Military spending, per capita in Kuwait
Kuwait: Military spending, per capita was 1,628 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending, per capita in Kuwait, 1972–2025
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in constant 2024 US$ per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military spending, per capita in Kuwait is 1,628 constant 2024 US$ per person, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and down 11.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending, per capita in Kuwait peaked at 21,620 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1991 and was at its lowest, 781.49 constant 2024 US$ per person, in 1972.
Kuwait ranks 10th of 161 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 spending, per capita in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 781.49 constant 2024 US$ per person | — |
| 1973 | 921.96 constant 2024 US$ per person | +18.0% |
| 1974 | 2,139 constant 2024 US$ per person | +132.0% |
| 1977 | 2,679 constant 2024 US$ per person | +25.3% |
| 1978 | 2,190 constant 2024 US$ per person | -18.3% |
| 1979 | 2,310 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.5% |
| 1980 | 2,157 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.6% |
| 1981 | 2,158 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 2,429 constant 2024 US$ per person | +12.6% |
| 1983 | 2,483 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 2,455 constant 2024 US$ per person | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 2,224 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.4% |
| 1986 | 1,919 constant 2024 US$ per person | -13.7% |
| 1987 | 1,812 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.6% |
| 1988 | 2,193 constant 2024 US$ per person | +21.0% |
| 1989 | 2,620 constant 2024 US$ per person | +19.5% |
| 1990 | 13,306 constant 2024 US$ per person | +407.8% |
| 1991 | 21,620 constant 2024 US$ per person | +62.5% |
| 1992 | 9,057 constant 2024 US$ per person | -58.1% |
| 1993 | 4,285 constant 2024 US$ per person | -52.7% |
| 1994 | 4,567 constant 2024 US$ per person | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 4,958 constant 2024 US$ per person | +8.6% |
| 1996 | 4,098 constant 2024 US$ per person | -17.4% |
| 1997 | 3,022 constant 2024 US$ per person | -26.3% |
| 1998 | 2,733 constant 2024 US$ per person | -9.6% |
| 1999 | 2,577 constant 2024 US$ per person | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 2,925 constant 2024 US$ per person | +13.5% |
| 2001 | 2,798 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.3% |
| 2002 | 2,815 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 2,962 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 3,118 constant 2024 US$ per person | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 2,910 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.7% |
| 2006 | 2,721 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 2,725 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 2,374 constant 2024 US$ per person | -12.9% |
| 2009 | 2,189 constant 2024 US$ per person | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 2,041 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 2,191 constant 2024 US$ per person | +7.4% |
| 2012 | 2,226 constant 2024 US$ per person | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 2,003 constant 2024 US$ per person | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 1,913 constant 2024 US$ per person | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 1,842 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 1,929 constant 2024 US$ per person | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 1,918 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 1,934 constant 2024 US$ per person | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 1,927 constant 2024 US$ per person | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 1,811 constant 2024 US$ per person | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 2,252 constant 2024 US$ per person | +24.4% |
| 2022 | 1,913 constant 2024 US$ per person | -15.0% |
| 2023 | 1,648 constant 2024 US$ per person | -13.9% |
| 2024 | 1,592 constant 2024 US$ per person | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 1,628 constant 2024 US$ per person | +2.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 1,628 constant 2024 US$ per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 883.8 constant 2024 US$ per person, 1.8× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 1,628 constant 2024 US$ per person is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 217.04 constant 2024 US$ per person, 7.5× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending, per capita 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 | +407.8% | 2,620 constant 2024 US$ per person | 13,306 constant 2024 US$ per person |
| 1974 | +132.0% | 921.96 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2,139 constant 2024 US$ per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,837 constant 2024 US$ per person | 781.49 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2,679 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
| 1980s | 2,245 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,812 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2,620 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,022 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2,577 constant 2024 US$ per person | 21,620 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,754 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2,189 constant 2024 US$ per person | 3,118 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,992 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,842 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2,226 constant 2024 US$ per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,807 constant 2024 US$ per person | 1,592 constant 2024 US$ per person | 2,252 constant 2024 US$ per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
- 7 Denmark 2,344 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 8 Saudi Arabia 2,203 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 9 Ukraine 1,990 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 11 Netherlands 1,492 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 12 Sweden 1,411 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
- 13 Finland 1,348 constant 2024 US$ per person compare
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, per capita in Kuwait?
- Military spending, per capita in Kuwait was 1,628 constant 2024 US$ per person in 2025, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest military spending, per capita recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 21,620 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1991.
- What is the lowest military spending, per capita recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 781.49 constant 2024 US$ per person in 1972.
- How does Kuwait rank for military spending, per capita?
- Kuwait ranks 10th out of 161 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending, per capita rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Military spending, per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Military spending ÷ Population, total
Computed from
- Military spending Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
- Population, total World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Military spending divided by Population, total, matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.