Kuwait
Everything Palanor holds about Kuwait, in one place: 141 public signals, what its economy runs on, how often America’s largest companies name it, the news that names it, and Country Posture. Every figure is computed from stored readings and carries its source and date.
AsiaMiddle East & North AfricaMiddle East & Africa
The latest read
- GDP in current U.S. dollars: $157.2 billion (2025); 90th percentile since 1962; lowest since 2021; 1y −2.3%.
- Real GDP growth: 2.73% (2025); 50th percentile since 1971; highest since 2022; 1y +4.20 pts.
- Consumer price inflation: 2.36% (2025); 35th percentile since 1973; lowest since 2020; 1y −0.54 pts.
- Unemployment: 2.18% (2025); 73rd percentile since 1991; highest since 2021; 1y +0.03 pts.
- Household consumption, share of GDP: 41.6% of GDP (2024); 59th percentile since 1990; highest since 2020; 1y +3.30 pts.
- Net exports, share of GDP: 17.5% of GDP (2024); 53rd percentile since 1990; lowest since 2020; 1y −1.85 pts.
Country Posture
What Kuwait’s economy is doing
Momentum
2025Inputs only. Did not pass the pre-registered back-test: 1996–2009: AUC 0.590 below 0.60; AUC 0.590 below the single-input baseline (0.624); 2010–2022: AUC 0.595 below 0.60; AUC 0.595 below the single-input baseline (0.641).
Inputs
| Real GDP growth | 2.7 |
| Growth against its three-year average | 1.5 |
| Change in unemployment | 0.0 |
| Change in the employment rate | -0.2 |
| Export volume growth | — |
| OECD leading indicator | — |
Resilience
2025Withheld: 3 of 5 core inputs reported for 2025.
Inputs
| Interest as a share of revenue | — |
| Budget balance | — |
| Reserves, months of imports | 8.4 |
| Current account | 22.7 |
| Governance (WGI mean) | 0.10 |
| External debt | — |
Pressure
2025Inputs only. Did not pass the pre-registered back-test: 1996–2009: AUC 0.657 below the single-input baseline (0.672).
Inputs
| Inflation | 2.4 |
| Change in inflation | -0.5 |
| Currency move against the dollar | -0.1% |
| Conflict deaths per million | 0.0 |
| Political stability | 0.42 |
| Private credit, three-year change | 1.4 |
| Bond spread over U.S. Treasuries | — |
Posture describes what an economy is doing; it is not a rating and never ranks countries. Each input is read against the country’s own history and against every other economy that year. An axis shows a score only after passing a back-test fixed before any result was computed. Method and back-test.
Country Schemas
Where Kuwait is in its cycles
Where Kuwait sits in eight long cycles, each read from published statistics against a method fixed before any reading was computed. A stage describes; it is not a rating, and no stage is better or worse than another.
- Development stage
High mass consumption100% · 2025
Pre-take-offTake-offDrive to maturityHigh mass consumption20002025
- Demographic stage
Low stationary87% · 2025
High stationaryEarly expandingLate expandingLow stationaryDeclining20002025
- Debt cycle stage
Early cycle92% · 2025
Early cycleLeveragingLate cycleDeleveraging20002025
- External balance stage
Mature creditor67% · 2025
Immature debtorMature debtorDebt repayerImmature creditorMature creditorCredit disinvestor20002025
- Export structure stage
Commodity-reliant91% · 2025
Commodity-reliantDiversifyingManufacturing exporterComplex exporter20002025
- Structural pressure
Building60% · 2025
LowBuildingHighAcute20002025
- Middle-class stage
No reading.
Pre-middle-classEmerging middle classMiddle-class majorityAffluentNot enough of this schema’s evidence is published for this country.
- Electoral cycle
No reading.
Post-electionMid-termPre-electionThe Amir dissolved the National Assembly and suspended some constitutional articles on 10 May 2024 for up to four years; it remained suspended as of Oct 2026.
