2008 Edition

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.

Area

total: 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Coastline

499 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%) per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Irrigated land

130 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Land use

arable land: 0.84% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 98.99% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Total renewable water resources

0.02 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.6% (male 351,057/female 338,634) 15-64 years: 70.6% (male 1,172,460/female 659,927) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 46,770/female 27,951) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

21.9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

2.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.53 years male: 76.38 years female: 78.73 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.3% male: 94.4% female: 91% (2005 census)

Median age

total: 26.1 years male: 28 years female: 22.6 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti

Net migration rate

16.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

2,596,799 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

3.591% note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

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: 1.67 male(s)/female total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Kuwait geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah K. JONES embassy: Bayan 36302, Block 13, 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

chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702

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 MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 3 April 2007); 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 Faysal al-HAJJI (since 5 April 2007); note - the Amir accepted the resignation of the prime minister and cabinet on 1 December 2008) 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

FAX

[1] (202) 966-0517

[965] 538-0282

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

Government type

constitutional emirate

Independence

19 June 1961 (from UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional members), 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, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

High Court of Appeal

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) elections: last held 17 May 2008 (next election to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc - Sunni 21, Islamic Salafi Alliance 10, Liberals 7, Shiites 5, Popular Action Bloc 4, Islamic Constitutional Movement 3

National holiday

National Day, 25 February (1950)

Political parties and leaders

none; formation of political parties is in practice illegal but is not forbidden by law

Political pressure groups and leaders

other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups

Suffrage

NA 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

Agriculture - products

practically no crops; fish

Budget

revenues: $85.28 billion expenditures: $37.77 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.54% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Kuwaiti dinar (KD)

Currency code

KWD

Current account balance

$47.5 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$33.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$2.6 million (2004)

Economy - overview

Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 104 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. 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. Despite its vast oil reserves, Kuwait experienced power outages during the summer months in 2006 and 2007 because demand exceeded power generating capacity. Power outages are likely to worsen, given its high population growth rates, unless the government can increase generating capacity. In May 2007 Kuwait changed its currency peg from the US dollar to a basket of currencies in order to curb inflation and to reduce its vulnerability to external shocks.

Electricity - consumption

39.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

44.75 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003)

Exports

$63.72 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners

Japan 19.9%, South Korea 17%, Taiwan 11.2%, Singapore 9.9%, US 8.4%, Netherlands 4.8%, China 4.4% (2007)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 52.4% services: 47.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$55,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.7% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$111.3 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$140 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$20.64 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners

US 12.7%, Japan 8.5%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.8%, South Korea 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, Italy 5.8%, UK 4.6% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.5% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

2.093 million note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$128.9 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.586 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

334,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

2.356 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

8,022 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

2.613 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

104 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

9.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$16.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$24.22 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$898 million (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$78.25 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$15.12 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$55.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

2.2% (2004 est.)

Internet country code

.kw

Internet hosts

3,289 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

900,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.175 million (1997)

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

517,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.774 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Televisions

875,000 (1997)

Airports

7 (2007)

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 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports

4 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 38 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)

Pipelines

gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

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

Roadways

total: 5,749 km paved: 4,887 km unpaved: 862 km (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,032,408 females age 16-49: 568,657 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 892,816 females age 16-49: 500,540 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 17,737 female: 18,519 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2007)

Military expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; reserve obligation to age 40 with 1 month annual training; women have served in police forces since 1999 (2006)

Disputes - international

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

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 tier rating: Tier 3 - insufficient efforts in 2007 to prosecute and punish abusive employers and those who traffic women for sexual exploitation; the government failed for the fourth year in a row to live up to promises to provide shelter and protective services for victims of involuntary domestic servitude and other forms of trafficking (2008) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008