Government gross debt in Kuwait

International Monetary Fund · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: 22.3% 2027: 27.5% 2028: 32.1% 2029: 34.9% 2030: 36.7% 2031: 37.8%

25.5 (1999) ANUAL · % of GDP · Annual · CSV

Period	% of GDP
Jan 1999	25.5
Jan 1998	25.6
Jan 1997	24.3
Jan 1996	26.5
Jan 1995	34.9
Jan 1994	37.7
Jan 1993	28.8
Jan 1992	27.9
Jan 1991	45.3

About this indicator

Source

International Monetary Fund

Frequency

Annual

Release

Published annually (with quarterly advance estimates in some economies), subject to revision with the national accounts.

What it is

Government gross debt measures the total outstanding liabilities of Kuwait's government owed to its creditors. It is reported in absolute terms and as a share of GDP, though in Kuwait the level is traditionally very low.

How it's calculated

The figure comes from the Finance Ministry, the Central Bank of Kuwait and IMF estimates: the sum of government securities and loans set against nominal GDP. It is annual and, given the weight of oil, highly sensitive to crude prices.

Market implications

A rise in Kuwaiti debt typically reflects deficits stemming from low oil prices, while low levels signal fiscal comfort. The reading matters to investors and agencies given the tug-of-war between public spending and oil revenues.

Limitations

Gross debt barely reflects Kuwait's true financial position: the country is a net creditor thanks to its huge sovereign wealth fund (the Future Generations Fund), whose assets do not appear in this figure. It is also an annual, revisable number.