Passport reach
Where a Kuwait passport opens doors
The share of world GDP, outside Kuwait itself, in the economies whose published rules let a holder of this passport in, as of October 2026. Palanor records the rules of destinations holding 88% of world GDP, from each government’s own list, and weights them by World Bank GDP for 2025. Rank is among 199 passports.
Work
1.6%rank 104 of 199
the right to work (free movement in full; treaty and working-holiday routes at half); 2 destinations in full.
Recorded changes
Reach is shown here and not weighted into Country Strength: it rewards membership of a free-movement area or a treaty more than the strength of an economy. Entry is always at the border officer’s discretion, and conditions (length of stay, fees, age limits) vary. Method, sources and the full ranking: Passports and citizenship.
Palanor calculation from each destination government's published rules; GDP weights from the World Bank (CC BY 4.0), one year for the whole line, so it moves only when a list changes.
GDP by expenditure
What Kuwait’s economy runs on
In 2024, household spending was 41.6% of GDP, government consumption 25.8%, investment 15.1% and net exports +17.5% (exports 55.8%, imports 38.2%).
World Bank national accounts. The parts can miss 100 by a few points (the statistical discrepancy).
Same World Bank definition for every country, so the shares compare directly: What each economy runs on.
IMF World Economic Outlook
The IMF’s outlook for Kuwait
The latest year before the October 2026 edition (often still an IMF estimate) and the IMF’s own projections. These are the IMF’s published forecasts, shown as published; Palanor does not project them further. Since the previous edition the IMF cut its growth forecast for this year by 16.2 percentage points (Palanor calculation).
| Measure | 2025 | 2026 IMF f’cast | 2027 IMF f’cast | 2031 IMF f’cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth% | 2.7 | -16.7 | 17.1 | 2.2 |
| Inflation, average consumer prices% | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
| GDP, current US dollarsUS$ bn | 157.2 | 146.9 | 175.4 | 197.9 |
| GDP at purchasing-power parityintl $ bn | 274.7 | 236.4 | 285.6 | 367.2 |
| GDP per person, US dollarsUS$ | 31,573 | 28,928 | 33,852 | 35,292 |
| Current account balance% of GDP | 22.7 | 18.3 | 24.9 | 19.5 |
| Government gross debt% of GDP | 14.6 | 26.6 | 28.5 | 37.8 |
| Government overall balance% of GDP | 24.5 | 15.8 | 22.9 | 29.1 |
| Government primary balance% of GDP | -6.3 | -17.7 | -5.9 | -2.1 |
| Government net interest paid% of GDP · Palanor calc. | -30.7 | -33.6 | -28.9 | -31.2 |
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database (edition on the projection). Dashed: the IMF's published projection.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database (edition on the projection). Dashed: the IMF's published projection.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026. Provided by the IMF “as is” and free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor. Net interest paid is a Palanor calculation: the IMF's primary balance minus its overall balance.
Charts
The headline series
Conflict
Organized violence
News
In the news
- The Pentagon has released few details about the Iranian drone strike on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait that killed six soldiers. The AP spoke with people serving in key positions of responsibility there or familiar with high-level briefings. Here are key takeaways.
The Associated Press · Bluesky2026-10-11negative · -strike -killed
- Jordan Kuwait Bank Posts JOD 57.6m Net Profit for H1 2026
Marketaux (financial news API)2026-10-04neutral
- 5 Indians rescued after Kuwait-flagged tanker hit by projectile in Hormuz
Marketaux (financial news API)2026-10-03neutral
Headlines that name Kuwait, matched by name with fixed rules (a wrong match is worse than a missing one). Tone is read from each headline’s own words; no model reads or summarizes an article, and other publishers’ stories link out.
Company graph
Companies headquartered in Kuwait
Palanor’s company graph holds 5 entities headquartered here (GLEIF headquarters address, else legal address).
Signals
Every series about Kuwait
Grouped by theme, the most-read first. All 141 in the Library.
