Middle East
Living in Kuwait
Photo: Kuwait City skyline from Souq Sharq marina · Zairon, CC BY 4.0 · source
A small, oil-rich Gulf state with a mostly expatriate workforce, no personal income tax and some of the hottest summers on Earth. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate14° to 37°CColdest and warmest month averages, Kuwait City · 2020
Average temperature26.3°CKuwait City (whole country 26.3°C) · 2020
Price level60%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$1,912Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2024
Income per person$56,500GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment2.2%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides0.3Per 100,000 people a year · 2020
Life expectancy84.6 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air62 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest0%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers100%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenueUnknownOf GDP
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Arabic. English is widely spoken.
- Public transport: Limited: daily life mostly needs a car or taxis.
- Geography: Has a coastline, mostly flat. Capital: Kuwait City.
Moving to Kuwait
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: www.moi.gov.kw.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 56,467.73 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 2.18 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 0.25 per 100,000 people | 2020 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.42 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 0.26 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 84.58 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 1,679.12 US$ per person | 2023 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | Unknown | – | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 100 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 0.35 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 62.35 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.6 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 1,912.4 international $ per person per month | 2024 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 26.3 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 26.3 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 13.8 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 37.1 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 47 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Kuwait City are 2001–2020 averages.
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