Kuwait

Kuwait has been ruled by the AL-SABAH dynasty since the 18th century. The threat of Ottoman invasion in 1899 prompted Amir Mubarak AL-SABAH to seek protection from Britain, ceding foreign and defense responsibility to Britain until 1961, when the country attained its independence. Iraq attacked and overran Kuwait in 1990. After several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault in 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. In 1992, the Amir reconstituted the parliament that he had dissolved in 1986. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs known as Bidoon staged small protests demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Other demographic groups, notably Islamists and Kuwaitis from tribal backgrounds, soon joined the growing protest movements, which culminated with the resignation of the prime minister amid allegations of corruption. Demonstrations renewed in 2012 in response to a decree amending the electoral law that lessened the voting power of the tribal blocs. An opposition coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribal populists, and some liberals largely boycotted legislative elections in 2012 and 2013, which ushered in a legislature more amenable to the government's agenda. Faced with the prospect of painful subsidy cuts, oppositionists and independents actively participated in the 2016 election, winning nearly half the seats, but the opposition became increasingly factionalized. Between 2006 and his death in 2020, the Amir dissolved the National Assembly on seven occasions and shuffled the cabinet over a dozen times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government. The current Amir, who assumed his role in 2020, launched a "National Dialogue" in 2021 meant to resolve political gridlock. As part of this initiative, the Amir pardoned several opposition figures who had been living in exile, and they returned to Kuwait. Legislative challenges remain, and the cabinet has been reshuffled six times since 2020. 

land

17,818 sq km

total

17,818 sq km

water

0 sq km

slightly smaller than New Jersey

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

499 km

highest point

3.6 km W. of Al-Salmi Border Post 300 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

mean elevation

108 m

29 30 N, 45 45 E

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

100 sq km (2015)

border countries

Iraq 254 km; Saudi Arabia 221 km

total

475 km

agricultural land

8.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 7.6% (2018 est.)

forest

0.4% (2018 est.)

other

91.1% (2018 est.)

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Arabian Aquifer System

Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

Middle East

territorial sea

12 nm

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

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

0-14 years

23% (male 376,415/female 346,190)

15-64 years

73.4% (male 1,386,349/female 917,465)

65 years and over

3.6% (2024 est.) (male 47,778/female 64,158)

beer

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

17.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

2.5% (2020)

NA

6.3% of GDP (2020)

59.6% (2023 est.)

2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6

potential support ratio

24.9 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

34.4

youth dependency ratio

28.4

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

6.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)

1.08 (2024 est.)

2 beds/1,000 population (2017)

female

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

female

81.1 years

male

78.1 years

total population

79.6 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.4% (2020)

male

97.1%

total population

96.5%

3.298 million KUWAIT (capital) (2023)

7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

28.9 years

male

31.1 years

total

30.3 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Kuwaiti

noun

Kuwaiti(s)

-4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

37.9% (2016)

2.34 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

1,327,813 (2024 est.)

male

1,810,542

total

3,138,355

densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country

1.1% (2024 est.)

Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.)

note

note: data represent the total population; about 72% of the population consists of immigrants

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

female

16 years (2015)

male

13 years

total

15 years

0-14 years

1.09 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.51 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.36 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

2.2% (2020 est.)

male

33.5% (2020 est.)

total

17.9% (2020 est.)

2.21 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir

etymology

the name derives from Arabic "al-Kuwayt" a diminutive of "kut" meaning "fortress," possibly a reference to a small castle built on the current location of Kuwait City by the Beni Khaled tribe in the 17th century

geographic coordinates

29 22 N, 47 58 E

name

Kuwait City

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Kuwait

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

not specified

amendments

proposed by the amir or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds consent of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the amir; constitutional articles on the initiation, approval, and promulgation of general legislation cannot be amended

history

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962; suspended 1976 to 1981 (4 articles); 1986 to 1991; May to July 1999

note

Note: on 10 May 2024, Amir Sheikh MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly and suspended several articles of the constitution for up to four years

conventional long form

State of Kuwait

conventional short form

Kuwait

etymology

the name derives from the capital city, which is from Arabic "al-Kuwayt" a diminutive of "kut" meaning "fortress," possibly a reference to a small castle built on the current location of Kuwait City by the Beni Khaled tribe in the 17th century

local long form

Dawlat al Kuwayt

local short form

Al Kuwayt

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires James HOLTSNIDER (since July 2021)

