Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Kuwait
Kuwait: Value of imported goods as a share of GDP was 19.3% in 2014. ▬ Flat
Latest (2014)
19.3%
Change on year
up 16.0%
World rank
175th
of 193 countries
All-time high
42.5%
in 1991
All-time low
12.0%
in 1974
Years of data
53
1962–2014
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Kuwait, 1962–2014
Source: Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Kuwait is 19.3%, measured in 2014.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.0% on the previous year and down 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Kuwait peaked at 42.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 1974.
Kuwait ranks 175th of 193 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Value of imported goods as a share of GDP in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 12.7% | — |
| 1963 | 17.0% | +34.6% |
| 1964 | 15.6% | -8.6% |
| 1965 | 15.3% | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 19.3% | +25.9% |
| 1967 | 24.3% | +25.8% |
| 1968 | 23.0% | -5.4% |
| 1969 | 23.3% | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 21.6% | -7.3% |
| 1971 | 16.8% | -22.6% |
| 1972 | 17.9% | +7.1% |
| 1973 | 19.7% | +9.6% |
| 1974 | 12.0% | -39.1% |
| 1975 | 19.9% | +65.9% |
| 1976 | 25.6% | +28.7% |
| 1977 | 34.3% | +34.0% |
| 1978 | 29.7% | -13.3% |
| 1979 | 21.2% | -28.7% |
| 1980 | 22.8% | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 29.6% | +29.7% |
| 1982 | 38.4% | +29.8% |
| 1983 | 35.5% | -7.6% |
| 1984 | 31.8% | -10.3% |
| 1985 | 29.4% | -7.5% |
| 1986 | 33.8% | +14.9% |
| 1987 | 25.6% | -24.3% |
| 1988 | 30.9% | +20.6% |
| 1989 | 26.7% | -13.5% |
| 1990 | 22.0% | -17.7% |
| 1991 | 42.5% | +93.4% |
| 1992 | 36.6% | -14.0% |
| 1993 | 29.4% | -19.6% |
| 1994 | 27.1% | -7.8% |
| 1995 | 28.6% | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 26.9% | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 27.1% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 33.2% | +22.7% |
| 1999 | 25.3% | -23.9% |
| 2000 | 19.5% | -22.8% |
| 2001 | 22.2% | +13.6% |
| 2002 | 23.1% | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 23.9% | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 21.6% | -9.6% |
| 2005 | 18.9% | -12.6% |
| 2006 | 16.3% | -13.5% |
| 2007 | 18.6% | +14.2% |
| 2008 | 17.5% | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 18.3% | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 20.1% | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 16.6% | -17.7% |
| 2012 | 15.1% | -9.0% |
| 2013 | 16.7% | +10.4% |
| 2014 | 19.3% | +16.0% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 19.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.0%, 51% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 19.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 40.6%, 48% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.8% | 12.7% | 24.3% | 8 |
| 1970s | 21.9% | 12.0% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.4% | 22.8% | 38.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.9% | 22.0% | 42.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 20.0% | 16.3% | 23.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.6% | 15.1% | 20.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 172 New Zealand 21.1% compare
- 173 Indonesia 20.7% compare
- 174 Azerbaijan 20.5% compare
- 176 Kazakhstan 19.2% compare
- 177 Cuba 19.2% compare
- 178 China 19.0% 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 value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Kuwait?
- Value of imported goods as a share of gdp in Kuwait was 19.3% in 2014, according to Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 42.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest value of imported goods as a share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 1974.
- How does Kuwait rank for value of imported goods as a share of gdp?
- Kuwait ranks 175th out of 193 countries with data for 2014.
- Is value of imported goods as a share of gdp rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Fouquin and Hugot (2016) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Value of imported goods as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimates correspond to merchandise import-to-GDP ratios for countries and regions. All ratios are taken at current prices. See source for more details.