Military expenditure in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military expenditure was 2.39 billion current LCU in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.39 billion current LCU
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
131st
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
53
1970–2024
Military expenditure in Kuwait, 1970–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Kuwait stood at 2.39 billion current LCU.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 44.1% 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 131st out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure 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 | 125.00 million current LCU | +208.6% |
| 1977 | 214.50 million current LCU | +71.6% |
| 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% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 2.39 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.02 billion current LCU, 17% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 2.39 billion current LCU is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 69.83 billion current LCU, 3% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure 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 | +208.6% | 40.50 million current LCU | 125.00 million current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 113.38 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 | 2.43 billion current LCU | 2.13 billion current LCU | 2.72 billion current LCU | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
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 military expenditure in Kuwait?
- Military expenditure in Kuwait was 2.39 billion current LCU in 2024, 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 131st out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.1%. 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)