Annual GDP growth in Kuwait
Kuwait: Annual GDP growth was -1.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Annual GDP growth in Kuwait, 1982–2024
Source: International Monetary Fund (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual gdp growth in Kuwait is -1.5%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.2% on the previous year and down 394.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual gdp growth in Kuwait peaked at 82.8% in 1992 and was at its lowest, -41.0%, in 1991.
Kuwait ranks 188th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual GDP growth in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | -9.5% | — |
| 1983 | 5.3% | -155.3% |
| 1984 | 5.2% | -0.2% |
| 1985 | -4.3% | -181.3% |
| 1986 | 8.6% | -301.2% |
| 1987 | 8.1% | -4.9% |
| 1988 | -10.1% | -223.4% |
| 1989 | 25.9% | -357.7% |
| 1990 | -26.2% | -201.3% |
| 1991 | -41.0% | +56.3% |
| 1992 | 82.8% | -301.9% |
| 1993 | 35.1% | -57.6% |
| 1994 | 8.6% | -75.5% |
| 1995 | 1.7% | -80.6% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | -64.2% |
| 1997 | 2.5% | +316.9% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | +46.6% |
| 1999 | -1.8% | -149.0% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | -362.2% |
| 2001 | 0.2% | -95.5% |
| 2002 | 3.0% | +1315.0% |
| 2003 | 17.3% | +474.9% |
| 2004 | 10.2% | -40.9% |
| 2005 | 10.6% | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 7.5% | -29.2% |
| 2007 | 6.0% | -20.3% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | -58.6% |
| 2009 | -7.1% | -385.3% |
| 2010 | -2.4% | -66.5% |
| 2011 | 9.6% | -506.1% |
| 2012 | 6.6% | -31.2% |
| 2013 | 1.1% | -82.7% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -56.4% |
| 2015 | 0.6% | +18.4% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | +393.4% |
| 2017 | -4.7% | -261.0% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | -158.2% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -17.5% |
| 2020 | -4.8% | -312.8% |
| 2021 | 1.7% | -134.7% |
| 2022 | 6.8% | +304.9% |
| 2023 | -1.6% | -124.3% |
| 2024 | -1.5% | -10.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's -1.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%. (67 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's -1.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.9%. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual GDP growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +1315.0% | 0.2% | 3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.7% | -10.1% | 25.9% | 8 |
| 1990s | 6.6% | -41.0% | 82.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.5% | -7.1% | 17.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.9% | -4.7% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | -4.8% | 6.8% | 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 annual gdp growth in Kuwait?
- Annual gdp growth in Kuwait was -1.5% in 2024, according to International Monetary Fund (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual gdp growth recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 82.8% in 1992.
- What is the lowest annual gdp growth recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was -41.0% in 1991.
- How does Kuwait rank for annual gdp growth?
- Kuwait ranks 188th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual gdp growth rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 394.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual GDP growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual percent change in gross domestic product. This data is adjusted for inflation.