Military spending as a share of GDP in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military spending as a share of GDP was 4.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending as a share of GDP in Kuwait, 1970–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending as a share of gdp in Kuwait is 4.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 5.6% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending as a share of gdp in Kuwait peaked at 117.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1971.
That places Kuwait 13th out of 166 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending as a share of GDP in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.4% | — |
| 1971 | 1.9% | -20.9% |
| 1972 | 2.0% | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 2.5% | +23.8% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +17.1% |
| 1977 | 5.3% | +79.0% |
| 1978 | 4.8% | -10.1% |
| 1979 | 3.5% | -25.5% |
| 1980 | 3.3% | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 4.1% | +24.5% |
| 1982 | 6.0% | +44.3% |
| 1983 | 6.8% | +14.7% |
| 1984 | 6.8% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 6.4% | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 7.2% | +12.5% |
| 1987 | 6.0% | -17.4% |
| 1988 | 8.2% | +37.8% |
| 1989 | 8.5% | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 48.5% | +468.1% |
| 1991 | 117.3% | +141.9% |
| 1992 | 31.8% | -72.9% |
| 1993 | 12.4% | -60.9% |
| 1994 | 13.3% | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 10.3% | -24.2% |
| 1997 | 8.1% | -21.4% |
| 1998 | 8.8% | +8.8% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | -13.7% |
| 2000 | 7.2% | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 7.7% | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 6.5% | -11.6% |
| 2004 | 5.8% | -11.3% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | -25.2% |
| 2006 | 3.5% | -18.4% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -16.3% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | +32.1% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | +39.7% |
| 2016 | 5.9% | +17.7% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 6.3% | +19.6% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | -26.1% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 4.7% | +5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.2% | 1.9% | 5.3% | 8 |
| 1980s | 6.3% | 3.3% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.2% | 7.6% | 117.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 3.0% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 3.3% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.3% | 6.3% | 6 |
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)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 706.21 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual -8.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.5412 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 17,486 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual -8.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 0.1658 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 5,359 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending as a share of gdp in Kuwait?
- Military spending as a share of gdp in Kuwait was 4.7% in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 117.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest military spending as a share of gdp recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1971.
- How does Kuwait rank for military spending as a share of gdp?
- Kuwait ranks 13th out of 166 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending as a share of gdp rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by gross domestic product, expressed as a percentage.