Kuwait Military Spending
Kuwait spends an estimated 4.7% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $7.9 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1970–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$8.3 billion
Ranked #35 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
4.7%
Ranked #14 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $7.9B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$29.2 billion
Reached in 1991
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Kuwait run to 2025.
Kuwait Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Kuwait is estimated to have spent $8.3 billion on military and defense, representing 4.7% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Kuwait is the #35 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $7.9 billion to $8.3 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 117.3% in 1991. The historical average military budget is 8.9% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 4.70% | $8,711M |
| 2026(estimate) | 4.70% | $8,315M |
| 2025 | 4.69% | $7,919M |
| 2024 | 4.44% | $7,799M |
| 2023 | 4.28% | $7,997M |
| 2022 | 4.48% | $8,782M |
| 2021 | 6.07% | $9,822M |
| 2020 | 6.27% | $7,969M |
| 2019 | 5.24% | $8,559M |
| 2018 | 5.19% | $8,361M |
| 2017 | 5.61% | $7,967M |
| 2016 | 5.89% | $7,725M |
| 2015 | 5.01% | $7,064M |
| 2014 | 3.59% | $7,013M |
| 2013 | 3.27% | $7,027M |
| 2012 | 3.41% | $7,427M |
| 2011 | 3.50% | $6,863M |
| 2010 | 3.76% | $6,006M |
| 2009 | 3.97% | $6,118M |
| 2008 | 3.01% | $6,293M |
| 2007 | 3.59% | $6,835M |
| 2006 | 3.54% | $6,435M |
| 2005 | 4.34% | $6,509M |
| 2004 | 5.80% | $6,726M |
| 2003 | 6.54% | $6,249M |
| 2002 | 7.40% | $5,799M |
| 2001 | 7.70% | $5,619M |
| 2000 | 7.15% | $5,718M |
| 1999 | 7.59% | $4,897M |
| 1998 | 8.80% | $5,040M |
| 1997 | 8.09% | $5,402M |
| 1996 | 10.29% | $7,090M |
| 1995 | 13.58% | $8,337M |
| 1994 | 13.26% | $7,602M |
| 1993 | 12.44% | $7,165M |
| 1992 | 31.79% | $14,808M |
| 1991 | 117.35% | $29,217M |
| 1990 | 48.52% | $22,419M |
| 1989 | 8.54% | $5,811M |
| 1988 | 8.24% | $4,681M |
| 1987 | 5.98% | $3,721M |
| 1986 | 7.24% | $3,785M |
| 1985 | 6.43% | $4,212M |
| 1984 | 6.75% | $4,471M |
| 1983 | 6.83% | $4,330M |
| 1982 | 5.95% | $4,038M |
| 1981 | 4.13% | $3,417M |
| 1980 | 3.31% | $3,246M |
| 1979 | 3.55% | $3,289M |
| 1978 | 4.76% | $2,935M |
| 1977 | 5.29% | $3,371M |
| 1974 | 2.96% | $2,221M |
| 1973 | 2.52% | $901M |
| 1972 | 2.04% | $719M |
| 1971 | 1.89% | — |
| 1970 | 2.39% | — |