Military expenditure in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military expenditure was 7.79 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
7.79 billion current USD
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
36th
of 168 countries
All-time high
12.92 billion current USD
in 1991
All-time low
68.74 million current USD
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 USD.
Analysis
In 2024, military expenditure in Kuwait stood at 7.79 billion current USD.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 33.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Kuwait peaked at 12.92 billion current USD in 1991 and was at its lowest, 68.74 million current USD, in 1970.
That places Kuwait 36th out of 168 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 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 USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 68.74 million current USD | — |
| 1971 | 73.43 million current USD | +6.8% |
| 1972 | 90.74 million current USD | +23.6% |
| 1973 | 136.56 million current USD | +50.5% |
| 1974 | 426.40 million current USD | +212.2% |
| 1977 | 748.52 million current USD | +75.5% |
| 1978 | 738.04 million current USD | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 881.08 million current USD | +19.4% |
| 1980 | 950.81 million current USD | +7.9% |
| 1981 | 1.04 billion current USD | +9.6% |
| 1982 | 1.29 billion current USD | +23.3% |
| 1983 | 1.43 billion current USD | +10.9% |
| 1984 | 1.47 billion current USD | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 1.38 billion current USD | -5.9% |
| 1986 | 1.30 billion current USD | -6.1% |
| 1987 | 1.34 billion current USD | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 1.70 billion current USD | +27.5% |
| 1989 | 2.08 billion current USD | +21.8% |
| 1990 | 8.96 billion current USD | +331.6% |
| 1991 | 12.92 billion current USD | +44.2% |
| 1992 | 6.32 billion current USD | -51.1% |
| 1993 | 2.98 billion current USD | -52.8% |
| 1994 | 3.30 billion current USD | +10.6% |
| 1995 | 3.69 billion current USD | +12.0% |
| 1996 | 3.24 billion current USD | -12.2% |
| 1997 | 2.45 billion current USD | -24.3% |
| 1998 | 2.28 billion current USD | -7.0% |
| 1999 | 2.29 billion current USD | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 2.70 billion current USD | +18.0% |
| 2001 | 2.69 billion current USD | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 2.82 billion current USD | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 3.13 billion current USD | +11.0% |
| 2004 | 3.45 billion current USD | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 3.51 billion current USD | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 3.60 billion current USD | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 4.12 billion current USD | +14.4% |
| 2008 | 4.43 billion current USD | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 4.21 billion current USD | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 4.34 billion current USD | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 5.39 billion current USD | +24.4% |
| 2012 | 5.94 billion current USD | +10.2% |
| 2013 | 5.70 billion current USD | -4.1% |
| 2014 | 5.83 billion current USD | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 5.74 billion current USD | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 6.45 billion current USD | +12.4% |
| 2017 | 6.76 billion current USD | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 7.17 billion current USD | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 7.37 billion current USD | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 6.94 billion current USD | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 9.02 billion current USD | +30.0% |
| 2022 | 8.24 billion current USD | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 7.76 billion current USD | -5.9% |
| 2024 | 7.79 billion current USD | +0.5% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 7.79 billion current USD is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.62 billion current USD, 1.2× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 7.79 billion current USD is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4.04 billion current USD, 1.9× 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 | +331.6% | 2.08 billion current USD | 8.96 billion current USD |
| 1974 | +212.2% | 136.56 million current USD | 426.40 million current USD |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 395.44 million current USD | 68.74 million current USD | 881.08 million current USD | 8 |
| 1980s | 1.40 billion current USD | 950.81 million current USD | 2.08 billion current USD | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.84 billion current USD | 2.28 billion current USD | 12.92 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.46 billion current USD | 2.69 billion current USD | 4.43 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.07 billion current USD | 4.34 billion current USD | 7.37 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.95 billion current USD | 6.94 billion current USD | 9.02 billion current USD | 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 7.79 billion current USD 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 12.92 billion current USD in 1991.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.74 million current USD in 1970.
- How does Kuwait rank for military expenditure?
- Kuwait ranks 36th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.6%. 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 USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)