Kuwait is in the research phase. In 2023, Central Bank of Kuwait governor Basel A Al-Haroon said, “The [Central Bank of Kuwait] is closely following the experiences of other countries that are issuing CBDCs, as well as the debates taking place among stakeholders in various countries regarding the various pros and cons. Accordingly, it has formed a team of experts from various fields within the [Central Bank of Kuwait] to study the topic. Any such issuance would need to be accomplished in a way that preserves monetary and financial stability, while maintaining confidence in Kuwait’s payment system.”

A full analysis of the CBDC developments in Kuwait and Kuwait’s treatment of civil liberties is forthcoming.

In the meantime, for additional information on concerns regarding violations of human rights and civil liberties, see the following reports by Amnesty International, Financial Tyranny Index, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Privacy International, and the U.S. Department of State. For additional information on concerns regarding the risks of CBDCs, see the following webpage and report by the Cato Institute: The Risks of CBDCs and Central Bank Digital Currency: Assessing the Risks and Dispelling the Myths.

For additional information regarding metrics, the methodology page explains each of the data points and provides their respective sources.