Kuwait — Health spending
Health Spending (% of GDP) for Kuwait, 2000–2023.
Health spending for Kuwait was 4.96% in 2023, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 24 years, from 2000 to 2023. The highest recorded value was 6.11% in 2020. The lowest was 1.82% in 2006 (about 2.7× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 3.59% per year.
Kuwait ranks 126 of 189 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 67%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 5.57%, so Kuwait sits below it. It peaked in 2020 and has fallen 19% since. Over the last decade (2013–2023) the figure moved up 99%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 15 of 23 economies; Egypt, Arab Rep. (4.88%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 45% in 2001. That is 9% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 2000 level: doubled by 2016. Doubling roughly every 20 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 173rd of 184 in 2000 → 175th of 188 in 2010 → 106th of 189 in 2020 → 125th of 188 in 2023.
Key figures
Full history — 2000 to 2023
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4.96% | +0.8 pp |
| 2022 | 4.2% | -1.2 pp |
| 2021 | 5.37% | -0.7 pp |
| 2020 | 6.11% | +0.9 pp |
| 2019 | 5.18% | +0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 5.17% | +0.5 pp |
| 2017 | 4.65% | -0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 4.73% | +0.5 pp |
| 2015 | 4.21% | +1.3 pp |
| 2014 | 2.92% | +0.4 pp |
| 2013 | 2.49% | +0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 2.33% | +0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 2.33% | -0.3 pp |
| 2010 | 2.68% | -0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 2.71% | +0.8 pp |
| 2008 | 1.92% | -0.0 pp |
| 2007 | 1.93% | +0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 1.82% | -0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 2.01% | -0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 2.36% | -0.4 pp |
| 2003 | 2.76% | -0.4 pp |
| 2002 | 3.12% | -0.1 pp |
| 2001 | 3.19% | +1.0 pp |
| 2000 | 2.2% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Kuwait’s Health spending in 2001?
3.19% (2001). 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 % of GDP, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Kuwait’s Health spending growing or shrinking?
Between 2000 and 2023 the series was growing overall: +125.2% in total — about 3.6% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS. 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: 2023: 4.96%; 2022: 4.2%; 2021: 5.37%; 2020: 6.11%; 2019: 5.18%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS — Health Spending (% of GDP). 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.