Polity · 1757 CE – present
Kuwait
الكويت
- Peak recorded area
- 17,342 km²
- 1991 CE
- Rulers on record
- 36
- from 1752 CE
- Data series
- 350
- 1789 CE–2025 CE
Overview
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia. It is situated at the head of the Persian Gulf in the northeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. With a coastline of approximately 500 km (311 mi), Kuwait also shares a maritime border with Iran. Kuwait is a city-state; most of the country's population reside in the urban agglomeration of Kuwait City, the capital and largest city.
Lead section from Wikipedia, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article.
Territory
5 dated territorial extents on record from Cliopatria. Areas are measured off the recorded polygons; the line steps because each extent holds until the next one is recorded — nothing is interpolated.
The record
The best-attested series in each category; where several projects publish the same quantity, the one with the most observations is shown. Each row is the most recent value the record holds at or before the last complete year, shown with the year that value belongs to. Some statistical series also publish forward projections — the year column is the honest guide. Nothing on this page is interpolated or estimated by us.
People
6 of 55 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Population158 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 5Mpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy136 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 80.78years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Population Growth112 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 1.64% annual2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Net Migration83 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 42.8Kpersons2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Female82 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 82.15years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
| Life Expectancy Male82 obs · 1950 CE–2025 CE | 79.63years2025 CE · UN World Population Prospects 2024 |
Economy
6 of 120 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| GDP per capita PPP191 obs · 1800 CE–2019 CE | 86.4Kint'l $ (inflation adj.)2019 CE · Gapminder |
| GDP Current Usd99 obs · 1962 CE–2025 CE | 157.2Bcurrent US$2025 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Inflation53 obs · 1973 CE–2025 CE | 2.36% annual2025 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Fuel Exports % Merchandise51 obs · 1970 CE–2023 CE | 95.52%2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Mineral Rents % GDP51 obs · 1970 CE–2020 CE | 0%2020 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Fuel Imports % Merchandise50 obs · 1970 CE–2023 CE | 0.6384%2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
Military
6 of 41 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Military Expenditure % GDP53 obs · 1970 CE–2024 CE | 4.84% of GDP2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Military Expenditure Usd53 obs · 1970 CE–2024 CE | 7.8Bcurrent US$2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Armed Forces Personnel33 obs · 1985 CE–2020 CE | 25Kpersons2020 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| CINC Score27 obs · 1990 CE–2016 CE | 0.0015CINC (share of world capability)2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Energy Consumption27 obs · 1990 CE–2016 CE | 109.8Mcoal-ton equivalents2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
| Iron Steel Production27 obs · 1990 CE–2016 CE | 0tons2016 CE · Correlates of War NMC v6.0 |
Territory & resources
6 of 52 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Arable Land %97 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 0.4489% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Gas Production96 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 149.18TWh2024 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Oil Production96 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 1,520.71TWh2024 CE · Our World in Data Energy |
| Forest Area %68 obs · 1990 CE–2023 CE | 0.3507% of land area2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Surface Area63 obs · 1961 CE–2023 CE | 17.8Ksq. km2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Gas Proved Reserves M341 obs · 1980 CE–2020 CE | 1.7Tm32020 CE · Energy Institute Statistical Review |
Governance
6 of 28 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Electoral Democracy Index207 obs · 1789 CE–2024 CE | 0.292index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Participatory Democracy Index207 obs · 1789 CE–2024 CE | 0.084index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Rule Of Law Index207 obs · 1789 CE–2024 CE | 0.712index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Liberal Democracy Index100 obs · 1801 CE–2024 CE | 0.266index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Regime Type96 obs · 1900 CE–2024 CE | 0RoW index (0-3)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Checks And Balances34 obs · 1990 CE–2023 CE | 1count2023 CE · Database of Political Institutions (DPI) 2023 |
Development
6 of 54 series| Series | Value · year · source |
|---|---|
| Freedom Of Expression Index207 obs · 1789 CE–2024 CE | 0.589index (0-1)2024 CE · V-Dem v15 |
| Dpt Immunization %35 obs · 1990 CE–2024 CE | 99%2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Measles Immunization %35 obs · 1990 CE–2024 CE | 98%2024 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Mobile Subscriptions Per 10035 obs · 1960 CE–2023 CE | 167.68per_1002023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Electricity Access %34 obs · 1990 CE–2023 CE | 100%2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
| Electricity Access Rural %34 obs · 1990 CE–2023 CE | 100%2023 CE · World Bank World Development Indicators |
Rulers
36 on record with dated reigns. Reign years follow the house convention: BCE years are negative.
