Military spending in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military spending was 9.79 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
9.79 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
33rd
of 172 countries
All-time high
25.97 billion constant 2022 US$
in 1991
All-time low
116.56 million constant 2022 US$
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Military spending in Kuwait, 1961–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Kuwait stood at 9.79 billion constant 2022 US$.
That represents a change of up 3.5% on the previous year and up 72.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Kuwait peaked at 25.97 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1991 and was at its lowest, 116.56 million constant 2022 US$, in 1961.
Kuwait ranks 33rd of 172 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 116.56 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1962 | 137.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.4% |
| 1963 | 151.72 million constant 2022 US$ | +10.0% |
| 1964 | 201.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +33.1% |
| 1965 | 233.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.5% |
| 1966 | 267.00 million constant 2022 US$ | +14.5% |
| 1967 | 544.96 million constant 2022 US$ | +104.1% |
| 1968 | 683.02 million constant 2022 US$ | +25.3% |
| 1969 | 792.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.0% |
| 1970 | 756.79 million constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1971 | 871.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1972 | 1.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +25.5% |
| 1973 | 1.11 billion constant 2022 US$ | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +53.5% |
| 1975 | 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +16.6% |
| 1976 | 2.66 billion constant 2022 US$ | +33.6% |
| 1977 | 3.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.9% |
| 1978 | 2.94 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.8% |
| 1979 | 3.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 3.06 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 3.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 3.04 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 3.33 billion constant 2022 US$ | +9.6% |
| 1984 | 3.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 3.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 3.16 billion constant 2022 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1987 | 2.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.9% |
| 1988 | 2.99 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 3.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.3% |
| 1990 | 20.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | +518.3% |
| 1991 | 25.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | +27.2% |
| 1992 | 25.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.9% |
| 1993 | 6.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | -75.3% |
| 1994 | 5.89 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.4% |
| 1995 | 6.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.8% |
| 1996 | 5.72 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.3% |
| 1997 | 5.15 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.9% |
| 1998 | 4.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 1999 | 4.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 5.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 5.49 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 5.24 billion constant 2022 US$ | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 5.36 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 5.54 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 5.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | -8.4% |
| 2006 | 5.39 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 5.59 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | +15.7% |
| 2009 | 5.67 billion constant 2022 US$ | -12.3% |
| 2010 | 5.60 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 5.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2012 | 5.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 5.68 billion constant 2022 US$ | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 5.98 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 6.28 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 7.01 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.7% |
| 2017 | 7.61 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 8.29 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.9% |
| 2019 | 9.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | +11.8% |
| 2020 | 9.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 10.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 2022 | 9.45 billion constant 2022 US$ | -5.5% |
| 2023 | 9.79 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.5% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 9.79 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 1.5× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 9.79 billion constant 2022 US$ is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 1.8× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Kuwait changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +518.3% | 3.30 billion constant 2022 US$ | 20.41 billion constant 2022 US$ |
| 1967 | +104.1% | 267.00 million constant 2022 US$ | 544.96 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1993 | -75.3% | 25.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.23 billion constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 347.62 million constant 2022 US$ | 116.56 million constant 2022 US$ | 792.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.93 billion constant 2022 US$ | 756.79 million constant 2022 US$ | 3.09 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.17 billion constant 2022 US$ | 2.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 3.41 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.07 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4.92 billion constant 2022 US$ | 25.97 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.50 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.08 billion constant 2022 US$ | 6.46 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.70 billion constant 2022 US$ | 5.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9.26 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.64 billion constant 2022 US$ | 9.31 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10.00 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More reference data data for Kuwait
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.092 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2888 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.385 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.385 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3086 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1086 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0052 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Kuwait?
- Military spending in Kuwait was 9.79 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 25.97 billion constant 2022 US$ in 1991.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 116.56 million constant 2022 US$ in 1961.
- How does Kuwait rank for military spending?
- Kuwait ranks 33rd out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.