The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Middle East
Military and security forces Kuwait, in 36 editions.
The entry for Kuwait published Military and security forces in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 20 editions. Each is shown as published. Military and security forces in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 20
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Branches” (1990 to 1996), “Military branches” (1997 to 2018) and “Military and security forces” (2019 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024The same text in 6 editions, 1990 to 1995.
Published as “Branches”
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- National Police Force,
- National Guard
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard
Published as “Branches”
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- National Guard,
- Ministry of Interior Forces,
- Coast Guard
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard, Ministry of
Interior Forces, Coast Guard
The same text in 1997 and 1998.
Published as “Military branches”
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- National Guard,
- Ministry of Interior Forces,
- Coast Guard
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Ministry of
Interior Forces, Coast Guard
Published as “Military branches”
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- National Police Force,
- National Guard,
- Coast Guard
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Ministry of Police Force,Interior Forces, National Guard, Coast Guard
The same text in 2000 and 2001.
Published as “Military branches”
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force,
- National Police Force,
- National Guard,
- Coast Guard
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
The same text in 2002 and 2003.
Published as “Military branches”
- Army,
- Navy,
- Air Force (including Air Defense Force),
- National Police Force,
- National Guard,
- Coast Guard
Army, Navy, Air Force, Force (including Air Defense Force), National Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard
Published as “Military branches”
- Land Forces,
- Navy,
- Air Force (including Air Defense Force),
- National Guard
Army, Land Forces, Navy, Air Force (including Air Defense Force), National Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard
Published as “Military branches”
- Land Forces,
- Navy,
- Air Force (includes Air Defense Force),
- National Guard (2002)
Land Forces, Navy, Air Force (including (includes Air Defense Force), National Guard (2002)
Published as “Military branches”
- Land Forces,
- Kuwaiti Navy,
- Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya),
- National Guard (2006)
Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (includes Air Defense Force), (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2002) (2006)
The same text in 2007 and 2008.
Published as “Military branches”
- Land Forces,
- Kuwaiti Navy,
- Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya),
- National Guard (2007)
Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2006) (2007)
Published as “Military branches”
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF),
- Kuwaiti Navy,
- Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya),
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2008)
Kuwaiti Land Forces, Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), Kuwaiti National Guard (2007) (KNG) (2008)
Published as “Military branches”
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF),
- Kuwaiti Navy,
- Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya),
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2009)
Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2008) (2009)
Published as “Military branches”
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF),
- Kuwaiti Navy,
- Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya),
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2011)
Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2009) (2011)
Published as “Military branches”
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF),
- Kuwaiti Navy,
- Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF),
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2012)
Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2011) (2012)
The same text in 6 editions, 2013 to 2018.
Published as “Military branches”
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF),
- Kuwaiti Navy,
- Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF),
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2013)
Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2012) (2013)
- Kuwaiti Armed Forces:
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF),
- Kuwaiti Navy (includes Coast Guard),
- Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF),
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2019)
Kuwaiti Armed Forces: Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Navy (includes Coast Guard), Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2013) (2019)
- Kuwaiti Armed Forces:
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Brigade;
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG);
- Coast Guard (Ministry of Interior) (2019)
note: the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the KNG possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior
Rewritten: too little of the 2019 text remains to mark the changes.
Kuwaiti Armed Forces: Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Brigade; Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG); Coast Guard (Ministry of Interior) (2019)
note: the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the KNG possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior
- Kuwaiti Armed Forces:
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Brigade;
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG);
- Coast Guard (Ministry of Interior) (2021)
- note(s) - the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services;
- the Kuwaiti National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior
Kuwaiti Armed Forces: Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Brigade; Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG); Coast Guard (Ministry of Interior) (2019) (2021)note: note(s) - the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the KNG Kuwaiti National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior
- Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF):
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Brigade;
- Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG);
- Coast Guard (Ministry of Interior) (2022)
note 1: the Kuwait Amiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services
note 2: the Kuwaiti National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
Kuwaiti Armed Forces: Forces (KAF): Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Brigade; Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG); Coast Guard (Ministry of Interior) (2021) (2022)note(s) - note 1: the Kuwait Emiri Amiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; services
note 2: the Kuwaiti National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
- Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF):
- Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority; Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2023)
note 1: the Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of state
note 2: the Kuwaiti National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
note 3: the police, Kuwait State Security, and Coast Guard are under the Ministry of Interior
Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Brigade; Authority; Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG); Coast Guard (Ministry of Interior) (2022) (KNG) (2023)
note 1: the Kuwait Amiri Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of state
note 2: the Kuwaiti National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
note 3: the police, Kuwait State Security, and Coast Guard are under the Ministry of Interior
- Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF):
- Kuwait Land Forces (KLF), Kuwait Navy, Kuwait Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwait Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority; Kuwait National Guard (KNG) (2024)
note 1: the Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the KAF, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of state
note 2: the National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
note 3: the police, Kuwait State Security, and Coast Guard are under the Ministry of Interior
Kuwaiti Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwaiti Kuwait Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Kuwait Navy, Kuwaiti Kuwait Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Kuwait Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority; Kuwaiti Kuwait National Guard (KNG) (2023) (2024)
note 1: the Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, KAF, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of state
note 2: the Kuwaiti National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
note 3: the police, Kuwait State Security, and Coast Guard are under the Ministry of Interior
- Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF):
- Kuwait Army (aka Kuwait Land Forces, KLF),
- Kuwait Navy (aka Kuwait Naval Force),
- Kuwait Air Force;
- Kuwait National Guard (KNG)
- Ministry of Interior:
- Kuwait Police,
- State Security,
- Kuwait Coast Guard (2025)
note 1: the Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade are special units within the KAF that exercise independent command authority, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of state
note 2: the National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwait Army (aka Kuwait Land Forces (KLF), Forces, KLF), Kuwait Navy, Navy (aka Kuwait Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Naval Force), Kuwait Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority; Force; Kuwait National Guard (KNG) (2024)
Ministry of Interior: Kuwait Police, State Security, Kuwait Coast Guard (2025)
note 1: the Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade are special units within the KAF that exercise independent command authority within the KAF, authority, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of state
note 2: the National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
note 3: the police, Kuwait State Security, and Coast Guard are under the Ministry of Interior
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Kuwait: Military and security forces.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/kuwait/military-and-security-forces.