Government spending as share of GDP in Kuwait
Kuwait: Government spending as share of GDP was 50.4% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
50.4%
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
12th
of 151 countries
All-time high
208.9%
in 1991
All-time low
28.8%
in 2005
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Government spending as share of GDP in Kuwait, 1990–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, government spending as share of gdp in Kuwait stood at 50.4%.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending as share of gdp in Kuwait peaked at 208.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 28.8%, in 2005.
Kuwait ranks 12th of 151 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government spending as share of GDP in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 122.9% | — |
| 1991 | 208.9% | +70.0% |
| 1992 | 77.6% | -62.8% |
| 1993 | 58.2% | -25.0% |
| 1994 | 57.8% | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 52.0% | -10.0% |
| 1996 | 42.8% | -17.7% |
| 1997 | 43.8% | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 51.7% | +18.1% |
| 1999 | 44.5% | -14.0% |
| 2000 | 29.9% | -32.8% |
| 2001 | 41.4% | +38.4% |
| 2002 | 42.8% | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 38.2% | -10.7% |
| 2004 | 35.3% | -7.4% |
| 2005 | 28.8% | -18.5% |
| 2006 | 32.3% | +12.1% |
| 2007 | 30.4% | -5.7% |
| 2008 | 40.9% | +34.2% |
| 2009 | 42.9% | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 45.5% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 39.7% | -12.7% |
| 2012 | 38.2% | -3.8% |
| 2013 | 38.4% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 45.0% | +17.1% |
| 2015 | 55.4% | +23.0% |
| 2016 | 54.1% | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 51.9% | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 51.1% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 50.3% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 62.9% | +25.1% |
| 2021 | 48.3% | -23.1% |
| 2022 | 39.6% | -18.1% |
| 2023 | 48.3% | +22.1% |
| 2024 | 50.4% | +4.3% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 50.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 42.3%, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 50.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 28.9%, 1.7× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.0% | 42.8% | 208.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.3% | 28.8% | 42.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.0% | 38.2% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.9% | 39.6% | 62.9% | 5 |
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 government spending as share of gdp in Kuwait?
- Government spending as share of gdp in Kuwait was 50.4% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending as share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 208.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest government spending as share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.8% in 2005.
- How does Kuwait rank for government spending as share of gdp?
- Kuwait ranks 12th out of 151 countries with data for 2024.
- Is government spending as share of gdp rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Sum of all the money spent by the government on goods and services, as a percentage of GDP. It includes interest paid on government debt.