Military expenditure in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military expenditure was 9.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Kuwait, 1988–2024
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 9.7%, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 21.2% 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 36th out of 161 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 | % 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% | +25.9% |
| 2022 | 11.4% | -9.8% |
| 2023 | 9.7% | -14.6% |
| 2024 | 9.7% | -0.5% |
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 | 10.7% | 9.7% | 12.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More public sector data for Kuwait
- Arms imports 503.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2024)
- 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)
- Military expenditure (current USD), per unit of GDP 0.0484 current USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), annual growth rate 0.4887 % change on previous year (2024)
- Military expenditure (current USD), gaps filled 7.79 billion current USD (2024)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per square kilometre 27,890 SIPRI trend indicator values per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Kuwait?
- Military expenditure in Kuwait was 9.7% 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 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 36th out of 161 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.2%. 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