Growth and output8 of 26
- Kuwait · GDP · USD bn (current)90th percentile since 1962; lowest since 2021; 1y −2.3%$157.2bn2025
- Kuwait · Real GDP Growth · % y/y50th percentile since 1971; highest since 2022; 1y +4.20 pts2.73%2025
- Kuwait · GDP per Capita · PPP USD46th percentile since 1990; highest since 2014; 1y +6.3%56,468 usd2025
- Kuwait · Country Strength7th percentile since 1992; lowest since 2019; 1y −8.3%57.1 index2025
- Kuwait · Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added · % of GDP95th percentile since 1995; highest since 2015; 1y +0.0396 pts0.53% of GDP2025
- Kuwait · Manufacturing Value Added · % of GDP60th percentile since 1995; 1y −0.222 pts7.74% of GDP2025
- Kuwait · Industry (incl. Construction) Value Added · % of GDP16th percentile since 2010; lowest since 2020; 1y −3.59 pts54.1% of GDP2025
- Kuwait · Services Value Added · % of GDP84th percentile since 2010; highest since 2020; 1y +3.96 pts59.6% of GDP2025
Prices1 of 3
- Kuwait · Inflation · CPI % y/y35th percentile since 1973; lowest since 2020; 1y −0.54 pts2.36%2025
Jobs and people at work3 of 4
- Kuwait · Female Labor Force Participation · %60th percentile since 1990; lowest since 2020; 1y −0.14 pts47.2%2025
- Kuwait · Male Labor Force Participation · %90th percentile since 1990; lowest since 2021; 1y −0.18 pts88.6%2025
- Kuwait · Unemployment Rate · %73rd percentile since 1991; highest since 2021; 1y +0.03 pts2.18%2025
Government and debt8
- Kuwait · Budget Balance · % GDP43rd percentile since 1985; lowest since 2021; 1y −7.0%24.5 pct_gdp2025
- Kuwait · Government Spending · % GDP60th percentile since 1985; highest since 2020; 1y +1.8%48.8 pct_gdp2025
- Kuwait · Government Debt · % GDP59th percentile since 1991; highest since 2017; 1y +403.2%14.6 pct_gdp2025
- Kuwait · Net Interest · % GDPrecord low since 1992; 1y −5.90-30.7 pct_gdp2025
- Kuwait · Primary Balance · % GDP13th percentile since 1992; lowest since 2021; 1y −7.74-6.25 pct_gdp2025
- Kuwait · Budget Balance · % GDP (central govt)30th percentile since 1972; 1y −10.40-5.58 pct_gdp1998
- Kuwait · Interest · % of Expense (central govt)record low since 1993; 1y −0.06 pts0.13%2006
- Kuwait · Interest · % of Revenue (central govt)1y +0.27 pts3.87%1998
Trade and capital flows4 of 5
- Kuwait's Share of Foreign-Held U.S. Equities · %1st percentile since Sep 2011; 1y −0.176 pts1.68% of foreign holdings2026-08-01
- U.S. Equities Held in Kuwait · USD bnrecord high since Sep 2011; 1y +11.3%422.6 $ billions2026-08-01
- Kuwait · Current Account · % GDP38th percentile since 1975; lowest since 2020; 1y −21.8%22.7 pct_gdp2025
- Kuwait · Net International Investment Position, % of GDP (IMF)38th percentile since 2001; lowest since 2022; 1y −6.74 pts65.8% of GDP2025
Energy and resources9 of 13
- Crude Oil Production · Kuwait17th percentile since Jan 1973; highest since Feb 2026; 1y −46.4%1,3902026-06-01
- Kuwait: Fuel Share of Exports30th percentile since 1996; lowest since 2020; 1y −1.20 pts93% of merchandise exports2025
- Kuwait · Carbon Intensity of Electricityrecord low since 2000; 1y −0.1%634.7 gCO2e/kWh2025
- Kuwait · Electricity Generation90th percentile since 2000; lowest since 2022; 1y −3.5%89.2 TWh2025
- Kuwait · Gas Share of Electricity Generationrecord high since 2000; 1y +0.15 pts62.2% of generation2025
