IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Kuwait

State of Kuwait

4,268,870
Population (as of Dec. 18, 2023)

793,646
Registered Voters (as of June 6, 2023)

65.26%
Average Turnout

12
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.292
Regimes of the World Classification: Closed Autocracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Ratified
Ratified Date: Sept. 2, 1994

SIGI Score: N/A

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: None
Ratified Date: Aug. 22, 2013

HDI* Score: 0.852
Category: Very High
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Kuwaiti National Assembly	Majlis al-Umma	Assembly

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: Amir Sheikh MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 16 December 2023)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sheikh MOHAMMAD Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah (since 4 January 2024)
Assembly: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma / مجلس الأمة) with 65 seats

Description of electoral system:

The Amir (أمير) is a monarch selected from within the ruling Al-Sabah family.
The Prime Minister is appointed by the Amir.
In the National Assembly, 50 members are directly elected by plurality vote from multi-seat constituencies. The remaining 15 members—who serve in the cabinet—are appointed by the Amir. All members serve 4-year terms.

Elections

2024-04-04 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes -
Registered 793,646
Turnout -

2023-06-06 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes -
Registered 793,646
Turnout -

2022-09-29 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2020-12-05 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes -
Registered -
Turnout -

2016-11-26 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes 338,000
Registered 483,000
Turnout 69.98

2013-07-27 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes 228,314
Registered 439,911
Turnout 51.9

2012-12-01 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes 163,301
Registered 400,296
Turnout 40.8

2012-02-02 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes 238,308
Registered 400,296
Turnout 59.53

2009-05-16 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes -
Registered 384,790
Turnout -

2008-05-17 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes 214,886
Registered 361,684
Turnout 59.41

2006-06-29 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes 312,762
Registered 340,248
Turnout 91.92

1999-07-03 | Status: Held
Kuwaiti National Assembly
Votes 93,996
Registered 112,882
Turnout 83.27

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2024-04-04	Held	-	793,646	-
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2023-06-06	Held	-	793,646	-
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2022-09-29	Held	-	-	-
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2020-12-05	Held	-	-	-
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2016-11-26	Held	338,000	483,000	69.98
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2013-07-27	Held	228,314	439,911	51.9
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2012-12-01	Held	163,301	400,296	40.8
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2012-02-02	Held	238,308	400,296	59.53
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2009-05-16	Held	-	384,790	-
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2008-05-17	Held	214,886	361,684	59.41
Kuwaiti National Assembly	2006-06-29	Held	312,762	340,248	91.92
Kuwaiti National Assembly	1999-07-03	Held	93,996	112,882	83.27

Voter Turnout

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