🇰🇼Kuwait Political Stability: 44.3/100

Kuwait is a small country located at the head of the Persian Gulf, characterized by low-lying terrain with the highest point being Mutla Ridge at 306 m. It has a coastline of 499 km and is home to ten islands, with Bubiyan being the largest. The climate is hot and dry, with extremely high summer temperatures and cooler winters compared to neighboring coastal countries.

As of 2023, Kuwait has a population of 4.82 million, with expatriates making up about 60% of the total population. The official language is Modern Standard Arabic, while Kuwaiti Arabic is commonly spoken. The predominant religion is Maliki Sunni Islam, with a significant Christian expatriate community.

World Bank governance: rule of law 54th percentile, corruption control 52nd percentile, political stability 47th percentile.

Kuwait's strongest governance dimension is Rule of Law at 54/100, placing it in the upper half globally. This reflects relatively strong confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, police, and courts.

The weakest dimension is Voice & Accountability at 26/100. Limited voice and accountability suggests constraints on citizen participation, expression, or media freedom.

A notable 28-point gap between Rule of Law and Voice & Accountability reveals uneven governance. Some institutions function well while others lag significantly. Travelers should be aware that the quality of government services and protections may vary depending on the context.

Kuwait's moderate governance scores suggest travelers should prepare for some institutional inconsistency. Public services may be unreliable in certain areas, and regulatory enforcement can be uneven. Travel insurance and advance planning are recommended.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Kuwait as Level 3 (Reconsider Travel). Elevated advisory levels combined with governance data paint a fuller picture of conditions on the ground that travelers should consider.