascar 2.4% compare
- 32 Equatorial Guinea 2.4% compare
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 population growth in Kuwait?
- Population growth in Kuwait was 2.5% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 19.0% in 1992.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was -27.5% in 1990.
- How does Kuwait rank for population growth?
- Kuwait ranks 29th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release