2012 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. The country witnessed the historic election in May 2009 of four women to its National Assembly. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs, known as bidoon, staged small protests in February and March 2011 demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Youth activist groups - supported by opposition legislators and the prime minister's rivals within the ruling family - rallied repeatedly in 2011 for an end to corruption and the ouster of the prime minister and his cabinet. Opposition legislators forced the prime minister to resign in late 2011. In October and November 2012, Kuwait witnessed unprecedented protests in response to the Amir's changes to the electoral law reducing the number of votes per person from four to one. The oppostion, led by a coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribalists, some liberals, and a myriad of youth groups, boycotted the Decemeber 2012 legislative election, resulting in a historic number of seats won by Shia candidates. Since 2006, the Amir has dissolved the National Assembly on five occasions (the Constitutional Court dissolved the Assembly once in June 2012) and reshuflled the cabinet 12 times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government.

Area

17,818 sq km 17,818 sq km 0 sq km

total

17,818 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

Persian Gulf 0 m unnamed elevation 306 m

highest point

unnamed elevation 306 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection Marine Dumping

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)

0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%) 164 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

164 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%)

Geographic coordinates

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

462 km Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

border countries

Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

total

462 km

Land use

0.84% 0.17% 98.99% (2005)

arable land

0.84%

other

98.99% (2005)

permanent crops

0.17%

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

12 nm

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

25.7% (male 353,611/ female 326,035) 72.3% (male 1,175,185/ female 736,940) 2.1% (male 26,706/ female 27,837) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

25.7% (male 353,611/ female 326,035)

15-64 years

72.3% (male 1,175,185/ female 736,940)

65 years and over

2.1% (male 26,706/ female 27,837) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

20.96 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

2.13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.87 deaths/1,000 live births 7.56 deaths/1,000 live births 8.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

8.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

7.87 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

77.28 years 76.09 years 78.51 years (2012 est.)

female

78.51 years (2012 est.)

total population

77.28 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 93.3% 94.4% 91% (2005 census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91% (2005 census)

male

94.4%

total population

93.3%

Major cities - population

KUWAIT (capital) 2.23 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

14 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

28.6 years 29.9 years 26.4 years (2012 est.)

female

26.4 years (2012 est.)

male

29.9 years

total

28.6 years

Nationality

Kuwaiti(s) Kuwaiti

adjective

Kuwaiti

noun

Kuwaiti(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

28.8% (2000)

Physicians density

1.793 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

2,646,314 (July 2012 est.) includes 1,291,354 non-nationals

Population growth rate

1.883% this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2012 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population

urban

100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 12 years 13 years (2006)

female

13 years (2006)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.6 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female 1.43 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.6 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.96 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.43 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.08 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

98% of total population (2010) 2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

98% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Kuwait City 29 22 N, 47 58 E UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

29 22 N, 47 58 E

name

Kuwait City

time difference

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

Constitution

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Country name

State of Kuwait Kuwait Dawlat al Kuwayt Al Kuwayt

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

Ambassador Matthew H. TUELLER Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000 [965] 2259-1001 [965] 2538-0282

chief of mission

Ambassador Matthew H. TUELLER

embassy

Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City

FAX

[965] 2538-0282

mailing address

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

telephone

[965] 2259-1001

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 966-0702 [1] (202) 364-2868 Los Angeles

chancery

2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 364-2868

telephone

[1] (202) 966-0702

Executive branch

Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (born 25 June 1937) Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister AHMAD al-Hamud al-Jabir al-Sabah; Deputy Prime Ministers AHMAD AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah, SABAH AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah, Mustafa al-Jassim al-SHAMALI Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir; new cabinet formed in February 2012 none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime minister and deputy prime ministers

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir; new cabinet formed in February 2012

chief of state

Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (born 25 June 1937)

elections

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

head of government

Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister AHMAD al-Hamud al-Jabir al-Sabah; Deputy Prime Ministers AHMAD AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah, SABAH AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah, Mustafa al-Jassim al-SHAMALI

Flag description

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

Government type

constitutional emirate

Independence

19 June 1961 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

High Court of Appeal

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (66 seats - 50 members elected by popular vote plus 16 cabinet ministers appointed by the prime minister as ex officio voting members; elected members serve four-year terms); note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 7 October 2012 last held on 1 December 2012 (next to be held in 2016) percent of vote by bloc - Shia 17, collection of mostly new tribalist and independent candidates 33

election results

percent of vote by bloc - Shia 17, collection of mostly new tribalist and independent candidates 33

elections

last held on 1 December 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

National anthem

"Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem) Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions

lyrics/music

Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA

name

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

National holiday

National Day, 25 February (1950)

National symbol(s)

golden falcon

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

other

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

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal; note - males in the military or police are by law not allowed to vote; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years

Agriculture - products

fish

Budget

$106.9 billion $69.18 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$69.18 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$106.9 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

21.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.25% (31 December 2010 est.) 3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.4% (31 December 2012 est.) 5.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$73.26 billion (2012 est.) $70.78 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$28.21 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $29.87 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Economy - overview

Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - about 7% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 95% of government income. Kuwaiti officials have committed to increasing oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. The rise in global oil prices throughout 2011 and 2012 is reviving government consumption and economic growth. Kuwait has experienced a 20% increase in government budget revenue, which has led to higher budget expenditures, particularly wage hikes for many public sector employees. Kuwait has done little to diversify its economy, in part, because of this positive fiscal situation, and, in part, due to the poor business climate and the historically acrimonious relationship between the National Assembly and the executive branch, which has stymied most movement on economic reforms. In 2010, Kuwait passed an economic development plan that pledges to spend up to $130 billion over five years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy.

