Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) was 10.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Kuwait, 1988–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in % of general government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military expenditure in Kuwait is 10.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Kuwait peaked at 56.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 2008.
That places Kuwait 35th out of 164 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (% of general government expenditure) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of general government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 16.6% | — |
| 1989 | 19.9% | +20.0% |
| 1990 | 39.9% | +101.0% |
| 1991 | 56.8% | +42.3% |
| 1992 | 41.4% | -27.1% |
| 1993 | 21.6% | -47.8% |
| 1994 | 23.3% | +7.7% |
| 1995 | 26.6% | +14.3% |
| 1996 | 24.5% | -7.7% |
| 1997 | 18.8% | -23.4% |
| 1998 | 17.3% | -8.1% |
| 1999 | 17.3% | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 24.4% | +40.7% |
| 2001 | 18.9% | -22.4% |
| 2002 | 17.6% | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 17.4% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 16.6% | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 15.2% | -8.3% |
| 2006 | 11.1% | -27.5% |
| 2007 | 11.9% | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 7.4% | -37.8% |
| 2009 | 9.3% | +26.1% |
| 2010 | 8.3% | -10.9% |
| 2011 | 8.9% | +6.7% |
| 2012 | 9.0% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 8.5% | -4.9% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 9.1% | +13.6% |
| 2016 | 10.9% | +20.4% |
| 2017 | 10.9% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 10.2% | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 10.5% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 10.0% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 12.6% | +25.2% |
| 2022 | 11.4% | -9.6% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | -14.5% |
| 2024 | 9.7% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 10.1% | +4.5% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 10.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.8%, 2.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 10.1% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 12.3%, 82% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (% of general government 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 | +101.0% | 19.9% | 39.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 18.2% | 16.6% | 19.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 28.8% | 17.3% | 56.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 7.4% | 24.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 8.0% | 10.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 9.7% | 12.6% | 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 10.1% 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 56.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 2008.
- How does Kuwait rank for military expenditure?
- Kuwait ranks 35th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.3%. 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 general government expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure expressed as a percentage of general government expenditure