Share of population living in urban areas in Kuwait
Kuwait: Share of population living in urban areas was 96.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Kuwait, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas in Kuwait is 96.2%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Kuwait peaked at 96.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 87.2%, in 1950.
That places Kuwait 12th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 87.2% | — |
| 1955 | 88.2% | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 90.3% | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 92.1% | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 93.7% | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 95.1% | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 95.7% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 95.4% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 96.8% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 95.0% | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 94.7% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 95.4% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 95.8% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 96.1% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 96.2% | +0.1% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 96.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 76.2%, 1.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 96.2% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 88.0%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 87.7% | 87.2% | 88.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 91.2% | 90.3% | 92.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 94.4% | 93.7% | 95.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 95.6% | 95.4% | 95.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 95.9% | 95.0% | 96.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 95.0% | 94.7% | 95.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 96.0% | 95.8% | 96.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 96.2% | 96.2% | 96.2% | 1 |
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 share of population living in urban areas in Kuwait?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Kuwait was 96.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 96.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 87.2% in 1950.
- How does Kuwait rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Kuwait ranks 12th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.