Kuwait Current Account Balance
Current account balance as % of GDP BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS
Kuwait's current account balance was 26.53% in 2025, ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 9.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1975–2025.
Overview
Kuwait's current account balance stood at 26.53% in 2025, a decline of +2.62% from 2024. The IMF projects 26.53% by 2025. Kuwait ranked 2nd globally.
Kuwait’s current‑account balance in 2025 stood at 26.53 billion US$, ranking second worldwide, a sharp decline from the 49.33 billion recorded in 1975 and far below the all‑time peak of 56.70 billion reached in 1979 during the oil‑price boom. The balance turned dramatically negative in 1991, sinking to –240.49 billion as the Gulf War disrupted export revenues and fiscal inflows, a trough that underscores the economy’s vulnerability to geopolitical shocks. Over the 51‑year series, Kuwait’s surplus has remained sizable but increasingly modest compared with peers such as Singapore, whose 2025 surplus of 17.40 billion reflects a more diversified export base. The persistence of high oil prices and ongoing investments in non‑hydrocarbon sectors will be decisive in determining whether Kuwait can sustain its elevated surplus or revert to lower levels as global energy markets evolve.
Data & projection
| Year | Current Account Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 19.17% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 20.55% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 21.76% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 22.92% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 24.43% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 26.53% | - | - |
| 2025 | 26.53% | −2.62% | #2 |
| 2024 | 29.15% | −1.93% | #189 |
| 2023 | 31.08% | −3.32% | #193 |
| 2022 | 34.37% | +9.17% | #195 |
| 2021 | 23.55% | +19.19% | #191 |
| 2020 | 19.84% | +7.16% | #192 |
| 2019 | 21.48% | +7.14% | #192 |
| 2018 | 17.35% | +9.38% | #189 |
| 2017 | 6.43% | +11.05% | #176 |
| 2016 | 0.59% | −2.91% | #144 |
| 2015 | 7.49% | −25.95% | #178 |
| 2014 | 33.18% | −7.12% | #195 |
| 2013 | 39.90% | −5.56% | #192 |
| 2012 | 45.46% | +2.52% | #192 |
| 2011 | 42.94% | +10.90% | #193 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kuwait matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw current account balance improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kuwait's current account balance was 26.53% in 2025. Ranked 2nd globally. This represents a 9.0% decrease from the previous year.
Kuwait's current account balance peaked at 56.70% in 1979.
The lowest current account balance in Kuwait was -240.49% in 1991.
Kuwait ranks 2nd globally in current account balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is BN.CAB.XOKA.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kuwait's current account balance is projected to reach 26.53% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The current account balance of Kuwait in 2025 was 26.53%. This ranks 2nd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kuwait_current-account,
title = {Kuwait Current Account Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kuwait/current-account/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}