email address and website

KuwaitACS@state.govhttps://kw.usembassy.gov/

embassy

P.O. Box 77, Safat 13001

FAX

[00] (965) 2538-0282

mailing address

6200 Kuwait Place, Washington DC  20521-6200

telephone

[00] (965) 2259-1001

chancery

2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador AL-ZAIN Sabah Naser Saud Al-Sabah (since 19 April 2023)

consulate(s) general

Beverly Hills (CA), New York

email address and website

info@kuwaitembassy.ushttps://www.kuwaitembassy.us/

FAX

[1] (202) 966-8468

telephone

[1] (202) 966-0702

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir

chief of state

Amir MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 16 December 2023)

elections/appointments

amir chosen from within the ruling family, confirmed by the National Assembly; prime minister appointed by the amir

head of government

Prime Minister AHMAD ABDULLAH Al-Ahmad al Sabah (since 15 May 2024)

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green represents fertile fields, white stands for purity, red denotes blood on Kuwaiti swords, black signifies the defeat of the enemy

constitutional monarchy (emirate)

19 June 1961 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s)

Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with 5 judges)

judge selection and term of office

all Kuwaiti judges appointed by the Amir upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, a consultative body comprised of Kuwaiti judges and Ministry of Justice officials

subordinate courts

High Court of Appeal; Court of First Instance; Summary Court

mixed legal system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law

description

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (65 seats; 50 members directly elected from 5 multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 15 ex-officio members (cabinet ministers) appointed by the amir; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

50 nonpartisan candidates, including 29 opposition candidates; composition - men 63, women 2, percent women 3.1%

elections

last held on 4 April 2024 (next to be held in 2028)

note

note: in May 2024, Amir Sheikh MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly, and some powers held by the National Assembly were assumed by the government

lyrics/music

Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA

name

"Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem)

note

note: adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions

National Day, 25 February (1950)

golden falcon; national colors: green, white, red, black

none; the government does not recognize any political parties or allow their formation, although no formal law bans political parties

21 years of age and at least 20-year citizenship

tomatoes, dates, cucumbers/gherkins, eggs, milk, chicken, lamb/mutton, vegetables, potatoes, eggplants (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

0.1% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

19.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$59.584 billion (2015 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$44.254 billion (2015 est.)

Fitch rating

AA (2008)

Moody's rating

A1 (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AA- (2020)

Current account balance 2021

$34.943 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$63.078 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$51.396 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy; renewable energy proponent; regional finance and investment leader; maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund; emerging space and tourism industries; mid-way through 25-year development program

Currency

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.304 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.306 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.302 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.306 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.307 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$77.121 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$110.923 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$95.476 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, hydrocarbons, natural gas, acyclic alcohols (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 24%, India 15%, South Korea 11%, Japan 9%, Taiwan 7% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

52.3% (2019 est.)

government consumption

24.8% (2019 est.)

household consumption

40.6% (2019 est.)

imports of goods and services

-44.1% (2019 est.)

investment in fixed capital

24.6% (2019 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

0.4% (2022 est.)

industry

67% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

43.6% (2022 est.)

$161.772 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports 2021

$48.954 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$55.909 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$63.43 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, gold, jewelry, garments, packaged medicine (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 20%, China 16%, Saudi Arabia 9%, US 7%, Japan 4% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

8.05% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.42% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

3.98% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.64% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

2.463 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt 2017

20.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$211.099 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$224.057 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$219.06 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

1.7% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

6.14% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-2.23% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$49,700 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$52,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$50,800 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.57% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.01% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.01% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$49.525 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$52.462 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$52.619 billion (2023 est.)

41.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

3% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

2.12% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.08% (2023 est.)

female

29% (2023 est.)

male

9.1% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

15% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

337,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

51.169 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

49.09 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

100.596 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

145,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

77,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

78.703 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

20.25 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

7.727 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

99.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

402.03 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

26.083 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

7.988 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

19.285 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

1.784 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

101.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

372,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

2.91 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2020 est.)

total

73,948 (2020 est.)

state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged; satellite TV available and pan-Arab TV stations are especially popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels in Arabic and English; first private radio station emerged in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2019)

.kw

percent of population

100% (2021 est.)

