Kuwait Population
Middle East & North Africa · 127th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
4,952,875
The population of Kuwait is about 4,952,875 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 4.9 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.06% of the world's people.
Kuwait is ranked 127th of 217 by population. The population is still growing, by about 1.43% a year. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 6.2 million. That is 15.9 times its 1960 population of 311 thousand. Population density is 277 people per square kilometre. 100% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
4.9 million
Yearly change
+1.43%
World rank
127th
Share of world
0.06%
Density
277/km²
Land area
17,820 km²
Life expectancy
84.6 yrs
Births per woman
1.56
GDP per capita
$32,312
GDP
$157.2B
Population of Kuwait, 1960–2050
Kuwait population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 311,060 | — | 17 |
| 1970 | 809,114 | +7.96% | 45 |
| 1980 | 1,504,782 | +5.71% | 84 |
| 1990 | 1,684,819 | −24.02% | 95 |
| 2000 | 1,954,709 | +2.88% | 110 |
| 2010 | 2,943,372 | +5.29% | 165 |
| 2020 | 4,400,267 | −0.95% | 247 |
| 2024 | 4,897,263 | +0.90% | 275 |
| 2026proj. | 4,934,649 | +1.43% | 277 |
| 2030proj. | 5,137,756 | +0.89% | 288 |
| 2040proj. | 5,631,910 | +0.93% | 316 |
| 2050proj. | 6,157,871 | +0.87% | 346 |
Kuwait vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 36.0 times as many people as Kuwait. Bangladesh is 4.9 times more densely populated.
Kuwait population: questions and answers
What is the population of Kuwait in 2026?
About 4,934,649 (4.9 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Kuwait's population growing?
Yes, by about 1.43% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Kuwait?
About 277 people per km², with a land area of 17,820 km².
What will the population of Kuwait be in 2050?
About 6.2 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Kuwait?
Kuwait City.
What is the life expectancy in Kuwait?
84.6 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.