| Introduction:: |
 |
| Background: |
Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since returning to power in 1991 and reestablished an elected legislature that in recent years has become increasingly assertive. The country witnessed the historic election in May 2009 of four women to its National Assembly. |
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| Geography:: |
|
| Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. |
| Geographic coordinates: |
29 30 N, 45 45 E. |
| Map References: |
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| Area:: |
Total: 17,818 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 157
Land: 17,818 sq km
Water: 0 sq km |
| Land boundaries: |
Total: 462 km
Border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km |
| Coastline: |
499 km. |
| Maritime claims: |
Territorial sea: 12 nm |
| Climate: |
Dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters. |
| Terrain: |
Flat to slightly undulating desert plain. |
| Elevation extremes: |
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: unnamed location 306 m |
| Natural resources: |
Petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas. |
| Land use: |
Arable land: 0.84%
Permanent crops: 0.17%
Other: 98.99% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
130 sq km (2003). |
| Total Renewable Water Resources: |
0.02 cu km (1997) |
| Freshwater withdrawal (domestic-industrial-agricultural): |
Total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%)
Per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000) |
| Natural hazards: |
Sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March and August. |
| Environment - current issues: |
Limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification. |
| Environment - international agreements: |
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection.
Signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping. |
| Geography - note: |
Strategic location at head of Persian Gulf. |
|
| People:: |
|
| Population : |
2,692,526
Country comparison to the world: 139
Note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2009 est.). |
| Age structure : |
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 361,150/female 348,518)
15-64 years: 70.7% (male 1,219,075/female 683,587)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 49,163/female 29,665) (2009 est.) |
| Median age : |
Total: 26.2 years
Male: 28.1 years
Female: 22.7 years (2009 est.) |
| Population growth rate : |
3.549%
Country comparison to the world: 4
Note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2009 est.). |
| Birth rate : |
21.79 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 89 |
| Net migration rate : |
16.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 3 |
| Urbanization: |
Urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
Rate of urbanisation: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.78 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.66 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2009 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
Total population: 77.71 years
Country comparison to the world: 52
Male: 76.51 years
Female: 78.96 years (2009 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: |
2.76 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 82 |
| Nationality: |
Noun: Kuwaiti(s)
Adjective: Kuwaiti |
| Ethnic groups: |
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%. |
| Religions: |
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%. |
| Languages: |
Arabic (official), English widely spoken. |
| Literacy: |
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93.3%
Male: 94.4%
Female: 91% (2005 census) |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |
Total: 13 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 13 years (2006) |
| Education expenditures: |
3.8% of GDP (2006)
Country comparison to the world: 119 |
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| Government:: |
|
| Country name: |
Conventional long form: State of Kuwait
Conventional short form: Kuwait
Local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Local short form: Al Kuwayt |
| Government type: |
Constitutional emirate. |
| Capital: |
Name: Kuwait City
Geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E
Time difference: UTC+3 |
| Administrative divisions: |
6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir. |
| Independence: |
19 June 1961 (from the UK). |
| National holiday: |
National Day, 25 February (1950). |
| Constitution: |
Approved and promulgated 11 November 1962. |
| Legal system: |
Civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. |
| Suffrage: |
21 years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the military or police are not allowed to vote; adult females were allowed to vote as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years. |
| Executive branch: |
Chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah.
Head of government: Prime Minister NASIR AL-MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 3 April 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBAREK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD AL-SABAH al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006).
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir.
Elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime minister and deputy prime ministers. |
| Legislative branch: |
Unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; all cabinet ministers are also ex officio voting members of the National Assembly).
Elections: last held 16 May 2009 (next election to be held in 2013).
Election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc - Sunni Muslim groups 11, liberals 7, Shiite Muslim groups 6, Popular Action Bloc 3, unaffiliated tribal groups 23. |
| Judicial branch: |
High Court of Appeal. |
| Political parties and leaders: |
None; formation of political parties is in practice illegal but is not forbidden by law. |
| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO. |
| Flag description: |
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I. |
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| Economy:: |
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| Economy - overview: |
Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 104 billion barrels - about 8% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait experienced rapid economic growth over the last several years on the back of high oil prices and in 2009 posted its eleventh consecutive budget surplus. Kuwait has done little to diversify and reform its economy, in part, because of this positive fiscal situation, but also because the acrimonious relationship between the National Assembly and the executive branch has stymied most movement on reforms.
Nonetheless, the government in 2009 presented to the Assembly for the first time its economic development plan that pledges to spend up to $140 billion in five years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy. The effects of the global financial crisis on Kuwait's financial sector in late 2008 and early 2009 prompted the government to use its considerable resources to stabilize the economy. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$150.2 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 58
$151.3 billion (2008 est.)
$139.4 billion (2007 est.)
