Kuwait: prices, money and public finance
Inflation is 2.4% (2025), 109th of 180 in the world and 9th of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa. GDP deflator is -5.0% (2025), 206th of 209 in the world and 20th of 22 in the Middle East & North Africa. Lending rate is 5.0% (2025), 117th of 136 in the world and 12th of 14 in the Middle East & North Africa.
Prices & public finance: Kuwait in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InflationInflation, consumer prices, annual % | 2.4%2025 | 109/180 | 9/21 | 1.8% | 4.5% | 2.1% | −0.9 ppsince 2015 | 2.0% | 2.3% | 3.0% | |
| GDP deflatorInflation, GDP deflator, annual % | -5.0%2025 | 206/209 | 20/22 | 20.5% | 11.1% | -16.5% | +21.0 ppsince 2015 | 2.2% | 2.6% | 3.3% | |
| Lending rateLending interest rate, % | 5.0%2025 | 117/136 | 12/14 | 8.9% | 5.4% | 4.1% | +0.7 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Real interest rateReal interest rate, % | 10.5%2025 | 22/136 | 4/14 | -9.7% | -5.1% | 24.7% | −30.3 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Exchange rateOfficial exchange rate, local currency per US$ | 0.312025 | 210/210 | 22/22 | 0.31 | 0.29 | 0.31 | +1.9%since 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Government expenseGovernment expense, % of GDP | 34.6%2006 | — | — | 43.5%2001 | · | · | −7.2 ppsince 1996 | — | 30.1% | 28.5% | |
| Private creditDomestic credit to private sector, % of GDP | 4.9%2025 | 166/169 | 16/17 | 45.4% | 74.6% | 6.0% | −93.6 ppsince 2015 | 52.4% | 152.1% | 140.3% | |
| Broad moneyBroad money, % of GDP | 87.4%2025 | 30/146 | 7/15 | 70.6% | 77.5% | 102.7% | −11.9 ppsince 2015 | 78.7% | 138.4% | 135.7% | |
| Reserves, months of importsTotal reserves in months of imports | 8.42025 | 24/165 | 8/20 | 7.8 | 8.1 | 13.4 | +21%since 2015 | 11.2 | 7.9 | 8.6 | |
| Military spendingMilitary expenditure, % of GDP | 4.69%2025 | 11/156 | 6/18 | 7.15% | 3.76% | 6.27% | −0.3 ppsince 2015 | 4.98% | 2.80% | 2.48% |
Better than ten years ago
- Inflation−0.9 pp2.4% in 2025
- Reserves, months of imports+21%8.4 in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
No rated indicator got worse over the decade.
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
Kuwait and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Kuwait. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Kuwait | Iran | Iraq | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation | 2.4%2025 | 42.2%2025 | 0.3%2025 | 2.0%2025 |
| GDP deflator | -5.0%2025 | 28.8%2025 | -7.0%2025 | -2.6%2025 |
| Lending rate | 5.0%2025 | 18.0%2016 | 12.3%2015 | — |
| Real interest rate | 10.5%2025 | 3.4%2016 | 57.6%2015 | — |
| Exchange rate | 0.312025 | 42,000.002023 | 1,300.002025 | 3.752025 |
| Government expense | 34.6%2006 | 19.6%2009 | 27.6%2019 | 24.2%2023 |
| Private credit | 4.9%2025 | 57.8%2016 | 14.0%2024 | 50.1%2017 |
| Broad money | 87.4%2025 | 79.1%2016 | 47.9%2024 | 65.1%2017 |
| Reserves, months of imports | 8.42025 | — | 11.62025 | 15.62025 |