- Kuwait · Other Fossil Fuels Share of Electricity Generationrecord low since 2000; 1y −0.23 pts35.5% of generation2025
- Kuwait · Solar Share of Electricity Generationrecord high since 2000; 1y +0.01 pts0.24% of generation2025
- Kuwait · Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generationrecord high since 2000; 1y +0.08 pts2.32% of generation2025
- Kuwait · Wind Share of Electricity Generationrecord high since 2000; 1y +0.08 pts2.09% of generation2025
Conflict and geopolitics7 of 11
- U.S. Active-Duty Troops in Kuwait (DMDC)5th percentile since Sep 2008; lowest since Mar 2025; 1y −22.7%432 persons2026-08-31
- Kuwait · Organized-Violence Deaths (UCDP, annual)record low since 1989; 1y unchanged0 deaths2025
- Kuwait · State-Based Conflict Deaths (UCDP, annual)record low since 1989; 1y unchanged0 deaths2025
- Kuwait · Governance · WGI six-dimension mean65th percentile since 1996; highest since 2010; 1y +13.6%0.1 index2025
- Kuwait · Political Stability · WGI80th percentile since 1996; highest since 2010; 1y +19.2%0.42 index2025
- Kuwait · Regulatory Quality · WGI94th percentile since 1996; highest since 2010; 1y +15.9%0.36 index2025
- Kuwait · Rule of Law · WGI31st percentile since 1996; lowest since 2021; 1y −22.7%0.2 index2025
Aid in and out3
- Kuwait · Humanitarian Funding (FTS) · US$ billions54th percentile since 2001; lowest since 2022; 1y −1.8%0.05 US$ billions2025
- Kuwait · Foreign Aid (Official Development Assistance) · US$ billions19th percentile since 2018; 1y −15.8%0.22 US$ billions2025
- Kuwait · ODA as % of GNI19th percentile since 2018; 1y −0.02 pts0.11% of GNI2025
Migration4 of 6
- International Migrant Stock: Kuwait (UN)record high since 19903,323,191 people2024
- International Migrants as a Share of Population: Kuwait (UN)69th percentile since 199067.3% of population2024
- U.S.-Born People Living in Kuwait (UN)record high since 19905,521 people2024
- Change in Migrant Share of Population Since 2000: Kuwait (UN)10.22024
AI stance and technology1 of 3
- AI User Share: Kuwait (Microsoft AI Diffusion)1y +4.90 pts22.6% of people aged 15-642026-06-30
Climate and the physical world4 of 6
- Kuwait · Arable Land · % of land69th percentile since 1961; 1y unchanged0.45% of land area2024
- Kuwait · Renewable Freshwater · m³ per personrecord high since 1961; 1y unchanged02022
- Kuwait · Forest Area · % of landrecord high since 1990; 1y unchanged0.35%2024
- Kuwait · PM2.5 Exposure · µg/m³20th percentile since 1990; 1y +1.8%54.9 µg/m³2020
Health and living standards6
- Kuwait · Life Expectancy at Birth · yearsrecord high since 1960; 1y +1.7%84.6 years2024
- Kuwait · Access to Electricity · % of populationrecord high since 1990; 1y unchanged100%2024
- Kuwait · Human Development Index · UNDPrecord high since 1990; 1y +0.8%0.85 index2023
- Kuwait · Basic Drinking Water Access · % of populationrecord high since 2000; 1y unchanged100%2024
- Kuwait · Safely Managed Drinking Water · % of populationrecord high since 2000; 1y unchanged100%2024
- Kuwait · Undernourishment · % of populationrecord high since 2001; 1y unchanged2.5%2024
More about this country1 of 13
- Kuwait · Exchange Rate per US Dollar (IMF)72nd percentile since Jan 1957; 1y +0.6%0.31 per USD2026-08-01
Peers
Elsewhere in Asia
Alphabetical. Palanor does not rank countries.
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