Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military expenditure (% of GDP) was 4.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Kuwait, 1970–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 4.7% for military expenditure in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.6% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Kuwait peaked at 117.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1971.
Kuwait ranks 13th of 167 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (% of GDP) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.4% | — |
| 1971 | 1.9% | -20.9% |
| 1972 | 2.0% | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 2.5% | +23.8% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +17.1% |
| 1977 | 5.3% | +79.0% |
| 1978 | 4.8% | -10.1% |
| 1979 | 3.5% | -25.5% |
| 1980 | 3.3% | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 4.1% | +24.5% |
| 1982 | 6.0% | +44.3% |
| 1983 | 6.8% | +14.7% |
| 1984 | 6.8% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 6.4% | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 7.2% | +12.5% |
| 1987 | 6.0% | -17.4% |
| 1988 | 8.2% | +37.8% |
| 1989 | 8.5% | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 48.5% | +468.1% |
| 1991 | 117.3% | +141.9% |
| 1992 | 31.8% | -72.9% |
| 1993 | 12.4% | -60.9% |
| 1994 | 13.3% | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 10.3% | -24.2% |
| 1997 | 8.1% | -21.4% |
| 1998 | 8.8% | +8.8% |
| 1999 | 7.6% | -13.7% |
| 2000 | 7.2% | -5.8% |
| 2001 | 7.7% | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 6.5% | -11.6% |
| 2004 | 5.8% | -11.3% |
| 2005 | 4.3% | -25.2% |
| 2006 | 3.5% | -18.4% |
| 2007 | 3.6% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.0% | -16.3% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | +32.1% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 3.5% | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 3.4% | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 3.3% | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | +39.7% |
| 2016 | 5.9% | +17.7% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 6.3% | +19.6% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | -26.1% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | -4.5% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 4.7% | +5.6% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 4.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 2.3× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 4.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.6%, 1.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of GDP) 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 | +468.1% | 8.5% | 48.5% |
| 1991 | +141.9% | 48.5% | 117.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.2% | 1.9% | 5.3% | 8 |
| 1980s | 6.3% | 3.3% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.2% | 7.6% | 117.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 3.0% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.4% | 3.3% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.3% | 6.3% | 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 4.7% 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 117.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1971.
- How does Kuwait rank for military expenditure?
- Kuwait ranks 13th out of 167 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. 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 (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure by country as percentage of gross domestic product