Note: data are in 2009 US dollars. |
| GDP (official exchange rate): |
$114.9 billion (2009 est.). |
| GDP - real growth rate: |
-0.7% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 120
8.5% (2008 est.)
4.7% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$55,800 (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 7
$58,200 (2008 est.)
$55,600 (2007 est.)
Note: data are in 2009 US dollars. |
| GDP - composition by sector: |
Agriculture: 0.3%
Industry: 50.9%
Services: 48.7% (2009 est.) |
| Labour force: |
2.091 million
Country comparison to the world: 119
Note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2009 est.). |
| Unemployment rate: |
2.2% (2004 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 18 |
| Investment (gross fixed): |
31.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 20 |
| Budget: |
Revenues: $70.23 billion
Expenditures: $58.43 billion (2009 est.) |
| Public debt: |
8.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 121
7.6% of GDP (2008 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
5.7% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 153
10.6% (2008 est.) |
| Central bank discount rate: |
3.75% (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 72
6.25% (31 December 2007) |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate: |
7.61% (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 101
8.54% (31 December 2007) |
| Stock of money: |
$15.31 billion (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 39
$15.12 billion (31 December 2007) |
| Stock of quasi money: |
$63.08 billion (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 27
$55.2 billion (31 December 2007) |
| Stock of domestic credit: |
$88.77 billion (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 41
$78.25 billion (31 December 2007) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$107.2 billion (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 40
$188 billion (31 December 2007)
$128.9 billion (31 December 2006) |
| Agriculture - products: |
Practically no crops; fish. |
| Industries: |
Petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials. |
| Industrial production growth rate: |
1.8% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 62 |
| Electricity - production: |
45.83 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 51 |
| Electricity – consumption: |
40.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 51 |
| Oil – production: |
2.741 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 9 |
| Oil - consumption: |
325,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 39 |
| Oil - exports: |
2.349 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 7 |
| Oil – imports: |
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 208 |
| Oil - proved reserves: |
104 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 5 |
| Natural gas - production: |
12.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 37 |
| Natural gas - consumption: |
12.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 43 |
| Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 79 |
| Natural gas - imports: |
300 million cu m (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 64
Note: Kuwait signed a deal to import 2 billion cu m per year in 2010 and beyond. |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: |
1.794 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 19 |
| Current account balance: |
$26.78 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 13
$64.78 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports: |
$49.52 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 44
$86.94 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: |
Oil and refined products, fertilisers. |
| Exports – partners: |
Japan 18.5%, South Korea 14.7%, India 10.9%, Tawian 9.8%, US 9%, Singapore 8%, China 6.1% (2008). |
| Imports: |
$20.8 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 65
$22.94 billion (2008 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: |
Food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing. |
| Imports - partners: |
US 11.7%, Japan 9.1%, Germany 8%, China 7.5%, Saudi Arabia 6.9%, Italy 4.7%, UK 4.2% (2008). |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$14.22 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 42
$17.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Debt – external: |
$33.49 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 58
$36.89 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$1.099 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 81
$1.22 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$33.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 31
$25.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
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| Communications:: |
|
| Telephones - main lines in use: |
541,000 (2008)
Country comparison to the world: 94 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: |
2.907 million (2008)
Country comparison to the world: 110 |
| Telephone system: |
General assessment: the quality of service is excellent.
Domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones.
International: country code - 965
Linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat). |
| Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998). |
| Television broadcast stations: |
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997). |
| Internet country code: |
.kw |
| Internet hosts: |
2,305 (2009)
Country comparison to the world: 148 |
| Internet users: |
1 million (2008)
Country comparison to the world: 88 |
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| Transportation:: |
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| Airports: |
7 (2009)
Country comparison to the world: 168 |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
Total: 4
Over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
Total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Under 914 m: 2 (2009) |
| Heliports: |
4 (2009) |
| Pipelines: |
Gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2009). |
| Roadways: |
Total: 5,749 km
Country comparison to the world: 150
Paved: 4,887 km
Unpaved: 862 km (2004) |
| Merchant marine: |
Total: 38
Country comparison to the world: 79
By type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 22
registered in other countries: 34 (Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1, Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saudi Arabia 7, UAE 10) (2008). |
| Ports and terminals: |
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi. |
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| Military:: |
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| Military branches: |
Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2008). |
| Military service age and obligation: |
18-30 years of age for compulsory and 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women age 18-30 may be subject to compulsory military service; conscription suspended in 2001 (2009). |
| Manpower available for military service: |
Males aged 16-49: 1,032,408
Females aged 16-49: 568,657 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: |
Males aged 16-49: 935,525
Females aged 16-49: 519,854 (2009 est.) |
| Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |
Male: 18,122
Female: 18,865 (2009 est.) |
| Military expenditures: |
5.3% of GDP (2006)
Country comparison to the world: 16 |
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| Transnational Issues:: |
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| Disputes - international: |
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf. |
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