Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Kuwait
Kuwait: Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle was 11.9% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Kuwait, 1973–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise exports.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 11.9% for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle in 2023.
The figure is down 4.7% on the previous year and down 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle in Kuwait peaked at 21.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1994.
Kuwait ranks 9th of 204 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 1.4% | — |
| 1974 | 1.1% | -21.6% |
| 1975 | 5.2% | +382.8% |
| 1976 | 2.0% | -61.8% |
| 1977 | 1.9% | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 2.5% | +29.3% |
| 1979 | 3.3% | +32.4% |
| 1980 | 4.2% | +29.2% |
| 1981 | 9.1% | +115.4% |
| 1982 | 11.5% | +27.1% |
| 1983 | 7.0% | -39.1% |
| 1984 | 6.4% | -8.4% |
| 1985 | 7.0% | +8.7% |
| 1986 | 6.8% | -2.7% |
| 1987 | 5.5% | -18.9% |
| 1988 | 7.7% | +40.2% |
| 1989 | 5.9% | -23.9% |
| 1990 | 6.0% | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 21.3% | +255.5% |
| 1992 | 2.2% | -89.5% |
| 1993 | 1.1% | -49.3% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -65.6% |
| 1995 | 12.9% | +3212.6% |
| 1996 | 0.4% | -96.9% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | +103.9% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | +50.9% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | +476.2% |
| 2001 | 16.4% | +120.2% |
| 2002 | 16.4% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 16.4% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 16.4% | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 16.4% | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 16.4% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 16.4% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 16.4% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 16.4% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 16.4% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 16.4% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 14.0% | -14.8% |
| 2016 | 12.3% | -12.2% |
| 2017 | 18.1% | +47.1% |
| 2018 | 15.0% | -17.2% |
| 2019 | 19.7% | +31.4% |
| 2020 | 13.4% | -31.8% |
| 2021 | 14.8% | +10.4% |
| 2022 | 12.5% | -15.4% |
| 2023 | 11.9% | -4.7% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 11.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.7%, 16.4× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 11.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.8%, 2.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Kuwait changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +3212.6% | 0.4% | 12.9% |
| 2000 | +476.2% | 1.3% | 7.5% |
| 1975 | +382.8% | 1.1% | 5.2% |
| 1991 | +255.5% | 6.0% | 21.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.5% | 1.1% | 5.2% | 7 |
| 1980s | 7.1% | 4.2% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 0.4% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.5% | 7.5% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.1% | 12.3% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.2% | 11.9% | 14.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More private sector data for Kuwait
- Merchandise trade 72.3% (2025)
- Food imports 17.5% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 73.2% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 41.61 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 0.6% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 8.1% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 72.07 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 14,814 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4585 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate -4.09 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle in Kuwait?
- Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle in Kuwait was 11.9% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1994.
- How does Kuwait rank for merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle?
- Kuwait ranks 9th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in middle rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle East & North Africa (% of total merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise exports to low- and middle-income economies in Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise exports from the reporting economy to low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa region according to World Bank classification of economies. Data are as a percentage of total merchandise exports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.