Gross domestic product (GDP) in Kuwait
Kuwait: Gross domestic product (GDP) was 266.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
266.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
down 5.0%
World rank
65th
of 184 countries
All-time high
371.47 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
in 2012
All-time low
31.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1991
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Kuwait, 1970–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross domestic product (gdp) in Kuwait is 266.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 5.0% on the previous year and down 26.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross domestic product (gdp) in Kuwait peaked at 371.47 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2012 and was at its lowest, 31.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1991.
That places Kuwait 65th out of 184 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.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 117.28 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1971 | 121.00 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 126.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 115.62 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.3% |
| 1974 | 105.19 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.0% |
| 1975 | 93.61 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -11.0% |
| 1976 | 103.22 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.3% |
| 1977 | 106.39 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.1% |
| 1978 | 107.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 125.31 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +17.1% |
| 1980 | 98.40 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -21.5% |
| 1981 | 83.72 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -14.9% |
| 1982 | 76.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.4% |
| 1983 | 78.29 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 80.31 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 72.58 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.6% |
| 1986 | 60.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -17.2% |
| 1987 | 71.22 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +18.5% |
| 1988 | 62.93 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -11.6% |
| 1989 | 71.94 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.3% |
| 1990 | 53.30 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -25.9% |
| 1991 | 31.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -40.7% |
| 1992 | 62.99 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +99.1% |
| 1993 | 83.19 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +32.1% |
| 1994 | 87.81 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 89.40 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 96.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 96.51 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 99.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 93.58 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 104.16 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.3% |
| 2001 | 96.79 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.1% |
| 2002 | 100.59 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 125.42 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +24.7% |
| 2004 | 153.64 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +22.5% |
| 2005 | 201.86 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +31.4% |
| 2006 | 247.52 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +22.6% |
| 2007 | 267.86 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 324.95 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.3% |
| 2009 | 233.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -28.1% |
| 2010 | 263.36 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 328.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +24.8% |
| 2012 | 371.47 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.0% |
| 2013 | 362.50 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 333.47 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.0% |
| 2015 | 227.24 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -31.9% |
| 2016 | 226.53 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 245.26 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.3% |
| 2018 | 273.03 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +11.3% |
| 2019 | 277.22 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 260.25 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 255.90 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 280.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | +9.4% |
| 2023 | 266.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.0% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 266.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for high income countries, which is 277.84 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 96% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 266.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 266.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross domestic product (GDP) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +99.1% | 31.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 62.99 billion international-$ in 2021 prices |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 112.07 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 93.61 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 126.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 75.62 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 60.12 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 98.40 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 79.42 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 31.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 99.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 185.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 96.79 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 324.95 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 290.87 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 226.53 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 371.47 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 265.58 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 255.90 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 280.05 billion international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 62 Kenya 315.39 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 63 Sri Lanka 292.66 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 64 Finland 289.58 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 66 Dominican Republic 261.55 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 67 Belarus 261.41 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 68 Ecuador 255.13 billion international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More economy & growth data for Kuwait
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.82 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.61 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 2.99 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.019 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 614.43 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 413.09 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -32.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0026 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 84.91 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross domestic product (gdp) in Kuwait?
- Gross domestic product (gdp) in Kuwait was 266.11 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 371.47 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 2012.
- What is the lowest gross domestic product (gdp) recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.63 billion international-$ in 2021 prices in 1991.
- How does Kuwait rank for gross domestic product (gdp)?
- Kuwait ranks 65th out of 184 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gross domestic product (gdp) rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gross domestic product (GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total economic output of a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.