Reflecting the strength of its national vision and the efficiency of its development performance, Kuwait has reinforced its advanced standing on the global competitiveness map by ranking 49th worldwide in the Social Progress Index 2026, issued by the US-based Social Progress Imperative organization.

The achievement underscores Kuwait’s success in implementing well-established policies aimed at enhancing quality of life, enabling the country to secure leading global positions in key indicators related to advanced infrastructure and community security. These results place Kuwait not only among the top performers in the region, but also ahead of several major global economies in international comparisons.

Kuwait scored 74.06 points out of 100 in the overall index. It also ranked 35th globally in per capita gross domestic product, recording a value of $45,426. Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Kuwait placed third, following the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, Al-Rai daily reports.

The Social Progress Index measures societal performance through three main dimensions: basic human needs, foundations of well-being, and opportunity. These are further divided into 12 components and a wide range of specific indicators, allowing countries to assess strengths, identify gaps, and set priorities for future development.

The index is supported by a global network of partners and local contributors in more than 50 countries and is widely used by governments, academic institutions, investors, and international organizations to track social and environmental progress at national and local levels.

Strong Performance Across Key Indicators

Kuwait achieved particularly strong results in the basic human needs dimension, ranking 10th globally. It placed first worldwide in access to electricity and in the use of clean fuels and technology, eighth in personal safety, second in the ability to walk safely at night, and 15th in satisfaction with water quality.

In the foundations of well-being dimension, Kuwait ranked 54th globally, achieving first place worldwide in mobile phone usage, sixth in internet usage, and 20th in access to quality healthcare.

As for the opportunity dimension, where Kuwait ranked 68th, the country recorded a notable achievement by ranking fourth globally in job stability, reflecting labor market resilience and employment security.

Global Social Progress Under Pressure

The Social Progress Imperative report warned that the world is approaching a historic turning point, as decades of steady improvement in quality of life now face the risk of reversal. For the first time, the index shows a sustained global slowdown in social progress.

According to the report, this decline began with a long-term erosion of universal rights and has worsened since 2021, particularly in the areas of health, personal security, and environmental quality.

Major countries such as the United States, Russia, Ethiopia and Pakistan have experienced significant declines compared to 2021 levels, while China and India have seen a slowdown in their pace of improvement. Only 36 out of 171 countries recorded tangible progress last year, while 50 countries experienced a decline.

The report also ranked the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom among the ten countries with the weakest improvement in social progress since 2011. In contrast, European countries dominate the top of the global rankings, led by Norway, outperforming the United States in overall social progress.

Against this challenging global backdrop, Kuwait’s performance highlights its continued commitment to social well-being, sustainable development, and long-term national resilience.