Kuwait  

Kuwaiti workers benefit from access to a very high level of physical capital, including offices and productive machinery, placing Kuwait 33rd on this variable. Furthermore, Kuwait benefits from a very low unemployment rate at 2%, and an extremely high domestic savings rate equivalent to 55% of its GDP, placing the country second on the latter variable. Kuwait’s domestic demand is weak with household expenditure equivalent to 24% of GDP and at 5%, Kuwait’s inflation rate is moderate. While an interest margin of 2.8 percentage points reflects favourably on the Kuwaiti banking sector, a default rate of 3.2% indicates weak lending requirements. Foreign direct investment of less than 1% of its GDP indicates that Kuwait is not an attractive market for foreign investment and with a raw material concentration ratio of 85%, export revenues are extremely dependent on raw material exports. Kuwait’s terms of trade are relatively strong, ranking the country 16th on this variable.

In order to set up a business in Kuwait, new businesses need to adhere to 13 formal requirements. Value added in service industries is low, amounting to just 48% of Kuwait’s GDP and suggesting that the service industry is not Kuwait’s most competitive sector. Kuwait’s communication infrastructure as measured by internet bandwidth is slightly underdeveloped, ranking the country 69th on this variable. However, an average of 35 secure internet servers per one million people guarantees a relatively secure internet connection. Every 100 Kuwaiti citizens have access to approximately 23 personal computers on average, which places Kuwait 37th, internationally, on this variable. ICT exports, as a share of exported goods, are less than 0.1%, while high-tech exports make up just 1% of manufactured goods, placing the country 89th on both variables. At 0.2% of GDP, R&D expenditure is extremely low. Similarly, Kuwait shows an extremely low level of royalty receipts, ranking the country 76th on this variable. There are no data available for the number of new businesses registered.

Kuwaiti citizens have moderate political and civil rights, illustrated by limited freedom to participate in political processes and express beliefs without fear for personal security. Furthermore, Kuwait is classified as a near complete autocracy, being ranked 93rd on this variable. However, there are significant checks and balances in place to prevent arbitrary decision making by incumbent political actors. Electoral processes are highly regulated but the executive branch is not elected by the people. In the legislative branch, despite some competition, one party dominates, winning all seats. The judiciary is independent of the executive branch and the last regime change occurred less than 50 years ago ranking the stability of the political regime at 27th, internationally.

With primary enrolment rates as low as 83% of the eligible population, Kuwait is placed 88th on this variable. However, those enrolled benefit from the lowest student to teacher ratio, internationally, with just 10 students for every teacher. Furthermore, there is a good ratio of female to male enrolment in education, with 102 girls for every 100 boys. Although the secondary enrolment rate is more comparable to the international average at 89%, only 18% continue to higher education, ranking Kuwait 73rd on the latter variable. Nevertheless, Kuwait’s workforce is well educated, with an extremely high average number of years of secondary education, ranking the country first, internationally. The high average tertiary education levels place Kuwait 39th on this variable. Government expenditure on primary and secondary students exceeds $11,000 and ranks Kuwait in the top 10, internationally.

Kuwait provides a moderate number of doctors and nurses per capita, but a low number of hospital beds, with less than two beds per 1,000 persons. All Kuwaiti citizens enjoy full access to improved sanitation facilities and have a health-adjusted life expectancy equivalent to 67 years, ranking the country 29th on this variable. Both malnourishment and infant mortality rates are better than the global average at 5% and 1%, respectively. A notable 95% of residents report satisfaction with their personal health and 85% claim to be well rested, which is the highest reported ranking, globally.* Despite these results, almost one-third of the population reports having experienced protracted periods of pain recently, while one in five claim to have debilitating health problems.*

Kuwait faces some security problems caused by group grievances, as well as minor problems due to the movement of refugees and internally displaced individuals and human flight from dangerous or degrading conditions. However, it remains in the top half on all three variables. Insecurity in terms of state-sponsored violence and torture presents some problems as Kuwait ranks 30th on this variable. However, there have been no casualties due to civil or ethnic war in 2008. Furthermore, the homicide rate is extremely low at one death per 100,000 capita. While only 8% of respondents have reported stolen property, ranking Kuwait 11th on this variable, 11% reported being assaulted or mugged, a very high share, ranking Kuwait 81st on this variable.* Despite the high assault rates, 89% of Kuwaitis feel safe walking alone at night.*

In Kuwait, the rule of law is enforced even-handedly, ranking the country 29th on this variable. Furthermore, the quality of regulation of economic and commercial activity as well as the quality of governance is moderately high, ranking the country 48th and 47th, respectively. Despite no rights to participate in political processes, most citizens hold the government and military in good esteem. Furthermore 81% of the population believes in the honesty of electoral processes, and 92% approve of the judicial system and a low one-third of the population perceives local business to be corrupt.* There were no data available on government corruption.

Freedoms of movement, religion, and speech are ranked very low in Kuwait, placing the country 87th on this variable. Tolerance for minorities and immigrants is also low as just over 50% of respondents believe Kuwait is a good place for ethnic minorities and immigrants, ranking the country 84th and 82nd, respectively. Furthermore, 77% of respondents are satisfied with their freedom of choice, placing Kuwait in the top 50 on this variable.*

A high 92% of the Kuwaiti population believe they can rely on friends and family in times of need, placing Kuwait 25th overall on this variable.* However, only 19% of respondents have donated money and only 12% have volunteered their time, ranking Kuwait 73rd and 84th, respectively, on these variables.* By contrast, a moderately high 51% report having helped strangers, placing Kuwait 37th on this variable.* Kuwaiti citizens also report very high levels of religious practice, ranking ninth and suggesting widespread access to religious support networks.* Kuwait is missing data on group membership, importance of friendship, and trust.*

* Data taken from the Gallup World Poll

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