Kuwait has earned an impressive 30th position worldwide in the World Happiness Report 2025, establishing itself as the second happiest country in the Gulf region, following the United Arab Emirates. The report was published by the Centre for Well-being at Oxford University, in collaboration with Gallup and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

The report, based on self-assessments collected between 2022 and 2024, attributes Kuwait’s high ranking to factors such as:

• Strong social cohesion
• High levels of charitable donations
• Notable public trust in institutions and communities

In the Cantril Ladder, which gauges life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, Kuwait placed 30th globally. Additionally, the country performed well in other civic engagement indicators:

• 33rd in the Global Donation Index
• 46th in volunteering
• 27th in helping strangers

Kuwait was second only to the UAE in the Gulf region. The UAE ranked:

• 21st globally
• 16th in donations
• 19th in volunteer work

Saudi Arabia came in just behind Kuwait at 32nd globally, though it ranked:

• 48th in donations
• 92nd in volunteering

The report revealed a wide gap in happiness levels across the Arab world:

• Libya (74th)
• Algeria (83rd)
• Jordan (92nd)
• Iraq (93rd)
• Lebanon (99th)
• Palestine (101st)
• Egypt (110th)
• Morocco (111th)
• Sudan (117th)
• Tunisia (119th)
• Djibouti (120th)
• Mauritania (122nd)

According to the report, factors like interpersonal trust, generosity, and community care had a greater impact on happiness than income or material resources. Among these, trust among strangers emerged as a critical contributor to national well-being, showing a stronger correlation with happiness than even financial donations or volunteering.

Kuwait’s ranking reflects an effective balance of economic prosperity and social responsibility. The country’s strong standing in both economic and civic indicators positions it as a regional leader in promoting happiness, compassion, and resilience.