Distribution of Democracy Index in Kuwait
Kuwait: Distribution of Democracy Index was 3 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Distribution of Democracy Index in Kuwait, 1963–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, distribution of democracy index in Kuwait stood at 3. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of democracy index in Kuwait peaked at 3 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1976.
That places Kuwait 150th out of 168 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of Democracy Index in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 2 | — |
| 1964 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1 | -50.0% |
| 1966 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 2 | +100.0% |
| 1972 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1977 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | — |
| 1982 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1987 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 1 | — |
| 1992 | 3 | +200.0% |
| 1993 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3 | +0.0% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 3 is below the median for high income countries, which is 20, 15% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 3 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 7, 43% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.29 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 1970s | 1.1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.78 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 2000s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More social development data for Kuwait
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 386 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,369 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 6 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 6 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0007 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,369 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of democracy index in Kuwait?
- Distribution of democracy index in Kuwait was 3 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of democracy index recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 3 in 1992.
- What is the lowest distribution of democracy index recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1976.
- How does Kuwait rank for distribution of democracy index?
- Kuwait ranks 150th out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is distribution of democracy index rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from 0 to 20 (fully democratic).