KW
Trade & investment · Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan · High income
Kuwait: trade and investment
Exports is 55.8% (2024), 40th of 184 in the world and 8th of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa. Imports is 38.2% (2024), 108th of 184 in the world and 12th of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa. Trade openness is 94.0% (2024), 73rd of 184 in the world and 9th of 21 in the Middle East & North Africa.
13 indicators
Trade & investment: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExportsExports of goods and services, % of GDP | 55.8%2024 | 40/184 | 8/21 | 56.5% | 66.7% | 43.7% | −12.7 ppsince 2014 | 41.1% | 31.7% | 29.5% | |
| ImportsImports of goods and services, % of GDP | 38.2%2024 | 108/184 | 12/21 | 30.1% | 30.4% | 38.3% | +6.7 ppsince 2014 | 38.4% | 30.8% | 28.5% | |
| Trade opennessTrade, % of GDP | 94.0%2024 | 73/184 | 9/21 | 86.6% | 97.0% | 82.0% | −6.0 ppsince 2014 | 57.2% | 60.5% | 68.5% | |
| Current accountCurrent account balance, % of GDP | 22.7%2025 | 3/185 | 1/20 | 38.9% | 32.0% | 19.8% | +15.2 ppsince 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Merchandise exportsMerchandise exports, current US$ | $72.1bn2025 | 50/206 | 6/22 | $19.4bn | $70.0bn | $40.1bn | +33%since 2015 | $1.8tn | $17.5tn | $26.4tn | |
| High-tech exportsHigh-technology exports, % of manufactured exports | 10.2%2024 | 64/170 | 3/19 | · | 3.1% | 1.3% | +10.1 ppsince 2014 | 8.6% | 25.8% | 24.7% | |
| Fuel exportsFuel exports, % of merchandise exports | 93.0%2025 | 3/172 | 3/20 | 94.3% | 92.8% | 92.9% | +0.5 ppsince 2015 | 68.5% | 10.4% | 9.5% | |
| Food exportsFood exports, % of merchandise exports | 0.6%2025 | 165/172 | 17/20 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.8% | −0.2 ppsince 2015 | 4.1% | 8.8% | 9.0% | |
| Average tariffApplied tariff rate, weighted mean, all products | 4.0%2022 | 96/184 | 11/20 | 4.3%2002 | 3.9% | 3.0% | −0.1 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| FDI inflowsForeign direct investment, net inflows, % of GDP | 0.3%2025 | 167/197 | 19/21 | 0.0% | 1.1% | -0.5% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.4% | |
| RemittancesPersonal remittances received, % of GDP | 0.0%2025 | 177/178 | 17/17 | · | 0.0% | 0.0% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 2.7% | 0.3% | 0.8% | |
| Tourist arrivalsInternational tourist arrivals | 2.2m2020 | 61/196 | 7/18 | 1.9m | 5.2m | 2.2m | −59%since 2010 | 153m | 1.5bn | 2.4bn | |
| Tourism receiptsInternational tourism receipts, current US$ | $524m2020 | 96/177 | 15/20 | $394m | $574m | $524m | −8.7%since 2010 | $145bn | $1.2tn | $1.9tn |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
neighbours
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports | 55.8%2024 | 25.8%2025 | 39.8%2024 | 29.7%2025 |
| Imports | 38.2%2024 | 34.5%2025 | 37.4%2024 | 28.2%2025 |
| Trade openness | 94.0%2024 | 60.2%2025 | 77.1%2024 | 57.9%2025 |
| Current account | 22.7%2025 | — | 1.9%2025 | -2.6%2025 |
| Merchandise exports | $72.1bn2025 | $113bn2025 | $92.9bn2025 | $311bn2025 |
| High-tech exports | 10.2%2024 | 0.8%2022 | — | 0.5%2024 |
| Fuel exports | 93.0%2025 | 68.0%2023 | 99.0%2024 | 78.7%2025 |
| Food exports | 0.6%2025 | 5.6%2023 | 0.5%2024 | 2.2%2025 |
| Average tariff | 4.0%2022 | 12.1%2020 | — | 5.4%2022 |