Kuwait — GDP growth
GDP Growth (Annual %) for Kuwait, 1971–2025.
GDP growth for Kuwait was 2.73% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 55 years, from 1971 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 82.81% in 1992. The lowest was -41.01% in 1991 (about -15.0× the latest value). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -1.74% per year.
Kuwait ranks 126 of 212 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 59%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 2.93%, so Kuwait sits below it. It peaked in 1992 and has fallen 97% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 361%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 15 of 23 economies; Tunisia (2.49%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 1313% in 2002. That is 327% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1971 level: doubled by 1989; grown tenfold by 1992.
World ranking. Slipped: 33rd of 142 in 1971 → 151st of 152 in 1980 → 175th of 176 in 1990 → 79th of 199 in 2000 → 193rd of 209 in 2010 → 120th of 209 in 2020 → 115th of 186 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1971 to 2025
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.73% | +4.2 pp |
| 2024 | -1.47% | +0.2 pp |
| 2023 | -1.64% | -8.4 pp |
| 2022 | 6.76% | +5.1 pp |
| 2021 | 1.67% | +6.5 pp |
| 2020 | -4.82% | -7.1 pp |
| 2019 | 2.26% | -0.5 pp |
| 2018 | 2.74% | +7.5 pp |
| 2017 | -4.71% | -7.6 pp |
| 2016 | 2.93% | +2.3 pp |
| 2015 | 0.59% | +0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -0.6 pp |
| 2013 | 1.15% | -5.5 pp |
| 2012 | 6.63% | -3.0 pp |
| 2011 | 9.63% | +12.0 pp |
| 2010 | -2.37% | +4.7 pp |
| 2009 | -7.08% | -9.6 pp |
| 2008 | 2.48% | -3.5 pp |
| 2007 | 5.99% | -1.5 pp |
| 2006 | 7.51% | -3.1 pp |
| 2005 | 10.61% | +0.4 pp |
| 2004 | 10.24% | -7.1 pp |
| 2003 | 17.33% | +14.3 pp |
| 2002 | 3.01% | +2.8 pp |
| 2001 | 0.21% | -4.5 pp |
| 2000 | 4.69% | +6.5 pp |
| 1999 | -1.79% | -5.5 pp |
| 1998 | 3.66% | +1.2 pp |
| 1997 | 2.47% | +1.9 pp |
| 1996 | 0.61% | -4.3 pp |
| 1995 | 4.86% | -3.6 pp |
| 1994 | 8.44% | -25.6 pp |
| 1993 | 33.99% | -48.8 pp |
| 1992 | 82.81% | +123.8 pp |
| 1991 | -41.01% | -14.8 pp |
| 1990 | -26.23% | -52.1 pp |
| 1989 | 25.89% | +35.9 pp |
| 1988 | -10.05% | -18.2 pp |
| 1987 | 8.15% | -0.4 pp |
| 1986 | 8.57% | +12.8 pp |
| 1985 | -4.26% | -9.5 pp |
| 1984 | 5.24% | -2.7 pp |
| 1983 | 7.94% | +19.7 pp |
| 1982 | -11.75% | +7.2 pp |
| 1981 | -18.92% | +0.5 pp |
| 1980 | -19.41% | -33.3 pp |
| 1979 | 13.9% | +6.5 pp |
| 1978 | 7.35% | +11.2 pp |
| 1977 | -3.85% | -10.5 pp |
| 1976 | 6.61% | +18.9 pp |
| 1975 | -12.27% | +0.7 pp |
| 1974 | -12.99% | -6.4 pp |
| 1973 | -6.57% | -10.5 pp |
| 1972 | 3.9% | -3.1 pp |
| 1971 | 7.04% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Kuwait’s GDP growth in 1972?
3.9% (1972). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in annual %, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Kuwait’s GDP growth growing or shrinking?
Between 1971 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -61.2% in total — about 1.7% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 2.73%; 2024: -1.47%; 2023: -1.64%; 2022: 6.76%; 2021: 1.67%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG — GDP Growth (Annual %). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.