Kuwait Trade Balance
External balance on goods and services NE.RSB.GNFS.CD
Kuwait's trade balance was $59.7B in 2025, ranked 14th globally. This represents a 86.3% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1965–2025.
Overview
Kuwait's trade balance stood at $59.7B in 2025, a rise of +$27.7B from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $59.7B by 2025. Kuwait ranked 14th globally.
Kuwait’s trade balance has expanded dramatically over the six‑decade series, rising from a modest surplus of 935,199,625.92 in 1965 to a substantial 59,715,092,569.68 in 2025, ranking fourteenth globally. The upward trajectory peaked in 2012 when the surplus reached an all‑time high of 84,329,989,711.93, reflecting the combined effect of high oil export revenues and restrained imports during that period. Conversely, the early 1990s marked a sharp reversal; the balance turned negative in 1991, plunging to –11,979,850,423.37 as the Gulf War disrupted production and trade flows. Compared with peers, Kuwait’s 2025 surplus exceeds Denmark’s 50,105,620,901.67 and trails only the United Arab Emirates’ 78,493,396,868.62, underscoring its strong position among oil‑rich economies. Continued diversification of non‑oil exports and stabilization of regional geopolitics will be decisive in sustaining the positive trend and narrowing the gap with the top‑ranking peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | $67.5B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $59.7B | - | - |
| 2025 | $59.7B | +$27.7B | #14 |
| 2023 | $32.1B | −$23.0B | #153 |
| 2022 | $55.0B | +$23.2B | #166 |
| 2021 | $31.8B | +$25.8B | #165 |
| 2020 | $6.0B | −$11.5B | #147 |
| 2019 | $17.5B | +$1.1B | #157 |
| 2018 | $16.4B | +$10.9B | #161 |
| 2017 | $5.5B | +$6.5B | #150 |
| 2016 | $-977.1M | −$11.1B | #69 |
| 2015 | $10.1B | −$50.0B | #160 |
| 2014 | $60.1B | −$16.7B | #169 |
| 2013 | $76.8B | −$7.5B | #171 |
| 2012 | $84.3B | +$11.4B | #170 |
| 2011 | $72.9B | +$31.0B | #168 |
| 2010 | $41.9B | +$10.1B | #166 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kuwait matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw trade balance improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kuwait's trade balance was $59.7B in 2025. Ranked 14th globally. This represents a 86.3% increase from the previous year.
Kuwait's trade balance peaked at $84.3B in 2012.
The lowest trade balance in Kuwait was $-12.0B in 1991.
Kuwait ranks 14th globally in trade balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.RSB.GNFS.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kuwait's trade balance is projected to reach $59.7B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Kuwait's trade balance was approximately 59.72 billion ($59.7B) in 2025.
The trade balance of Kuwait in 2025 was $59.7B. This ranks 14th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kuwait_trade-balance,
title = {Kuwait Trade Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kuwait/trade-balance/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}