Kuwait sees decline in citizen death rate to 2.56% in 2023

• The data shows an increase in births at government hospitals for citizens, with 7,917 births recorded last year compared to 7,133 in 2022.

• Kuwait sees fewer private maternity births (24,396 in 2023 versus 25,723 in 2022), and a decline in female citizen fertility from 83.913% to 80.610%.

• Heart-related diseases remained the top cause of death. In 2023, they accounted for 94.81% of citizen deaths (per 100,000), compared to 55.27% for non-citizens.

The most recent official data indicates a rise in the number of births in government hospitals for citizens, reaching 7,917 births last year compared to 7,133 in 2022, according to a report by Al Rai newspaper and Q-8 Press.

In contrast to the increase in births in government maternity hospitals, there was a decline in births in private maternity hospitals for Kuwaitis. In 2023, there were 24,396 births, down from 25,723 in 2022.

According to the annual bulletin on births and deaths for 2023, published by the Central Administration of Statistics, the death rate among citizens decreased last year to 2.56 percent per thousand of the population, compared to 2.94 percent in 2022.

Diseases of the circulatory system, particularly heart-related conditions, remained the leading cause of death for both years. In 2023, diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 94.81 percent of deaths per 100,000 citizens, compared to 55.27 percent for non-citizens, marking the highest death rate among the main groups of causes.

Drop in transport accident deaths

The report indicated a decrease in the percentage of deaths from transport accidents among total external causes, falling to 42.4 percent last year from 48 percent in 2022.

The percentage of citizens dying from cancer increased by 16.4 percent, rising from 628 in 2022 to 731 in 2023. The total number of deaths among citizens and residents reached 1,394 in 2023, compared to 1,027 in 2022, marking a 35.47 percent increase.

Regarding the fertility rate of female citizens, there was a decline last year compared to the previous year, dropping from 83.913 percent in 2022 to 80.610 percent in 2023.

Male infant mortality rates higher

In 2023, the infant mortality rate among male citizens remained higher than among females, with rates of 6.63% and 5.93% respectively. In 2022, male mortality was 9.15% and female mortality was 6.29%

As the fertility rate declined, the natural increase rate for citizens also decreased. In 2023, it was 18.73 percent, compared to 19.17 percent in 2022.
The live birth rate for citizens also dropped in 2023 to 21.30 percent, down from 22.11 percent in 2022. Additionally, the rate of Kuwaiti stillbirths decreased to 4.18 percent in 2023, compared to 5.48 percent in 2022.

Similarly, there was a decline in the Kuwaiti infant mortality rate, which fell to 6.28 percent in 2023 from 7.76 percent in 2022.

TB deaths decline

Deaths from tuberculosis decreased last year compared to the previous year. In 2022, there were 10 deaths among citizens and 17 among non-Kuwaitis, whereas in 2023, the numbers dropped to 6 deaths among citizens and 9 among non-Kuwaitis.

No malaria deaths

From 2019 to 2023, no citizens died from malaria, while one non-Kuwaiti death was recorded in 2019.

Rise in suicide rate

The percentage of deaths due to suicide among all external causes increased to 13.1% last year, up from 11% in 2022.

Nationality-based deaths over ten years

During the period from 2014 to 2023, deaths by nationality are as follows:

2014: 3,087 citizens and 2,944 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 6,031.
2015: 3,286 citizens and 3,195 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 6,481.
2016: 3,256 citizens and 3,082 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 6,338.
2017: 3,526 citizens and 3,153 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 6,679.
2018: 3,599 citizens and 3,208 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 6,807.
2019: 3,851 citizens and 3,455 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 7,306.
2020: 4,931 citizens and 5,638 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 10,569.
2021: 5,336 citizens and 5,602 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 10,938.
2022: 4,423 citizens and 3,618 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 8,041.
2023: 3,928 citizens and 3,508 non-Kuwaitis, totaling 7,436.