2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.9% (male 331,768/female 319,895) 15-64 years: 70.3% (male 1,085,721/female 613,746) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 42,460/female 24,803) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

practically no crops; fish

Airports

7 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Area

land

17,820 sq km

total

17,820 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

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. Geography Kuwait

Birth rate

21.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$33.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$59.58 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

29 20 N, 47 59 E

name

Kuwait

time difference

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

Climate

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Coastline

499 km

Constitution

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Country name

conventional long form

State of Kuwait

conventional short form

Kuwait

local long form

Dawlat al Kuwayt

local short form

Al Kuwayt

Currency (code)

Kuwaiti dinar (KD)

Currency code

KWD

Current account balance

$40.75 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

2.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$19.7 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard LEBARON

embassy

Bayan 36302, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City

mailing address

P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000

telephone

[965] 259-1001

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador SALIM Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah

telephone

[1] (202) 966-0702

Disputes - international

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf

Economic aid - recipient

$NA (2001)

Economy - overview

Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 96 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country. High oil prices in recent years have helped build Kuwait's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. As a result of this positive fiscal situation, the need for economic reforms is less urgent and the government has not earnestly pushed through new initiatives.

Electricity - consumption

37.54 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

40.37 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location 306 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

Marine Dumping

Ethnic groups

Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%

Exchange rates

Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah

elections

none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime minister and deputy prime ministers

head of government

Prime Minister NASIR al-Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 7 February 2006) First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006) and Ismail al-SHATTI (since 10 July 2006)

Exports

$56.06 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners

Japan 19.7%, South Korea 15.4%, US 11.9%, Taiwan 11.1%, Singapore 9.5%, Netherlands 4.7% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 966-0517

[965] 538-0282

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Kuwait

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 Economy Kuwait

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0.4%

industry

48.3%

services

51.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$21,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$58.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$52.17 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf People Kuwait

Government type

constitutional hereditary emirate

Heliports

5 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$19.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners

US 14.1%, Germany 10.8%, Japan 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, UK 5.7%, France 4.8%, China 4.5% (2005)

Independence

19 June 1961 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

13.1% (2005 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

8.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

10.72 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.71 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.kw

Internet hosts

2,310 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

700,000 (2005) Transportation Kuwait

Investment (gross fixed)

26.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

130 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

High Court of Appeal

Labor force

1.136 million

note

non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Land boundaries

border countries

Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

total

462 km

Land use

arable land

0.84%

other

98.99% (2005)

permanent crops

0.17%

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Legal system

civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - NA

elections

last held 29 June 2006 (next election to be held in 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.31 years (2006 est.)

male

76.13 years

total population

77.2 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

81.7% (2003 est.) Government Kuwait

male

85.1%

total population

83.5%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

467,120 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

864,745

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

405,207 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

737,292

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

20,065 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

18,743

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

22.3 years (2006 est.)

male

28 years

total

25.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 3, petroleum tanker 21

registered in other countries

28 (Bahrain 3, Comoros 1, Liberia 1, Libya 1, Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saudi Arabia 5, UAE 8) (2006)

total

38 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,424,983 GRT/3,996,755 DWT

Military branches

Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3.01 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.2% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Kuwait

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1 month annual training to age 40; women have served in police forces since 1999 (2001)

National holiday

National Day, 25 February (1950)

Nationality

adjective

Kuwaiti

noun

Kuwaiti(s)

Natural gas - consumption

9.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

9.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.572 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Net migration rate

15.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

335,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

1.97 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production

2.418 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

96.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Pipelines

gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

none; formation of political parties is illegal

Political pressure groups and leaders

a number of political groups act as de facto parties; several legislative blocs operate in the National Assembly: tribal groups, merchants, Shi'a activists, Islamists, and secular liberals; in mid-2006, a coalition of Islamists, liberals, and Shia campaigned successfully for electoral reform to reduce corruption

Population

2,418,393

note

includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

3.52%

note

this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi Military Kuwait

Public debt

8.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.175 million (1997)

Religions

Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.08 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

4,887 km

total

5,749 km

unpaved

862 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

1.52 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.71 male(s)/female

Suffrage

adult males who are not in the military forces, and adult females (as of 16 May 2005); all voters must have been citizens for 20 years

Telephone system

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

general assessment

the quality of service is excellent

international

country code - 965; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat

Telephones - main lines in use

510,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.536 million (2006)

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Televisions

875,000 (1997)

Terrain

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Total fertility rate

2.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Kuwait is a destination country for men and women who migrate legally from South and Southeast Asia for domestic or low-skilled labor, but are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude by employers in Kuwait including conditions of physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement to the home, and withholding of passports to restrict their freedom of movement; Kuwait is reportedly a transit point for South and East Asian workers recruited for low-skilled work in Iraq; some of these workers are deceived as to the true location and nature of this work, and others are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude in Iraq; in past years, Kuwait was also a destination country for children exploited as camel jockeys, but this form of trafficking appears to have ceased

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - Kuwait is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List because its efforts are based largely on pledges of future actions This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Unemployment rate

2.2% (2004 est.)