Kuwait Budget Deficit
General government net lending/borrowing as % of GDP GGXCNL_NGDP
Kuwait's budget deficit was 26.76% in 2025, ranked 1st globally. This represents a 12.5% increase from 2024. Data from IMF WEO, covering 1985–2025.
Overview
Kuwait's budget deficit stood at 26.76% in 2025, a rise of +2.97% from 2024. The IMF projects 26.76% by 2025. Kuwait ranked 1st globally.
Kuwait’s budget deficit has widened markedly since the early 1990s, moving from an all‑time trough of –144.98 in 1991 to a peak of 52.51 in 2000, before moderating to a still sizable 26.76 in 2025, the highest figure among the 190 economies surveyed by the IMF World Economic Outlook and the top‑ranked deficit globally. Over the 41‑year series, the deficit’s volatility reflects the interplay of oil‑price swings, fiscal stimulus during the post‑Gulf War reconstruction period and the recent impact of lower hydrocarbon revenues combined with expansive public spending. By contrast, Norway, a fellow oil‑exporting nation, recorded a much smaller deficit of 12.74 in the same year, underscoring divergent fiscal frameworks and sovereign wealth fund utilization. If Kuwait sustains higher non‑oil revenue diversification and tightens expenditure, the upward trajectory of its deficit could be reversed, steering the fiscal balance toward a more sustainable path.
Data & projection
| Year | Budget Deficit | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 24.68% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 25.10% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 25.69% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 26.25% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 26.50% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 26.76% | - | - |
| 2025 | 26.76% | +2.97% | #1 |
| 2024 | 23.79% | −4.43% | #190 |
| 2023 | 28.22% | −1.77% | #191 |
| 2022 | 29.99% | +20.00% | #191 |
| 2021 | 9.98% | +9.84% | #188 |
| 2020 | 0.14% | −12.83% | #177 |
| 2019 | 12.97% | −4.55% | #189 |
| 2018 | 17.52% | +2.27% | #189 |
| 2017 | 15.25% | +2.18% | #190 |
| 2016 | 13.08% | −3.50% | #189 |
| 2015 | 16.58% | −13.42% | #190 |
| 2014 | 30.00% | −10.57% | #191 |
| 2013 | 40.57% | −0.11% | #191 |
| 2012 | 40.67% | +1.92% | #190 |
| 2011 | 38.75% | +6.84% | #190 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kuwait matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw budget deficit improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kuwait's budget deficit was 26.76% in 2025. Ranked 1st globally. This represents a 12.5% increase from the previous year.
Kuwait's budget deficit peaked at 52.51% in 2000.
The lowest budget deficit in Kuwait was -144.98% in 1991.
Kuwait ranks 1st globally in budget deficit as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is GGXCNL_NGDP. Data sourced from IMF WEO.
Kuwait's budget deficit is projected to reach 26.76% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The budget deficit of Kuwait in 2025 was 26.76%. This ranks 1st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kuwait_budget-deficit,
title = {Kuwait Budget Deficit},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kuwait/budget-deficit/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}