Homicides in Kuwait
Kuwait: Homicides was 17 deaths in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
17 deaths
Change on year
down 29.2%
World rank
85th
of 113 countries
All-time high
199 deaths
in 2004
All-time low
5 deaths
in 1981
Years of data
43
1972–2023
Homicides in Kuwait, 1972–2023
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2023, homicides in Kuwait stood at 17 deaths.
That represents a change of down 29.2% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, homicides in Kuwait peaked at 199 deaths in 2004 and was at its lowest, 5 deaths, in 1981.
That places Kuwait 85th out of 113 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Homicides in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 24 deaths | — |
| 1975 | 15 deaths | -37.5% |
| 1976 | 10 deaths | -33.3% |
| 1977 | 10 deaths | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 14 deaths | +40.0% |
| 1979 | 6 deaths | -57.1% |
| 1980 | 12 deaths | +100.0% |
| 1981 | 5 deaths | -58.3% |
| 1982 | 7 deaths | +40.0% |
| 1983 | 10 deaths | +42.9% |
| 1984 | 25 deaths | +150.0% |
| 1985 | 32 deaths | +28.0% |
| 1986 | 13 deaths | -59.4% |
| 1987 | 10 deaths | -23.1% |
| 1993 | 22 deaths | +120.0% |
| 1994 | 28 deaths | +27.3% |
| 1995 | 16 deaths | -42.9% |
| 1996 | 31 deaths | +93.8% |
| 1997 | 24 deaths | -22.6% |
| 1998 | 28 deaths | +16.7% |
| 1999 | 39 deaths | +39.3% |
| 2000 | 25 deaths | -35.9% |
| 2001 | 39 deaths | +56.0% |
| 2002 | 26 deaths | -33.3% |
| 2003 | 78 deaths | +200.0% |
| 2004 | 199 deaths | +155.1% |
| 2005 | 34 deaths | -82.9% |
| 2006 | 40 deaths | +17.6% |
| 2007 | 27 deaths | -32.5% |
| 2008 | 27 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 18 deaths | -33.3% |
| 2010 | 21 deaths | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 15 deaths | -28.6% |
| 2012 | 14 deaths | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 18 deaths | +28.6% |
| 2014 | 31 deaths | +72.2% |
| 2015 | 55 deaths | +77.4% |
| 2016 | 27 deaths | -50.9% |
| 2017 | 29 deaths | +7.4% |
| 2018 | 33 deaths | +13.8% |
| 2019 | 19 deaths | -42.4% |
| 2022 | 24 deaths | +26.3% |
| 2023 | 17 deaths | -29.2% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 17 deaths is below the median for high income countries, which is 63 deaths, 27% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 17 deaths is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 36 deaths, 47% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.17 deaths | 6 deaths | 24 deaths | 6 |
| 1980s | 14.25 deaths | 5 deaths | 32 deaths | 8 |
| 1990s | 26.86 deaths | 16 deaths | 39 deaths | 7 |
| 2000s | 51.3 deaths | 18 deaths | 199 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.2 deaths | 14 deaths | 55 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.5 deaths | 17 deaths | 24 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More social development data for Kuwait
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 386 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,369 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,369 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is homicides in Kuwait?
- Homicides in Kuwait was 17 deaths in 2023, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest homicides recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 199 deaths in 2004.
- What is the lowest homicides recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 deaths in 1981.
- How does Kuwait rank for homicides?
- Kuwait ranks 85th out of 113 countries with data for 2023.
- Is homicides rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Homicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual number of homicides.