Refugees by country of asylum in Kuwait
Kuwait: Refugees by country of asylum was 488 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Kuwait, 1979–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Kuwait is 488 people, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 14.7% on the previous year and down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Kuwait peaked at 45,590 people in 1991 and was at its lowest, 49 people, in 2006.
Kuwait ranks 132nd of 183 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.
Refugees by country of asylum in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 5,000 people | — |
| 1980 | 5,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 2,000 people | -60.0% |
| 1982 | 2,220 people | +11.0% |
| 1983 | 2,220 people | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 2,810 people | +26.6% |
| 1985 | 2,280 people | -18.9% |
| 1989 | 210 people | -90.8% |
| 1991 | 45,590 people | +21609.5% |
| 1992 | 44,879 people | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 30,000 people | -33.2% |
| 1994 | 30,020 people | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 3,306 people | -89.0% |
| 1996 | 3,831 people | +15.9% |
| 1997 | 3,787 people | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 4,181 people | +10.4% |
| 1999 | 4,333 people | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 2,776 people | -35.9% |
| 2001 | 1,255 people | -54.8% |
| 2002 | 1,521 people | +21.2% |
| 2003 | 1,518 people | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 1,519 people | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 1,523 people | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 49 people | -96.8% |
| 2007 | 38,158 people | +77773.5% |
| 2008 | 38,237 people | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 222 people | -99.4% |
| 2010 | 185 people | -16.7% |
| 2011 | 336 people | +81.6% |
| 2012 | 676 people | +101.2% |
| 2013 | 633 people | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 611 people | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 736 people | +20.5% |
| 2016 | 935 people | +27.0% |
| 2017 | 613 people | -34.4% |
| 2018 | 671 people | +9.5% |
| 2019 | 686 people | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 732 people | +6.7% |
| 2021 | 720 people | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 684 people | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 572 people | -16.4% |
| 2024 | 488 people | -14.7% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 488 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 5% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 488 people is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16,250 people, 3% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +77773.5% | 49 people | 38,158 people |
| 1991 | +21609.5% | 210 people | 45,590 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5,000 people | 5,000 people | 5,000 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 2,391 people | 210 people | 5,000 people | 7 |
| 1990s | 18,881 people | 3,306 people | 45,590 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 8,678 people | 49 people | 38,237 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 608.2 people | 185 people | 935 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 639.2 people | 488 people | 732 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 129 Liechtenstein 841 people compare
- 130 Botswana 816 people compare
- 131 Bosnia and Herzegovina 495 people compare
- 133 Saudi Arabia 448 people compare
- 134 Lesotho 419 people compare
- 135 Nicaragua 311 people compare
More population data for Kuwait
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0278 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.801 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.8% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 563,011 people (2100)
- Population density 538.83 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.8% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.9514 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.7699 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Kuwait?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Kuwait was 488 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 45,590 people in 1991.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 49 people in 2006.
- How does Kuwait rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Kuwait ranks 132nd out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.