Largest Places by Population in Kuwait

19 places in Kuwait with 5,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by population at the census of June 30, 2021 (by Central Statistical Office, Kuwait).

RankPlaceAlso Known AsNative NamePopulation
1Hawalliincl. As-Sālimīyah, Salwā', Al-Jābiriyah, Ar-Rumayṭīyah-حولي926,170
2Farwaniyaincl. Khīṭān, Qalīb ash-ShuyūkhAl-Farwānīyahالفروانيه791,744
3Jahraincl. Al-Qaṣr, Taymā', South JahraAl-Jahrā'الجهراء455,786
4Funtasincl. Al-Mahbūlah, Ar-Riqqah, Abū ḤulayfahAl-Finṭāsالفنطاس447,009
5Southern suburbs of Kuwait Cityincl. Ar-Rawḍah, As-Surrah, QarṭabahJanūb al-Kuwayt-388,294
6Mangafincl. Al-Fuḥayḥīl, Aṣ-ṢabāḥīyahAl-Manqafالمنقف288,910
7Mubarak al Kabeerincl. Sabāh as-Sālim, Al-Qoṣūr, Al-Adan, Al-QuraynMubarāk al-Kabīrمبارك الكبير271,685
8Firdousincl. Al-'Ārdhiyah, Al-AndalusAl-Firdawsالفردوس256,078
9SulaibiahAṣ-Ṣulaybīyahالصليبية93,021
10Sulaibekhatincl. Ad-DawḥahAṣ-Ṣulaybikhātالصليبخات83,771
11Madinat Sabah al-Ahmad-مدينة صباح الأحمد60,257
12Abdallah Mubarak as-Sabah-عبدالله مبارك الصباح59,007
13Ali Sabah as-Salem-علي صباح السالم57,408
14Kuwait CityAl-Kuwaytمدينة الكويت55,159
15Jaber Al Ahmad New CityJāber al-Aḥmadجابر الأحمد47,024
16Ahmadi CityAl-Aḥmadīالأحمدي28,612
17Shuaibaincl. Industrial AreaAsh-Shua'ībahالشعيبه17,448
18Sabhan Industrial AreaṢabḥān aṣ-Ṣinā'iyahصبحان الصناعيه5,426
19Al-Wafrah al-Jadidah-الوفره الجديده5,173

Source: Central Statistical Office, Kuwait (2021 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff.

Why don't these match official city populations?Official figures typically count only the population within administrative boundaries. UN urban area figures cover the entire built-up area, which can include multiple cities and towns.

Tokyo

33,338,852

Urban area

9,953,160

23 wards

Essen

2,709,375

Urban area

573,618

City of Essen

Ankara

3,630,865

Urban area

5,186,002

Metropolitan municipality

What counts as an urban area? The UN uses satellite imagery to map built-up land, and treats each continuous stretch of built-up land as an urban area. This means that urban areas can extend beyond official city boundaries, and may include multiple cities and towns within a single urban area.

Can an urban area be smaller than its city? Yes. While most cities have urban areas larger than their administrative boundaries, some cities have extensive administrative limits that include sparsely populated areas.

2 urban areas in Kuwait with 50,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by the UN's population estimates for 2026.

RankUrban AreaPopulation Estimate (2026)Yearly ChangeLand Area (km²)Density (P/km²)World RankProjections (2030)Projections (2050)
1Al Kuwayt (Kuwait City)4,315,600+1.17%5308,1461024,517,4705,325,605
2Al Jahra211,400+1.03%543,9002,849220,106315,630

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision, Online Edition.

See also