Military expenditure (current LCU) in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 2.48 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.48 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
130th
of 168 countries
All-time high
3.67 billion current LCU
in 1991
All-time low
24.55 million current LCU
in 1970
Years of data
54
1970–2025
Military expenditure in Kuwait, 1970–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Kuwait stood at 2.48 billion current LCU.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 43.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Kuwait peaked at 3.67 billion current LCU in 1991 and was at its lowest, 24.55 million current LCU, in 1970.
That places Kuwait 130th out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 24.55 million current LCU | — |
| 1971 | 26.15 million current LCU | +6.5% |
| 1972 | 29.85 million current LCU | +14.1% |
| 1973 | 40.50 million current LCU | +35.7% |
| 1974 | 112.75 million current LCU | +178.4% |
| 1977 | 214.50 million current LCU | +90.2% |
| 1978 | 203.00 million current LCU | -5.4% |
| 1979 | 243.50 million current LCU | +20.0% |
| 1980 | 257.00 million current LCU | +5.5% |
| 1981 | 290.50 million current LCU | +13.0% |
| 1982 | 370.00 million current LCU | +27.4% |
| 1983 | 415.50 million current LCU | +12.3% |
| 1984 | 434.00 million current LCU | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 415.00 million current LCU | -4.4% |
| 1986 | 376.50 million current LCU | -9.3% |
| 1987 | 372.50 million current LCU | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 475.50 million current LCU | +27.7% |
| 1989 | 610.00 million current LCU | +28.3% |
| 1990 | 2.58 billion current LCU | +323.8% |
| 1991 | 3.67 billion current LCU | +42.1% |
| 1992 | 1.85 billion current LCU | -49.6% |
| 1993 | 899.50 million current LCU | -51.4% |
| 1994 | 978.50 million current LCU | +8.8% |
| 1995 | 1.10 billion current LCU | +12.6% |
| 1996 | 970.50 million current LCU | -11.9% |
| 1997 | 744.50 million current LCU | -23.3% |
| 1998 | 695.50 million current LCU | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 696.00 million current LCU | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 827.33 million current LCU | +18.9% |
| 2001 | 823.67 million current LCU | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 857.50 million current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 933.00 million current LCU | +8.8% |
| 2004 | 1.02 billion current LCU | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 1.02 billion current LCU | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 1.04 billion current LCU | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 1.17 billion current LCU | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 1.19 billion current LCU | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 1.21 billion current LCU | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 1.24 billion current LCU | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 1.49 billion current LCU | +19.8% |
| 2012 | 1.66 billion current LCU | +11.7% |
| 2013 | 1.62 billion current LCU | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 1.66 billion current LCU | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 1.73 billion current LCU | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 1.95 billion current LCU | +12.9% |
| 2017 | 2.05 billion current LCU | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 2.17 billion current LCU | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 2.24 billion current LCU | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 2.13 billion current LCU | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 2.72 billion current LCU | +27.5% |
| 2022 | 2.53 billion current LCU | -7.0% |
| 2023 | 2.38 billion current LCU | -5.6% |
| 2024 | 2.39 billion current LCU | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 2.48 billion current LCU | +3.8% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 2.48 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.84 billion current LCU, 14% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 2.48 billion current LCU is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 71.37 billion current LCU, 3% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +323.8% | 610.00 million current LCU | 2.58 billion current LCU |
| 1974 | +178.4% | 40.50 million current LCU | 112.75 million current LCU |
| 1977 | +90.2% | 112.75 million current LCU | 214.50 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 111.85 million current LCU | 24.55 million current LCU | 243.50 million current LCU | 8 |
| 1980s | 401.65 million current LCU | 257.00 million current LCU | 610.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.42 billion current LCU | 695.50 million current LCU | 3.67 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.01 billion current LCU | 823.67 million current LCU | 1.21 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.78 billion current LCU | 1.24 billion current LCU | 2.24 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.44 billion current LCU | 2.13 billion current LCU | 2.72 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More public sector data for Kuwait
- Democracy, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2024)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- Arms imports 311.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 102.71 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0.0031 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), gaps filled 503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per capita 1,591 current USD per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Kuwait?
- Military expenditure in Kuwait was 2.48 billion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 3.67 billion current LCU in 1991.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.55 million current LCU in 1970.
- How does Kuwait rank for military expenditure?
- Kuwait ranks 130th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)