KUWAIT CITY, Jan 30: Statistics released by the Ministry of Education reveal a decline in illiteracy rates among the population of Kuwait to approximately 2.22 percent. Among Kuwaitis, the illiteracy rate is even lower, at just 1.18 percent. The statistics revealed that the total population of Kuwait is 4,736,878, with 3,219,367 non-Kuwaitis and 1,517,511 Kuwaitis. The number of illiterate individuals is 105,090, of which 17,939 are Kuwaiti, including 16,705 women and 1,234 men. Among non-Kuwaitis, 87,151 people are illiterate, comprising 33,626 women and 53,525 men. The overall illiteracy rate stands at 2.22 percent, with a higher rate of 2.71 percent among men and a lower rate of 1.90 percent among women.

For Kuwaitis, the illiteracy rate is significantly lower at 1.18 percent, with 0.17 percent among men and 2.16 percent among women. Among non-Kuwaitis, the rate is higher at 3.09 percent, with 2.51 percent among men and 3.71 percent among women. The population over 15 years of age in Kuwait totals 3,869,986, of which 2,848,093 are non-Kuwaitis and 1,021,893 are Kuwaitis. In this age group, 146,310 individuals are illiterate, including 53,066 Kuwaitis (50,366 women and 2,700 men) and 93,244 non-Kuwaitis (90,574 women and 2,670 men). The illiteracy rate for the population over 15 years old is 2.72 percent, with 3.50 percent among men and 2.25 percent among women. Among Kuwaitis, the rate is 1.76 percent, with men at 0.25 percent and women at 3.15 percent.

The statistics show a significant decline in illiteracy rates, as the overall illiteracy rate was previously 2.98 percent, and now 1.80 percent among Kuwaitis. This decline highlights Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to promote education and raise awareness of its importance in sustainable development. The percentage of educated Kuwaiti males has reached 99.83 percent, with illiterate men comprising just 0.17 percent. Among women, 97.84 percent are educated, and 2.16 percent are illiterate. Among non-Kuwaiti men, 97.49 percent are educated, and 2.51 percent are illiterate.

The literacy rate among non-Kuwaiti women is 96.91 percent, while 3.09 percent are illiterate. Sources suggest that these figures confirm Kuwait’s success in reducing illiteracy rates, which reflects the country’s commitment to developing the education sector and enhancing public awareness of its importance. It also confirms that illiteracy is now a limited problem, particularly among citizens, due to government efforts and educational initiatives aimed at less-educated groups. To maintain this positive trend, sources stressed the need to strengthen educational initiatives and expand literacy programs, especially for expatriate workers, who exhibit higher illiteracy rates compared to citizens. There is also a recommendation to focus on digital education and lifelong learning programs to ensure education reaches all segments of society.

By Abdulrahman Al-Shammari
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff