Arms imports in Kuwait
Kuwait: Arms imports was 503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
18th
of 173 countries
All-time high
2.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2022
All-time low
2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values
in 2004
Years of data
62
1960–2024
Arms imports in Kuwait, 1960–2024
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values for arms imports in 2024.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Kuwait peaked at 2.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 2004.
Kuwait ranks 18th of 173 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 44.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1962 | 10.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -77.3% |
| 1963 | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +380.0% |
| 1964 | 65.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +35.4% |
| 1965 | 25.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -61.5% |
| 1966 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -68.0% |
| 1968 | 106.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1225.0% |
| 1969 | 97.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -8.5% |
| 1970 | 54.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -44.3% |
| 1971 | 109.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +101.9% |
| 1972 | 30.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -72.5% |
| 1974 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.3% |
| 1975 | 77.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1440.0% |
| 1976 | 230.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +198.7% |
| 1977 | 485.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +110.9% |
| 1978 | 504.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 223.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -55.8% |
| 1980 | 35.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -84.3% |
| 1981 | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -62.9% |
| 1982 | 173.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1230.8% |
| 1983 | 287.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +65.9% |
| 1984 | 490.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +70.7% |
| 1985 | 619.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +26.3% |
| 1986 | 167.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -73.0% |
| 1987 | 50.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -70.1% |
| 1988 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -86.0% |
| 1989 | 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1814.3% |
| 1990 | 326.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +143.3% |
| 1991 | 515.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +58.0% |
| 1992 | 896.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +74.0% |
| 1993 | 694.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.5% |
| 1994 | 36.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -94.8% |
| 1995 | 637.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1669.4% |
| 1996 | 1.19 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +87.0% |
| 1997 | 482.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -59.5% |
| 1998 | 46.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -90.5% |
| 1999 | 198.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +330.4% |
| 2000 | 226.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.1% |
| 2001 | 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -70.4% |
| 2002 | 22.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -67.2% |
| 2003 | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +90.9% |
| 2004 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -95.2% |
| 2005 | 12.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +500.0% |
| 2006 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -58.3% |
| 2007 | 288.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +5660.0% |
| 2008 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -98.3% |
| 2009 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +60.0% |
| 2010 | 87.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +987.5% |
| 2011 | 116.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +33.3% |
| 2012 | 31.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -73.3% |
| 2013 | 73.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +135.5% |
| 2014 | 701.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +860.3% |
| 2015 | 317.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -54.8% |
| 2016 | 159.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -49.8% |
| 2017 | 114.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -28.3% |
| 2018 | 96.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -15.8% |
| 2019 | 55.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -42.7% |
| 2020 | 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +21.8% |
| 2021 | 889.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1226.9% |
| 2022 | 2.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | +152.5% |
| 2023 | 497.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -77.9% |
| 2024 | 503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for high income countries, which is 148.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 3.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 11.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +5660.0% | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 288.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1989 | +1814.3% | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 134.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1995 | +1669.4% | 36.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 637.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1975 | +1440.0% | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 77.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1982 | +1230.8% | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 173.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 1968 | +1225.0% | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 106.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 50.38 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 106.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8 |
| 1970s | 190.78 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 504.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 9 |
| 1980s | 197.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 619.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 502.10 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 36.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.19 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.70 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 288.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2010s | 174.90 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 31.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 701.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 2020s | 840.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 67.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 15 Hungary 604.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 16 Kazakhstan 550.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 17 Belgium 515.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 19 Russia 467.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 20 Brazil 435.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 21 Italy 432.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Kuwait
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Democracy 0 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 0 (2025)
- Elected parliament 0 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Competitive elections 0 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Kuwait?
- Arms imports in Kuwait was 503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2024, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 2.25 billion SIPRI trend indicator values in 2022.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2004.
- How does Kuwait rank for arms imports?
- Kuwait ranks 18th out of 173 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 62 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.