Independent rankings built from public data — every figure traceable to the body that published it.

Photo: Jack Versloot · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026
How well is the state actually run?
Kuwait is placed 76th of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness 0.256 (2025); Statistical Performance Indicators 63.38 (2024).
Governance & Institutions
76th
of 194 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
Only these place Kuwait on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: The quality of public services and the civil service that delivers them, and the credibility of a government's commitment to its own policies. Where the Corruption Perceptions Index asks whether a state is honest, this asks whether it is competent.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
0.256
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
Kuwait: 0.256. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.
Each grey tick is one of 209 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 2 of 4
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether a state can measure its own country. Nothing else here tests the capacity of the statistical system itself.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
63.38
SPI overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
Kuwait: 63.38. Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.
Each grey tick is one of 188 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 3 of 4
Transparency International
Why it is a key: How much corruption the people who actually deal with a government perceive — an outcome, where the other keys measure the state’s capacity and the limits the law puts on it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
46
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Higher is better
Ranked 65th of 181 by Transparency International
Kuwait: 46. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.
Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 4 of 4
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
Why it is a key: Whether the executive respects the constitution and obeys the courts, and whether the courts can rule against it freely — the law binding those who write it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.719
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Higher is better
Kuwait: 0.719. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.
Each grey tick is one of 176 countries in the 2025 edition.
02Over time
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) · higher is better
KuwaitWorld median
Kuwait rose from -0.425 in 2000 to 0.256 in 2025; the world median went from -0.397 to 0.101.
| Year | Kuwait | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.2561 | 0.1006 |
| 2024 | 0.1633 | 0.0098 |
| 2023 | 0.1977 | -0.0408 |
| 2022 | 0.2529 | -0.0305 |
| 2021 | 0.0207 | -0.0158 |
| 2020 | -0.1030 | -0.0171 |
| 2019 | -0.0926 | 0.0150 |
| 2018 | 0.1237 | 0.0159 |
| 2017 | 0.0018 | 0.0158 |
| 2016 | 0.0058 | 0.0225 |
| 2015 | 0.2175 | 0.0038 |
| 2014 | 0.1164 | 0.0194 |
| 2013 | -0.0069 | -0.0758 |
| 2012 | 0.0044 | -0.0839 |
| 2011 | 0.0354 | -0.1221 |
| 2010 | 0.1171 | -0.1145 |
| 2009 | 0.0941 | -0.1609 |
| 2008 | -0.0827 | -0.2134 |
| 2007 | -0.1699 | -0.3260 |
| 2006 | -0.1295 | -0.3310 |
| 2005 | -0.0070 | -0.3706 |
| 2004 | 0.0221 | -0.3140 |
| 2003 | 0.0505 | -0.4369 |
| 2002 | -0.1253 | -0.3366 |
| 2000 | -0.4250 | -0.3969 |
SPI overall score (0–100) · higher is better
KuwaitWorld median
Kuwait rose from 45.54 in 2016 to 63.38 in 2024; the world median went from 56.25 to 69.3.
| Year | Kuwait | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 63.4 | 69.30 |
| 2023 | 62.4 | 68.86 |
| 2022 | 59.9 | 67.99 |
| 2021 | 66.2 | 69.96 |
| 2020 | 60.2 | 62.91 |
| 2019 | 58.0 | 61.19 |
| 2018 | 55.7 | 61.17 |
| 2017 | 50.4 | 59.55 |
| 2016 | 45.5 | 56.25 |
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) · higher is better
KuwaitWorld median
Kuwait rose from 44 in 2012 to 46 in 2025; the world median went from 37 to 39.
| Year | Kuwait | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | 39.0 |
| 2024 | 46 | 40.0 |
| 2023 | 46 | 40.0 |
| 2022 | 42 | 39.5 |
| 2021 | 43 | 39.0 |
| 2020 | 42 | 40.0 |
| 2019 | 40 | 39.5 |
| 2018 | 41 | 38.0 |
| 2017 | 39 | 38.5 |
| 2016 | 41 | 38.0 |
| 2015 | 49 | 37.0 |
| 2014 | 44 | 38.0 |
| 2013 | 43 | 38.0 |
| 2012 | 44 | 37.0 |
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) · higher is better
KuwaitWorld median
Kuwait fell from 0.748 in 2000 to 0.719 in 2025; the world median went from 0.647 to 0.676.
