GDP per capita in Kuwait
Kuwait: GDP per capita was 54,996 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
54,996 international-$ in 2021 prices
Change on year
down 9.9%
World rank
26th
of 184 countries
All-time high
144,952 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1970
All-time low
23,408 international-$ in 2021 prices
in 1991
Years of data
54
1970–2023
GDP per capita 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 gdp per capita in Kuwait is 54,996 international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.9% on the previous year and down 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gdp per capita in Kuwait peaked at 144,952 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1970 and was at its lowest, 23,408 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 1991.
That places Kuwait 26th out of 184 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
GDP per capita in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 144,952 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 1971 | 139,878 international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 1972 | 136,960 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.1% |
| 1973 | 118,260 international-$ in 2021 prices | -13.7% |
| 1974 | 101,302 international-$ in 2021 prices | -14.3% |
| 1975 | 84,728 international-$ in 2021 prices | -16.4% |
| 1976 | 87,567 international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 84,566 international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 79,854 international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.6% |
| 1979 | 88,030 international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.2% |
| 1980 | 65,389 international-$ in 2021 prices | -25.7% |
| 1981 | 52,872 international-$ in 2021 prices | -19.1% |
| 1982 | 46,115 international-$ in 2021 prices | -12.8% |
| 1983 | 44,884 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 1984 | 44,111 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.7% |
| 1985 | 38,316 international-$ in 2021 prices | -13.1% |
| 1986 | 30,481 international-$ in 2021 prices | -20.4% |
| 1987 | 34,690 international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.8% |
| 1988 | 29,479 international-$ in 2021 prices | -15.0% |
| 1989 | 32,443 international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.1% |
| 1990 | 31,638 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 23,408 international-$ in 2021 prices | -26.0% |
| 1992 | 38,524 international-$ in 2021 prices | +64.6% |
| 1993 | 49,749 international-$ in 2021 prices | +29.1% |
| 1994 | 52,757 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 53,166 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 55,555 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 53,989 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 54,018 international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 49,251 international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 53,284 international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.2% |
| 2001 | 48,200 international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.5% |
| 2002 | 48,830 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 59,442 international-$ in 2021 prices | +21.7% |
| 2004 | 71,217 international-$ in 2021 prices | +19.8% |
| 2005 | 90,246 international-$ in 2021 prices | +26.7% |
| 2006 | 104,670 international-$ in 2021 prices | +16.0% |
| 2007 | 106,806 international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 122,558 international-$ in 2021 prices | +14.7% |
| 2009 | 83,545 international-$ in 2021 prices | -31.8% |
| 2010 | 89,476 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.1% |
| 2011 | 104,900 international-$ in 2021 prices | +17.2% |
| 2012 | 111,318 international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 103,341 international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.2% |
| 2014 | 90,968 international-$ in 2021 prices | -12.0% |
| 2015 | 59,263 international-$ in 2021 prices | -34.9% |
| 2016 | 56,576 international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 59,033 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 63,151 international-$ in 2021 prices | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 62,407 international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 59,146 international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 58,683 international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 61,020 international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 54,996 international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.9% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 54,996 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for high income countries, which is 45,556 international-$ in 2021 prices, 1.2× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 54,996 international-$ in 2021 prices is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 14,580 international-$ in 2021 prices, 3.8× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 106,610 international-$ in 2021 prices | 79,854 international-$ in 2021 prices | 144,952 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1980s | 41,878 international-$ in 2021 prices | 29,479 international-$ in 2021 prices | 65,389 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 1990s | 46,206 international-$ in 2021 prices | 23,408 international-$ in 2021 prices | 55,555 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2000s | 78,880 international-$ in 2021 prices | 48,200 international-$ in 2021 prices | 122,558 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 80,043 international-$ in 2021 prices | 56,576 international-$ in 2021 prices | 111,318 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 58,461 international-$ in 2021 prices | 54,996 international-$ in 2021 prices | 61,020 international-$ in 2021 prices | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 23 Belgium 58,123 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 24 South Korea 56,280 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 25 Canada 55,101 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 27 Bahrain 53,814 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 28 Finland 51,699 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 29 France 51,466 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0284 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 916.14 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.517 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0207 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 668.96 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0124 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gdp per capita in Kuwait?
- Gdp per capita in Kuwait was 54,996 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 gdp per capita recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 144,952 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1970.
- What is the lowest gdp per capita recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,408 international-$ in 2021 prices in 1991.
- How does Kuwait rank for gdp per capita?
- Kuwait ranks 26th out of 184 countries with data for 2023.
- Is gdp per capita rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average economic output per person in a country or region per year. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.