Kuwait Rule of Law
Rule of Law RL.EST
Kuwait's rule of law was 0.38 in 2025, ranked 79th globally. This represents a 10.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Kuwait's rule of law stood at 0.38 in 2025, a rise of +0.04 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.38 by 2025. Kuwait ranked 79th globally.
Kuwait’s Rule of Law score, measured by the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, fell to 0.38 in 2025, placing the country at 79th in the global ranking. The indicator, which tracks confidence in institutions, contract enforcement and property rights, has been tracked for 26 years; it began at 0.60 in 1996, reached an all‑time peak of 0.61 in 1998 and sank to a historic trough of –0.02 in 2015. The sharp decline after the mid‑2010s reflects a combination of fiscal strain, political gridlock and weakened judicial independence, while the modest recovery to 0.38 mirrors recent reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and regulatory clarity. Kuwait’s current standing is closely aligned with Croatia (0.38) and Hungary (0.38), both of which have pursued similar legal modernization agendas. Continued progress will depend on sustained institutional reforms and the ability to insulate the judiciary from political interference, which could gradually lift the Rule of Law trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Rule of Law | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.41 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.38 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.38 | +0.04 | #79 |
| 2023 | 0.34 | +0.06 | #82 |
| 2022 | 0.28 | +0.04 | #85 |
| 2021 | 0.24 | −0.07 | #84 |
| 2020 | 0.31 | +0.12 | #76 |
| 2019 | 0.19 | +0.01 | #82 |
| 2018 | 0.19 | +0.11 | #82 |
| 2017 | 0.08 | +0.07 | #87 |
| 2016 | 0.01 | +0.03 | #93 |
| 2015 | -0.02 | −0.04 | #88 |
| 2014 | 0.02 | −0.34 | #79 |
| 2013 | 0.36 | −0.00 | #74 |
| 2012 | 0.36 | −0.18 | #73 |
| 2011 | 0.54 | −0.04 | #66 |
| 2010 | 0.59 | +0.01 | #64 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kuwait matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2012. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw rule of law improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kuwait's rule of law was 0.38 in 2025. Ranked 79th globally. This represents a 10.9% increase from the previous year.
Kuwait's rule of law peaked at 0.61 in 1998.
The lowest rule of law in Kuwait was -0.02 in 2015.
Kuwait ranks 79th globally in rule of law as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RL.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Kuwait's rule of law is projected to reach 0.38 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The rule of law of Kuwait in 2025 was 0.38. This ranks 79th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kuwait_rule-of-law,
title = {Kuwait Rule of Law},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kuwait/rule-of-law/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}