Imports of goods and services in Kuwait
Kuwait: Imports of goods and services was 38.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in Kuwait, 1965–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imports of goods and services in Kuwait is 38.2%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Kuwait peaked at 125.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 13.8%, in 1974.
That places Kuwait 115th out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 60 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 23.1% | — |
| 1966 | 24.4% | +5.4% |
| 1967 | 28.4% | +16.8% |
| 1968 | 26.1% | -8.3% |
| 1969 | 28.9% | +10.9% |
| 1970 | 24.1% | -16.6% |
| 1971 | 18.7% | -22.6% |
| 1972 | 20.7% | +10.7% |
| 1973 | 22.2% | +7.3% |
| 1974 | 13.8% | -37.6% |
| 1975 | 26.0% | +87.9% |
| 1976 | 32.6% | +25.2% |
| 1977 | 43.4% | +33.4% |
| 1978 | 39.9% | -8.2% |
| 1979 | 28.8% | -27.7% |
| 1980 | 34.3% | +19.0% |
| 1981 | 38.5% | +12.2% |
| 1982 | 52.4% | +36.1% |
| 1983 | 49.4% | -5.8% |
| 1984 | 44.6% | -9.5% |
| 1985 | 42.7% | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 48.0% | +12.3% |
| 1987 | 37.1% | -22.7% |
| 1988 | 42.9% | +15.7% |
| 1989 | 41.4% | -3.7% |
| 1990 | 58.1% | +40.4% |
| 1991 | 125.7% | +116.5% |
| 1992 | 54.2% | -56.9% |
| 1993 | 44.3% | -18.3% |
| 1994 | 42.3% | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 42.0% | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 39.2% | -6.6% |
| 1997 | 39.6% | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 51.1% | +29.1% |
| 1999 | 39.4% | -22.8% |
| 2000 | 30.1% | -23.6% |
| 2001 | 35.5% | +17.9% |
| 2002 | 36.6% | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 34.5% | -5.9% |
| 2004 | 32.4% | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 28.3% | -12.7% |
| 2006 | 24.2% | -14.5% |
| 2007 | 28.3% | +17.2% |
| 2008 | 25.9% | -8.5% |
| 2009 | 29.4% | +13.3% |
| 2010 | 30.4% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 25.9% | -14.7% |
| 2012 | 26.3% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 26.7% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 31.5% | +17.9% |
| 2015 | 44.9% | +42.5% |
| 2016 | 48.5% | +8.0% |
| 2017 | 46.6% | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 45.5% | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 39.6% | -12.9% |
| 2020 | 38.3% | -3.4% |
| 2021 | 30.3% | -21.0% |
| 2022 | 30.5% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 38.3% | +25.8% |
| 2024 | 38.2% | -0.3% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 38.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 51.2%, 75% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 38.2% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 48.8%, 78% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imports of goods and services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +116.5% | 58.1% | 125.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 26.2% | 23.1% | 28.9% | 5 |
| 1970s | 27.0% | 13.8% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 43.1% | 34.3% | 52.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.6% | 39.2% | 125.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.5% | 24.2% | 36.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.6% | 25.9% | 48.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.1% | 30.3% | 38.3% | 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 imports of goods and services in Kuwait?
- Imports of goods and services in Kuwait was 38.2% in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 125.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.8% in 1974.
- How does Kuwait rank for imports of goods and services?
- Kuwait ranks 115th out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.