18,002 Kuwaiti women married to Arabs, 693 to Asians, new data reveals
A shopping mall in Kuwait. Official data from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) indicates that, as of mid-2024, 39,765 Kuwaiti women aged 30 and above remain unmarried.
Kuwait’s decision to revoke citizenship under Article 8 of the nationality law is stirring debate, with experts suggesting the move could address rising spinsterhood among Kuwaiti women and encourage marriages within the national community.
Official data from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) indicates that, as of mid-2024, 39,765 Kuwaiti women aged 30 and above remain unmarried.
Meanwhile, 269,611 Kuwaiti women are married, including 18,002 to Arab nationals, 693 to Asians, 50 to non-Arab Africans, 264 to Europeans, 402 to North Americans, 64 to South Americans, and 39 to Australians.
Dr. Ibrahim Al Shukri, Director General of the Gulf Center for Information and Documentation, stated that the policy could influence societal dynamics by discouraging marriages between Kuwaiti men and non-Kuwaiti women.
“Restricting the granting of citizenship to non-Kuwaiti spouses will encourage Kuwaiti youth to marry within their community, preserving traditions and customs,” he explained.
Al Shukri highlighted that the ease of marrying non-Kuwaiti women has contributed to the growing number of unmarried Kuwaiti women. He emphasized the cultural importance of Kuwaiti mothers in transmitting values and traditions to their children.
Dr. Ahmed Salama, a professor of family psychology, noted that the state’s decision to withdraw nationality would lead to a more balanced societal structure.
He pointed out that families where the father is Kuwaiti and the mother is non-Kuwaiti often face challenges related to identity and dual loyalty. The decision, he added, would help curb the self-interest of some foreign women who seek Kuwaiti citizenship through marriage.
While acknowledging that marriages between Kuwaiti men and non-Kuwaiti women were once more successful, Dr. Salama also highlighted the difficulties that arose when material interests played a role in such unions.
