Kuwait: health and care

What is life expectancy in Kuwait?

Life expectancy at birth in Kuwait was 84.58 years in 2024, according to the World Bank's life expectancy series, based on UN population estimates. The series shows 83.19 years in 2023 and 80.59 in 2022.

The jump between 2022 and 2024 is large for a two-year period, so the figures should be read with care. The Central Statistical Bureau publishes births and deaths in its vital statistics. Current health spending was 4.96% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank's health expenditure series. The Ministry of Health site did not respond on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Kuwait · World Bank: Current health expenditure, Kuwait

How many births and deaths are there in Kuwait each year?

Kuwait registered 49,063 live births and 7,422 deaths in 2024, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's vital statistics bulletin for 2024. Kuwaitis accounted for 33,323 of the births, up from 32,619 in 2023, and non-Kuwaitis for 15,740.

The crude birth rate was 21.42 per 1,000 for Kuwaitis but 4.71 for non-Kuwaitis, because most foreign residents are working-age adults, many without their families. The total fertility rate of Kuwaiti women was 2.794 children. The CSB compiles the bulletin from Ministry of Health records.

Official sources: vital statistics bulletin for 2024

What is the infant mortality rate in Kuwait?

312 babies died before their first birthday in Kuwait in 2024, out of 49,063 live births, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's vital statistics bulletin for 2024. The bulletin gives infant death rates of 6.20 per 1,000 live births for boys and 6.52 for girls.

Under-five mortality was 7.47 per 1,000 for boys and 7.53 for girls. The UN inter-agency estimate on World Bank Open Data, modelled for comparison between countries, puts infant mortality at 7.0 per 1,000 in 2024.

Official sources: vital statistics bulletin for 2024 · World Bank Open Data

What are the main causes of death in Kuwait?

Diseases of the circulatory system, such as heart disease and stroke, were the leading cause of death in Kuwait in 2024, at 74.49 deaths per 100,000 men and 52.10 per 100,000 women, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's vital statistics bulletin for 2024. Cancers (neoplasms) were the next largest group for both sexes.

Causes are classified using the WHO International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Death rates in Kuwait are low overall, 1.53 per 1,000 men and 1.50 per 1,000 women in 2024, because the population is young.

Official sources: vital statistics bulletin for 2024

How much does Kuwait spend on health?

Current health spending in Kuwait was 4.96% of GDP in 2023, up from 4.20% in 2022, according to the World Health Organization's estimates on World Bank Open Data. Households paid 10.0% of it out of pocket in 2023, the same source shows.

Health spending as a share of GDP moves with oil prices, because a fall in GDP raises the share. Public hospitals and clinics are run by the Ministry of Health. There were 2.27 physicians per 1,000 people in 2020, the latest year available.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · the same source shows · physicians per 1,000 people

How long do people live in Kuwait?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Kuwait was 84.6 years in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 77.3 years, and Kuwait placed 1st highest of 22. Worldwide: 3rd of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in Kuwait?

7.0 per 1,000: that is the infant mortality rate in Kuwait for 2024, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 11.2 per 1,000; Kuwait is 17th highest of 22. Worldwide: 133rd of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Kuwait?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 8.0 per 100,000. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 75.0 per 100,000; its low point was 2019, at 7.0 per 100,000. It is 17th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 18.5 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 150th of 192.

What is Kuwait's health spending?

5.0% of GDP: that is current health spending in Kuwait for 2023, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.8% of GDP (2006) to 6.1% of GDP (2020). Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 5.6% of GDP, and Kuwait placed 14th highest of 22. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 126th highest.

How much do people in Kuwait pay for health care themselves?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in Kuwait was 10.0% in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 21.5%; its low point was 2021, at 10.0%. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 32.7%; Kuwait is 19th highest of 22. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 167th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Kuwait?

In 2020, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Kuwait was 2.3 per 1,000, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.5 per 1,000 (2006) to 2.7 per 1,000 (2014). Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 1.8 per 1,000, and Kuwait placed 6th highest of 14. Of 136 countries with 2020 data, 68th highest.

How many hospital beds per person does Kuwait have?

2.3 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Kuwait for 2020, according to the WHO. The peak was 2.5 per 1,000 in 2011 and the low 2.0 per 1,000 in 2019. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 1.9 per 1,000; Kuwait is 7th highest of 16. World rank, highest first: 78th of 131.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Kuwait?

WHO and UNICEF puts measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Kuwait at 98.0% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 93.0% (2015) to 99.0% (2005). Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 96.0%, and Kuwait placed 6th highest of 22. Worldwide: 20th of 191.