Kuwait

Summary

Official Name: State of Kuwait
Population: 4,326,000
Principal Languages: Gulf Spoken Arabic, Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate: 96% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Holes 1990, Ingham 1982, Johnstone 1967
Deaf Population: 110,300
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Kuwait is 7. All are living languages. Of these, 1 is indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 3 are developing, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 17 unestablished languages.

Languages

Amharic amh: Users: 92,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, South, Transversal, Amharic-Argobba
Arabic, Egyptian Spoken arz: Users: 500,000 in Kuwait (2017 Egypt Independent), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Gulf Spoken afb: Widepread, except scattered in Al Jahra’ governorate. Users: 2,300,000 in Kuwait (2017). Total users in all countries: 10,656,700. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language, widely used in public administration. Originated from the speakers of Najdi Arabic who migrated to Kuwait in the 18th century; emerged as a mixture of various different dialects. Became widely spoken around 1914. Used in everyday life, in media, and in business. Autonym: خليجي‎ (Khaliji) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm: Users: 19,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Najdi Spoken ars: Al Jahra’ governorate: Ash-Sheqaya, As-Salmi, and Bir Mahafzah areas; mainly Ab Dali south to Al Jahra’. Users: 428,000 in Kuwait (2017). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 214,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Omani Spoken acx: Users: 21,000 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, South Levantine Spoken ajp: Scattered. Users: 65,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb: Widespread. Users: 1,670,000 in Kuwait (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1962, Constitution, Article 3). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken acq: Users: 14,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Armenian, Western hyw: Users: 7,800 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project). Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic aii: Users: 8,100 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern
Bengali ben: Users: 350,000 in Kuwait (2021 The Daily Star), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 4,900 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Users: 26,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 8,300 in Kuwait (2022 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Hindi hin: Scattered. Users: 700,000 in Kuwait (2017 Gulf News). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Indonesian ind: Users: 24,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Kurdish, Central ckb: Users: 6,300 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Mehri gdq: Scattered individuals. Users: 27,200 in Kuwait (2017). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Mahri Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, South Arabian
Nepali npi: Users: 49,800 in Kuwait (International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2019), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, Eastern Pahari
Persian, Iranian pes: Users: 53,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Tagalog tgl: Users: 176,000 in Kuwait (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Turkish tur: Users: 9,900 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1962, Constitution, Article 3). 1,670,000 in Kuwait (2015 SIL), all users.

3 (Wider communication)

Arabic, Gulf Spoken

[afb] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language, widely used in public administration. Originated from the speakers of Najdi Arabic who migrated to Kuwait in the 18th century; emerged as a mixture of various different dialects. Became widely spoken around 1914. Used in everyday life, in media, and in business. 2,300,000 in Kuwait (2017). Total users in all countries: 10,656,700.

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 26,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

5 (Dispersed)

Hindi

[hin] 5* (Dispersed). 700,000 in Kuwait (2017 Gulf News).

5 (Developing)

Arabic, Omani Spoken

[acx] 5* (Developing). 21,000 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project).

Armenian, Western

[hyw] 5* (Developing). 7,800 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project).

6b (Threatened)

Mehri

[gdq] 6b* (Threatened). 27,200 in Kuwait (2017).

Unestablished

Amharic

[amh] Unestablished. 92,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Arabic, Egyptian Spoken

[arz] Unestablished. 500,000 in Kuwait (2017 Egypt Independent), based on nationality.

Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken

[acm] Unestablished. 19,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Arabic, Najdi Spoken

[ars] Unestablished. 428,000 in Kuwait (2017).

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken

[apc] Unestablished. 214,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Arabic, South Levantine Spoken

[ajp] Unestablished. 65,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Arabic, Ta’izzi-Adeni Spoken

[acq] Unestablished. 14,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Assyrian Neo-Aramaic

[aii] Unestablished. 8,100 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project).

Bengali

[ben] Unestablished. 350,000 in Kuwait (2021 The Daily Star), based on nationality.

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 4,900 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project).

French

[fra] Unestablished. 8,300 in Kuwait (2022 Joshua Project).

Indonesian

[ind] Unestablished. 24,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Kurdish, Central

[ckb] Unestablished. 6,300 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project).

Nepali

[npi] Unestablished. 49,800 in Kuwait (International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2019), based on nationality.

Persian, Iranian

[pes] Unestablished. 53,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Tagalog

[tgl] Unestablished. 176,000 in Kuwait (2011 census).

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 9,900 in Kuwait (2020 Joshua Project).

Maps

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Kuwait with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Kuwait is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Kuwait with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Kuwait is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Kuwait in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Kuwait ($149.95, 23 page PDF)

Kuwait

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action