- Sabah I bin Jaberemir of Kuwait1752 CE – 1776 CE
- Abdullah I Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1763 CE – 1814 CE
- Jaber I Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1814 CE – 1859 CE
- Sabah II Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1859 CE – 1866 CE
- Abdullah II Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1866 CE – 1892 CE
- Muhammad bin Sabah Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1892 CE – 1896 CE
- Mubarak Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1896 CE – 1915 CE
- Jaber II Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1915 CE – 1917 CE
- Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1917 CE – 1921 CE
- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1921 CE – 1950 CE
- Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1950 CE – 1965 CE
- Jaber al-Ahmad al-SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait1962 CE – 1963 CE
- Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1965 CE – 1977 CE
- Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabahemir of Kuwait1977 CE – 2006 CE
- Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait1978 CE – 2003 CE
- Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait2003 CE – 2006 CE
- Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2006 CE – 2011 CE
- Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait2006 CE – 2011 CE
- Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabahemir of Kuwait2006 CE
- Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahHead of State2006 CE – 2020 CE
- Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait2011 CE – 2019 CE
- Sabah Al-Khalid Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2011 CE – 2019 CE
- Sabah Al-Khalid Al-SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait2019 CE – 2022 CE
- Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2020 CE – 2022 CE
- Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahHead of State2020 CE – 2023 CE
- Ahmad Mansour Al-Ahmad Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2021 CE – 2022 CE
- Ahmad Nasser al-Mohammed al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2021 CE – 2022 CE
- Mohammad Abdullatif Al-FaresDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2021 CE – 2022 CE
- Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait2022 CE – 2023 CE
- Bader al MullaDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2022 CE – 2023 CE
- Barak Ali Barak Al-SheetanDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2022 CE – 2023 CE
- Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait2022 CE
- Talal Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-SabahDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2022 CE – 2024 CE
- Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahHead of State2023 CE –
- Ahmad Al Abdullah Al SabahPrime Minister of Kuwait2024 CE –
- Imad Mohammad AlatiqiDeputy Prime Minister of Kuwait2024 CE
Country profile
From the CIA World Factbook 2024. Long entries are trimmed at a sentence boundary.
- Location
- Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
- Government type
- constitutional monarchy (emirate)
- Executive branch
- chief of state: Amir MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 16 December 2023); head of government: Prime Minister AHMAD ABDULLAH Al-Ahmad al Sabah (since 15 May 2024); cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir;
- Ethnic groups
- Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)
- Natural resources
- petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
- Economy
- small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy; renewable energy proponent; regional finance and investment leader; maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund; emerging space and tourism industries; mid-way through 25-year development program
Language & currency
- Official & national languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- Kuwaiti dinar (KWD), Gulf rupee
Memberships
- OPECOPECEconomic bloc · founding member1960 CE –
- Arab LeagueALInternational organisation · member1961 CE –
- 21-member Defense Pact (1950)Military alliance · member1961 CE –
- United NationsUNInternational organisation · member1963 CE –
- 23-member Entente (1945)Historical alliance · member1964 CE –
- GCCGCCEconomic bloc · founding member1981 CE –
- 6-member Defense Pact (2000)Military alliance · member2000 CE –
Sources
Every figure above comes from one of these. Nothing on this page is estimated, interpolated or model-generated.
CIA World Factbook 2024
Seshat Global History Databank. Cliopatria: a historical basemap of polity borders (cliopatria.geojson).
Correlates of War NMC v6.0v6.0
Singer, J.D. (1987). National Material Capabilities Data (NMC), v6.0. Correlates of War Project.
Free academic use, citation
Database of Political Institutions (DPI) 2023DPI 2023
Cruz, C., Keefer, P. & Scartascini, C. (2023). Database of Political Institutions 2023. Inter-American Development Bank.
IDB open data, attribution
Energy Institute Statistical Review2024 (73rd edition)
Energy Institute (2024). Statistical Review of World Energy 2024.
CC BY 4.0
Gapminderv14 / systema globalis
Gapminder Foundation. Gapminder systema globalis dataset.
CC BY 4.0
Our World in Data (2024). Energy dataset. Based on Energy Institute & Ember.
CC BY 4.0
UN World Population Prospects 20242024
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
CC BY 3.0 IGO
V-Dem v15v15
Coppedge, M. et al. (2025). V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v15. Varieties of Democracy Project.
Free academic/non-commercial use, attribution
Wikipedia contributors. Article lead sections, reused under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
World Bank World Development Indicators2024 release
World Bank (2024). World Development Indicators. Washington, DC.
CC BY 4.0