| Year | Kuwait | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0.719 | 0.6760 |
| 2024 | 0.738 | 0.6645 |
| 2023 | 0.820 | 0.6590 |
| 2022 | 0.790 | 0.6600 |
| 2021 | 0.696 | 0.6580 |
| 2020 | 0.743 | 0.6645 |
| 2019 | 0.743 | 0.6560 |
| 2018 | 0.743 | 0.6485 |
| 2017 | 0.743 | 0.6550 |
| 2016 | 0.743 | 0.6520 |
| 2015 | 0.743 | 0.6700 |
| 2014 | 0.743 | 0.6515 |
| 2013 | 0.743 | 0.6550 |
| 2012 | 0.743 | 0.6750 |
| 2011 | 0.743 | 0.6680 |
| 2010 | 0.748 | 0.6640 |
| 2009 | 0.748 | 0.6580 |
| 2008 | 0.748 | 0.6590 |
| 2007 | 0.748 | 0.6630 |
| 2006 | 0.748 | 0.6590 |
| 2005 | 0.748 | 0.6580 |
| 2004 | 0.748 | 0.6480 |
| 2003 | 0.748 | 0.6480 |
| 2002 | 0.748 | 0.6470 |
| 2001 | 0.748 | 0.6530 |
| 2000 | 0.748 | 0.6465 |
03In context
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.
The standing is each country’s place among all 194 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =54th | 0.74 | 83.29 | 57 | 0.285 | |
| 76th | 0.256 | 63.38 | 46 | 0.719 | |
| 164th | -1.016 | 53.98 | 28 | 0.356 |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.
The countries immediately above and below Kuwait in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
18 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Statistics on which Kuwait does better than the middle country measured.
Kuwait: 5.026 · world median 3.709 · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 16.39; higher is better.
Position 30th of 123 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 0.358 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 69th of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 97.6 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.
Kuwait: 0.283 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.
Position 80th of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 0.346 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.
Position 110th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 43.79 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 83rd of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Kuwait: 0.418 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 83rd of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Kuwait: 0.197 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.
Position 92nd of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 0.684 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.
Position 89th of 196 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Statistics on which Kuwait does worse than the middle country measured.
Kuwait: 52 · world median 59 · ODIN overall score (0–100). Open Data Watch, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19 to 90; higher is better.
Ranked 104th of 168 by Open Data Watch.
Kuwait: -0.919 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 149th of 206 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 0.127 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.
Position 128th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 27.97 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.
Position 149th of 198 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 18.2 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Kuwait: 0.138 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.
Position 161st of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 38.13 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.25 to 100; higher is better.
Position 184th of 190 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Kuwait: 16.83 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.
Position 6th of 168 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Kuwait: 0.4 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.
No current reading for Kuwait
Agriculture Orientation Index (last 2022), Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Completeness of Birth Registration, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), General Government Consumption (last 2024), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2014), Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Governance & Institutions is Kuwait’s 7th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Kuwait can most readily be measured against.
1Denmark
Northern Europe
1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand
2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale
3Sweden
Northern Europe
3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale
Highest in Asia
Highest in Western Asia
This page
Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
08Questions
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
Kuwait is placed 76th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Statistical Performance Indicators, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
0.256 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.
63.38 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.
Iraq is placed 164th of 194, and Kuwait 76th. Government Effectiveness: Iraq -1.016, Kuwait 0.256; Statistical Performance Indicators: Iraq 53.98, Kuwait 63.38; Corruption Perceptions Index: Iraq 28, Kuwait 46; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index: Iraq 0.356, Kuwait 0.719.
Government Effectiveness rose from -0.425 in 2000 to 0.256 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 45.54 in 2016 to 63.38 in 2024; Corruption Perceptions Index rose from 44 in 2012 to 46 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index fell from 0.748 in 2000 to 0.719 in 2025.
No current reading is published for Kuwait on Agriculture Orientation Index, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Completeness of Birth Registration, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), General Government Consumption, Government Funding per Primary Student, Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Keep reading
10Method
What this topic does not measure
Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
The other 18 statistics on this page come from 9 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Kuwait’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
Nations Inquiry (2026). Kuwait: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/kuwait/governance