Kuwait

National Assembly

Political system
Monarchy
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes
»

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
29 Sep 2022
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
02 Aug 2022
Timing of election
Early elections
Number of seats at stake
50
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
Not applicable
Not applicable. There is no party system or candidates stood as independents.
Yes
Total number of candidates
305
Number of male candidates
283
Number of female candidates
22
Percentage of women candidates
7.2%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
795,911
Voters
503,811
Voter turnout
63.3%

Results

About the election

Kuwait held snap elections in September 2022, more than two years earlier than was constitutionally required. Former Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun, who had boycotted elections since 2012, stood for election in 2022. Opposition candidates took nearly 60% of the 50 seats at stake. Only 23 elected members of the outgoing legislature retained their seats. For the first time in Kuwaiti parliamentary electoral history, two candidates won seats despite being in jail. The Islamic Constitutional Movement (Hadas, the Muslim Brotherhood group in Kuwait) won five seats. Two women were elected, up from none in 2020.

Since 2021, Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has been fulfilling most of the duties of the ruling Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. On 5 October 2022, the Crown Prince therefore re-appointed the Emir’s son, Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, as the Prime Minister. On 17 October, the Crown Prince swore in the 16 members of the new Cabinet (see note). On 18 October, the newly elected National Assembly held its first session and elected Mr. Ahmad Al-Saadoun as its Speaker. He had previously served in that post in 1985, 1992 and 1996.

Early elections in 2022 followed a standoff between the outgoing legislature (elected in 2020) and the Cabinet. On 2 August, the Crown Prince dissolved Parliament in an attempt to end the political stalemate. On 28 August, he called snap elections for 29 September.

Note:

Cabinet ministers who have not been elected as members of the National Assembly are considered ex officio members. They can vote in the legislature, except in votes of confidence.

Alternation of power after elections
No
Number of parties in government
Not applicable
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
48
Number of women elected
2

Notes:

The National Assembly includes four women out of 64 members as follows:

- Two directly elected women

- Two women ministers from within the 16-member Cabinet (which includes two male members directly elected to the National Assembly in 2022).

Percentage of women elected
4.0%
Women Directly Elected
2
Women in other categories
2
Other notes on the elections

Note on the statutory number:

The 16-member Cabinet, formed in October 2022, includes two male elected members and two women ministers. The National Assembly thus comprises 64 members in all: 48 directly elected members and 16 Cabinet members.

On 19 March 2023, the Constitutional Court invalidated the entire process of the snap elections held in September 2022. It also invalidated the dissolution of the previous National Assembly elected in 2020 and reinstated it.

Cabinet members normally sit as ex-officio members in the National Assembly. However, the Cabinet resigned in January 2023. Consequently, as at 23 March 2023, the reinstated National Assembly comprised only 50 members, all directly elected.

The name of the Speaker as well as the statistics on the number of women were updated in March 2023. They are reflected in the monthly ranking of women in national parliaments as of 1 April 2023.

Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
60
Total number of women after the election
4
Percentage of women after the election
6.3%
First-term parliamentarians
15
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
23.4%
Date of the first session
18 Oct 2022

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Ahmad Al-Saadoun (Male)
Date of birth: 1934
Date of election
18 Oct 2022

Historical data for IPU membership

Export XLS file XLS Export-Grey CSV
Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No