Kuwait Budget 2024-2025: Education and Health take largest share of spending
The Ministry of Finance has revealed that education and health dominated government spending during the fiscal year 2024-2025, receiving a combined allocation of around 6 billion dinars. The two sectors outpaced other areas such as housing, economic affairs, security, and social protection, underscoring the state’s prioritization of essential services alongside development needs.
Total government expenditures reached 23.1 billion dinars, with employee compensation making up the largest single item at 9.6 billion dinars. This marked a slight decline of about 90 million dinars compared to the previous year.
Spending on goods and services also fell, dropping from 4.6 billion to 3.3 billion dinars, while subsidies decreased from 1.2 billion to 1.1 billion dinars. Grants saw a sharper decline, from 6.1 billion to 5.5 billion dinars, whereas capital spending reached 1.13 billion dinars.
Education topped all sectors with 3.39 billion dinars, most of which went to pre-primary and primary education (1.06 billion) and secondary education (1.05 billion). Higher education received 717 million dinars, while research and development in education accounted for a modest 11,000 dinars.
Health followed with 2.6 billion dinars, heavily concentrated on hospital services at 2.4 billion dinars. Around 90 million dinars were directed toward medical equipment, while the rest supported outpatient clinics, dentistry, research, and related services.
Housing and community facilities absorbed 2.21 billion dinars, covering housing development, water supply, street lighting, and related utilities. Economic affairs registered 2.48 billion dinars, with fuel and energy alone accounting for 1.4 billion and transportation 359 million. Additional spending supported communications, mining, agriculture, and fishing.
Public order and safety received 2.06 billion dinars. Police services claimed the majority at 1.6 billion, followed by 362 million for courts, with the remainder directed toward prisons and other security-related services.
Expenditure on religion, culture, and entertainment rose to 756 million dinars. Religious services led with 470 million, while broadcasting and publishing absorbed 246 million.
Social protection was allocated 441 million dinars, providing support for the elderly, families, children, housing, and other social services.
The figures highlight the government’s strategy of channeling resources primarily into education, health, and housing, reflecting efforts to strengthen human capital and expand social infrastructure.
At the same time, substantial allocations to economic and security sectors point to a broader goal of balancing development with economic stability and public safety.
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