Exchange rates

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2801 (2012 est.) 0.276 (2011 est.) 0.2866 (2010 est.) 0.2877 (2009) 0.2679 (2008)

Exports

$109.4 billion (2012 est.) $104.3 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners

South Korea 17.7%, India 15.3%, Japan 13.7%, China 9.6%, US 8.4% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

0.2% 42.3% 57.5% (2012 est.)

agriculture

0.2%

industry

42.3%

services

57.5% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,800 (2012 est.) $42,400 (2011 est.) $40,300 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.3% (2012 est.) 8.2% (2011 est.) 2.5% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$174.6 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$165.9 billion (2012 est.) $156 billion (2011 est.) $144.3 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$24.1 billion (2012 est.) $21.96 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners

US 12.4%, China 9.7%, Saudi Arabia 8.4%, South Korea 6.5%, India 6.4%, Japan 6.2%, Germany 5%, UAE 4.3% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

8.7% (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2012 est.) 4.7% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

15.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

2.304 million non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

NA% NA% NA%

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$100.9 billion (31 December 2011) $119.6 billion (31 December 2010) $95.94 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

7.1% of GDP (2012 est.) 7.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$29.26 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $25.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$109.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $99.89 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$57.97 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $48.39 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$3.194 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.764 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$93.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $91.48 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$28.46 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $23.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

61.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.2% (2004 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

81.33 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.365 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

2.682 million bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

101.5 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

43.41 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

10.94 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

51.32 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

12.62 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

890 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

11.73 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.798 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

339,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

717,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

902,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged since 2003; satellite TV available with pan-Arab TV stations 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.kw

Internet hosts

2,771 (2012)

Internet users

1.1 million (2009)

Telephone system

the quality of service is excellent 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 mobile-cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones 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)

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 mobile-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; 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

514,700 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.935 million (2011)

Airports

7 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2012)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

over 3,047 m

1

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

total

3

under 914 m

2 (2012)

Heliports

4 (2012)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 2, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 19 45 (Bahamas 1, Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 2, Panama 12, Qatar 6, Saudi Arabia 4, UAE 10) (2010)

registered in other countries

45 (Bahamas 1, Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 2, Panama 12, Qatar 6, Saudi Arabia 4, UAE 10) (2010)

total

34

Pipelines

gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

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

Roadways

5,749 km 4,887 km 862 km (2004)

total

5,749 km

unpaved

862 km (2004)

Manpower available for military service

1,002,480 616,958 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

616,958 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,002,480

Manpower fit for military service

840,912 523,206 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

523,206 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

840,912

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

17,653 16,232 (2010 est.)

female

16,232 (2010 est.)

male

17,653

Military branches

Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2012)

Military expenditures

5.3% of GDP (2006)

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)

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

Kuwait is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser degree, forced prostitution; men and women migrate from India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Syria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran, Jordan, Ethiopia, and Iraq to work in Kuwait, most of them in the domestic service, construction, and sanitation sectors; although most of these migrants enter Kuwait voluntarily, upon arrival some are subjected to conditions of forced labor by their sponsors and labor agents, including nonpayment of wages, long working hours without rest, deprivation of food, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and restrictions on movement, such as the withholding of passports or confinement to the workplace Tier 3 - Kuwait does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making sufficient efforts to do so; the government did not enact its draft comprehensive anti-trafficking law; Kuwait's victim-protection measures remain weak, particularly due to its lack of proactive victim-identification procedures and continued reliance on the sponsorship system, which causes victims of trafficking to be punished for immigration violations rather than protected (2009)

current situation

Kuwait is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser degree, forced prostitution; men and women migrate from India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Syria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran, Jordan, Ethiopia, and Iraq to work in Kuwait, most of them in the domestic service, construction, and sanitation sectors; although most of these migrants enter Kuwait voluntarily, upon arrival some are subjected to conditions of forced labor by their sponsors and labor agents, including nonpayment of wages, long working hours without rest, deprivation of food, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and restrictions on movement, such as the withholding of passports or confinement to the workplace

tier rating

Tier 3 - Kuwait does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making sufficient efforts to do so; the government did not enact its draft comprehensive anti-trafficking law; Kuwait's victim-protection measures remain weak, particularly due to its lack of proactive victim-identification procedures and continued reliance on the sponsorship system, which causes victims of trafficking to be punished for immigration violations rather than protected (2009)