Kuwait Ranked 30th Happiest Country in the World, 2nd in Gulf
The report, which draws on individuals' self-assessments of their lives using data averaged from 2022 through 2024, highlights Kuwait's progress in several key areas, including social cohesion, charitable giving, and public trust.
In the Cantril Ladder—a key metric measuring life satisfaction—Kuwait claimed the 30th spot globally. The country also performed well in sub-indicators, ranking 33rd in the Global Donation Index, 46th in volunteering, and 27th in helping strangers.
Regionally, the United Arab Emirates led the Gulf, ranking 21st worldwide in overall happiness, and placed 16th in donations and 19th in volunteer work. Saudi Arabia followed Kuwait, coming in 32nd globally, but trailed in civic engagement metrics, placing 48th in donations and 92nd in volunteerism.
Across the wider Arab world, happiness rankings varied significantly. Libya placed 74th, Algeria 83rd, Jordan 92nd, Iraq 93rd, Lebanon 99th, Palestine 101st, Egypt 110th, Morocco 111th, Sudan 117th, Tunisia 119th, Djibouti 120th, and Mauritania 122nd.
The report underlined the pivotal role of trust, generosity, and community care in fostering human well-being. It noted that interpersonal trust—particularly among strangers—had a more profound impact on happiness than either financial giving or volunteering.
Kuwait's standing in the 2025 report reflects its effective balance of economic stability, quality of life, and civic engagement, positioning it as a regional leader and a model for cultivating a compassionate and resilient society.
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