KUWAIT CITY, Aug 30: Kuwait ranked 50th out of 161 countries in the Legatum Prosperity Index 2026, and it is on top of the Arab and Gulf states. This index is not just about measuring the gross domestic product (GDP) or wealth, as it is a broader assessment of the concept of prosperity. It indicates balance between development, freedom and society—the three areas around which the Legatum Institute restructured the index in its latest edition.
The 2026 edition is based on more than 130 indicators and 615,877 data points drawn from 35 sources, covering 161 countries and 11 years of data. The countries included represent about 98 percent of the world population. This is the first edition since the 2023 index, following a pause for methodology updates.
The most significant feature of the 2026 index is the introduction of a new mathematical methodology called ‘P-averaging’. This methodology aims to prevent countries from compensating for severe weaknesses in one key area with exceptionally high performance in another. Therefore, a country’s wealth alone is insufficient to compensate for significant deficiencies in freedom or social cohesion. According to the index, genuine prosperity requires simultaneous development, freedom and a strong social fabric.
Kuwait ranked 22nd globally in quality of life, 37th in health, 21st in economic freedom, 62nd in civil peace, 105th in education, 42nd in development, 59th in freedom and 70th in society.
Among other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked 51st globally — just one notch behind Kuwait. It ranked 13th globally in development, 11th in standard of living, 21st in health, 14th in education, ninth in economic freedom, 90th in freedom and 51st in society. This comparison between Kuwait and the UAE proved that the overall ranking is not determined by the strength of a single area.
The index views prosperity as an integrated system that cannot be reduced to economic performance or income level. Oman ranked 54th globally, 45th in development, 77th in freedom, 63rd in society, 46th in standard of living, 54th in health and 41st in education. It ranked 11th globally in the integrity of local communities, hence, giving it a significant social advantage.
Qatar ranked 78th globally, despite strong performance in some development indicators. It ranked fourth globally in living standards, 31st in health, 66th in education, 17th in economic freedom, 131st in community and 155th in community integrity.
Bahrain ranked 80th globally, 34th in development, 115th in freedom, 98th in community, 32nd in living standards, 38th in health, 55th in education and 43rd in economic freedom.
Saudi Arabia ranked 97th globally, 31st in development, 26th in living standards, 39th in health, 45th in education, 30th in economic freedom, 136th in freedom, 142nd in civil peace and 87th in community.
By Inaas Awadh Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
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