total

4.3 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line subscriptions are nearly 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular stands at nearly 163 per 100 subscriptions (2021)

general assessment

Kuwait’s telecom infrastructure is well developed, with a focus on mobile infrastructure and services; the telecom sector is important to the country’s economy, and this will become more pronounced in coming years as the economy is purposefully transitioned away from a dependence on oil and gas to one which is increasingly knowledge-based and focused on ICT and related services; the MNOs have focused investment on 5G networks, which support and promote the growth of data traffic; this in turn has been a catalyst for revenue growth in recent quarters; while Kuwait’s mobile sector shows considerable progress; the country’s fixed broadband system is the lowest in the region; the government has stepped up efforts to build up fixed broadband networks, and ultimately this sector offers a potential future growth opportunity; improvements to the fixed broadband infrastructure will help develop sectors such as e-commerce, along with smart infrastructure developments, and tech start-ups (2022)

international

country code - 965; landing points for the FOG, GBICS, MENA, Kuwait-Iran, and FALCON submarine cables linking Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; 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) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

573,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

181 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

7.726 million (2022 est.)

6 (2024)

9K

20 (2024)

by type

general cargo 15, oil tanker 28, other 133

total

176 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

392.36 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

6,464,847 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

44

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

261 km gas, 540 km oil, 57 km refined products (2013)

key ports

Al Kuwayt, Doha Harbor, Mina Abd Allah, Mina Al Ahmadi, Mina Ash Shuaybah, Mina Az Zawr

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

4

small

1

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

3

paved

4,887 km

total

5,749 km (201)

unpaved

862 km (2018)

the Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF) are responsible for external defense; the independent National Guard is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required, including supporting the KAF Land Forces during a conflict; the National Guard and the Ministry of Interior are the Kuwaiti Government’s lead counterterrorism organizations; Kuwait’s primary security concerns are potential threats emanating from Iran, including regional militias loyal to Iran, and Islamist terrorist groupsthe KAF participates in bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as a limited number of multinational security operations such as maritime patrols in the Persian Gulf; it also provided a few fighter aircraft to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen in 2015; the KAF is part of the military arm of the Gulf Cooperation CouncilKuwait's key security partner since the 1991 Gulf War has been the US; the US maintains thousands of military personnel as well as logistics and training facilities in Kuwait as part of a 1991 Defense Cooperation Agreement and a 2013 Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement; the KAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and would look to US assistance in the event of an external attack; Kuwait has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2024)

Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwait Land Forces (KLF), Kuwait Navy, Kuwait Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwait Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority; Kuwait National Guard (KNG) (2024)

note

note 1: the Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the KAF, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of statenote 2: the National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as requirednote 3: the police, Kuwait State Security, and Coast Guard are under the Ministry of Interior

approximately 17,000 active-duty armed forces personnel (12,500 Army, including the Amiri Guard and 25th Commando Brigade; 2,000 Navy; 2,500 Air Force); approximately 7,000 National Guard (2023)

the military's inventory consists of weapons from a wide variety of sources, including Western Europe, Russia, and particularly the US (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

5.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

6.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

5% of GDP (2023 est.)

18-55 years of age for voluntary military service; Kuwait reintroduced 12-month mandatory service for men aged 18-35 in May 2017 after having suspended conscription in 2001; mandatory service is divided in two phases – 4 months for training and 8 months for military service; women were allowed to volunteer in 2021 (2023)

note

note: the National Guard is restricted to citizens, but in 2018, the Army began allowing non-Kuwaitis to join on contract or as non-commissioned officers; that same year, it also began allowing stateless people (Bidoon) to join

stateless persons

92,000 (2022); note - Kuwait's 1959 Nationality Law defined citizens as persons who settled in the country before 1920 and who had maintained normal residence since then; one-third of the population, descendants of Bedouin tribes, missed the window of opportunity to register for nationality rights after Kuwait became independent in 1961 and were classified as bidun (meaning "without"); since the 1980s Kuwait's bidun have progressively lost their rights, including opportunities for employment and education, amid official claims that they are nationals of other countries who have destroyed their identification documents in hopes of gaining Kuwaiti citizenship; Kuwaiti authorities have delayed processing citizenship applications and labeled biduns as "illegal residents," denying them access to civil documentation, such as birth and marriage certificates

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Kuwait does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Kuwait was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/kuwait/

carbon dioxide emissions

98.73 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

6.21 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

64.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

limited natural freshwater resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification; loss of biodiversity

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Marine Dumping-London Convention

agricultural land

8.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 7.6% (2018 est.)

forest

0.4% (2018 est.)

other

91.1% (2018 est.)

Arabian Aquifer System

Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

780 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

450 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

1.75 million tons (2010 est.)