School-age population (primary level) in Kuwait
Kuwait: School-age population (primary level) was 316,769 in 2025. ▲ Rising
School-age population in Kuwait, 1970–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school-age population in Kuwait is 316,769, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.7% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school-age population in Kuwait peaked at 322,180 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 87,890, in 1970.
Kuwait ranks 48th of 72 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
School-age population (primary level) in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 87,890 | — |
| 1971 | 95,648 | +8.8% |
| 1972 | 101,804 | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 107,398 | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 112,904 | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 118,529 | +5.0% |
| 1976 | 124,531 | +5.1% |
| 1977 | 130,807 | +5.0% |
| 1978 | 137,402 | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 144,140 | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 150,713 | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 157,570 | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 162,572 | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 168,157 | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 173,992 | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 181,004 | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 187,230 | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 198,590 | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 209,466 | +5.5% |
| 1989 | 219,741 | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 229,588 | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 111,037 | -51.6% |
| 1992 | 156,801 | +41.2% |
| 1993 | 160,451 | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 152,431 | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 156,401 | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 162,150 | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 162,474 | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 160,179 | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 156,527 | -2.3% |
| 2000 | 152,740 | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 149,827 | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 148,367 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 148,250 | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 148,800 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 184,467 | +24.0% |
| 2006 | 188,558 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 193,202 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 197,038 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 201,029 | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 206,593 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 215,013 | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 227,547 | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 240,239 | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 250,552 | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 257,986 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 304,599 | +18.1% |
| 2023 | 322,180 | +5.8% |
| 2025 | 316,769 | -1.7% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 316,769 is below the median for high income countries, which is 380,422, 83% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 316,769 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.15 million, 28% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School-age population (primary level) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -51.6% | 229,588 | 111,037 |
| 1992 | +41.2% | 111,037 | 156,801 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 116,105 | 87,890 | 144,140 | 10 |
| 1980s | 180,904 | 150,713 | 219,741 | 10 |
| 1990s | 160,804 | 111,037 | 229,588 | 10 |
| 2000s | 171,228 | 148,250 | 201,029 | 10 |
| 2010s | 232,988 | 206,593 | 257,986 | 6 |
| 2020s | 314,516 | 304,599 | 322,180 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More education data for Kuwait
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 86.7 (2021)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 80.57 (2021)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 47,443 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 30,349 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 29,489 (2021)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 302,047 (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 265,113 (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -4.44 % change on previous year (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school-age population in Kuwait?
- School-age population in Kuwait was 316,769 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest school-age population recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 322,180 in 2023.
- What is the lowest school-age population recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 87,890 in 1970.
- How does Kuwait rank for school-age population?
- Kuwait ranks 48th out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school-age population rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of School-age population (primary level). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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