Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Kuwait
Kuwait: Central government revenues as a share of GDP was 43.8% in 1998. ▼ Falling
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Kuwait, 1972–1998
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for central government revenues as a share of gdp in Kuwait is 43.8%, measured in 1998.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 52.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government revenues as a share of gdp in Kuwait peaked at 91.2% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 8.4%, in 1991.
That places Kuwait 8th out of 157 countries with data for 1998, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 41.5% | — |
| 1973 | 43.3% | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 71.4% | +65.1% |
| 1977 | 73.8% | +3.3% |
| 1978 | 71.4% | -3.2% |
| 1979 | 53.3% | -25.4% |
| 1980 | 89.3% | +67.7% |
| 1981 | 90.7% | +1.5% |
| 1982 | 68.8% | -24.2% |
| 1983 | 68.1% | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 67.8% | -0.4% |
| 1985 | 58.8% | -13.3% |
| 1986 | 91.2% | +55.0% |
| 1990 | 58.7% | -35.6% |
| 1991 | 8.4% | -85.7% |
| 1992 | 10.0% | +19.9% |
| 1993 | 31.4% | +212.3% |
| 1994 | 34.5% | +10.0% |
| 1995 | 36.8% | +6.7% |
| 1996 | 35.4% | -3.9% |
| 1997 | 45.5% | +28.6% |
| 1998 | 43.8% | -3.8% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 43.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 33.0%, 1.3× the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 43.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.8%, 1.7× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Central government revenues as a share of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +212.3% | 10.0% | 31.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 59.1% | 41.5% | 73.8% | 6 |
| 1980s | 76.4% | 58.8% | 91.2% | 7 |
| 1990s | 33.8% | 8.4% | 58.7% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
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 central government revenues as a share of gdp in Kuwait?
- Central government revenues as a share of gdp in Kuwait was 43.8% in 1998, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 91.2% in 1986.
- What is the lowest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.4% in 1991.
- How does Kuwait rank for central government revenues as a share of gdp?
- Kuwait ranks 8th out of 157 countries with data for 1998.
- Is central government revenues as a share of gdp rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government revenues as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales included. Grants excluded.