2015 Edition

Background

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. 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 returned to power in 1991 and established one of the most independent legislatures in the Arab World. The country witnessed the historic election in 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 - rallied repeatedly in 2011 for the prime minister's dismissal amid allegations of widespread government corruption, ultimately prompting the prime minister to resign in late 2011. Demonstrations, following a short lull, renewed in late 2012 in response to an Amiri decree amending the electoral law to reduce the number of votes per person from four to one. The opposition, led by a coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribalists, some liberals, and myriad youth groups, largely boycotted legislative elections in 2012 and 2013, which ushered in a legislature more amenable to the government's agenda. Since coming to power in 2006, the Amir has dissolved the National Assembly on five occasions (the Constitutional Court annulled the Assembly in June 2012 and again in June 2013) and shuffled the cabinet over a dozen times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government.

Area

land

17,818 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

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

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)

per capita

441.2 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.91 cu km/yr (47%/2%/51%)

Geographic coordinates

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Irrigated land

86 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

Iraq 254 km, Saudi Arabia 221 km

total

475 km

Land use

arable land 0.6%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 7.6%

agricultural land

8.5%

forest

0.4%

other

91.1% (2011 est.)

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

25.32% (male 367,176/female 338,883)

15-24 years

15.21% (male 233,306/female 190,903)

25-54 years

52.32% (male 924,103/female 534,769)

55-64 years

4.82% (male 76,707/female 57,663)

65 years and over

2.33% (male 30,681/female 34,343) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

19.91 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.2% (2012)

Death rate

2.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

2.6%

potential support ratio

38.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

32.1%

youth dependency ratio

29.5%

Drinking water source

urban: 99% of population

rural: 99% of population

total: 99% of population

urban: 1% of population

rural: 1% of population

total: 1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

Kuwaiti 31.3%, other Arab 27.9%, Asian 37.8%, African 1.9%, other 1.1% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2013 est.)

Health expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

7.09 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.31 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.19 years (2015 est.)

male

76.51 years

total population

77.82 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95.8% (2015 est.)

male

96.5%

total population

96.3%

Major urban areas - population

KUWAIT (capital) 2.779 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

27 years (2015 est.)

male

30.2 years

total

29 years

Nationality

adjective

Kuwaiti

noun

Kuwaiti(s)

Net migration rate

-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

38.3% (2014)

Physicians density

1.79 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

2,788,534

note

Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Information estimates the country's total population to be 3,996,899 for 2014, with immigrants accounting for almost 69% (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.62%

note

this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 76.7%, Christian 17.3%, other and unspecified 5.9%

note

represents the total population; about 69% of the population consists of immigrants (2013 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.08 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.22 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.73 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.33 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.89 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.41 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.48 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

N/A (2011 est.)

male

N/A

total

14.55%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

98.3% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

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

Constitution

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962 (2015)

Country name

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 encircled by water"

local long form

Dawlat al Kuwayt

local short form

Al Kuwayt

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Douglas Alan SILLIMAN (since 31 August 2014)

embassy

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

FAX

[965] 2538-6562 [965] 2538-6562

mailing address

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

telephone

[965] 2259-1001 [965] 2259-1001

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 10 October 2001)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 966-8468

telephone

[1] (202) 966-0702

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, 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 (born 25 June 1937)

elections/appointments

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

head of government

Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah; Deputy Prime Ministers al-KHALD al-Jarrah al-Sabah, MUHAMMAD AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah, Abdulmohsen MUDEJ

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

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

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

election results

seats won - pro-government 30, liberal 9, Shiite 8, Sunni 3

elections

last held 27 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA

name

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

note

adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions

National holiday

National Day, 25 February (1950)

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

none; while the formation of political parties is not permitted, they are 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

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military or police by law cannot vote; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years

Agriculture - products

fish

Budget

expenditures

$75.28 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$87.62 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

7.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.25% (31 December 2010)

3% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.3% (31 December 2014 est.)

4.6% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$53.53 billion (2014 est.)

$72.46 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$35.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$36.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - more than 6% of world reserves. Kuwaiti officials plan to increase oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. Petroleum accounts for over half of GDP, 94% of export revenues, and 89% of government income. For the last decade, high oil prices have generated budget surpluses despite increasing budget expenditures, particularly on wage hikes for public sector employees. Despite Kuwait’s dependence on oil, the government has cushioned itself against the impact of lower oil prices by continuous saving of at least 10% of government revenue in the Fund for Future Generations. Kuwait has done little to diversify its economy, in part, due to a poor business climate and an acrimonious relationship between the National Assembly and the executive branch that has stymied most economic reforms. In 2010, Kuwait passed its first long-term economic development plan in almost twenty-five years. While the government planned to spend up $104 billion over four years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy, many of the projects did not materialize because of the uncertain political situation.

Exchange rates

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar -

0.2845 (2014 est.)

0.2845 (2013 est.)

0.28 (2012 est.)

0.276 (2011 est.)

0.2866 (2010 est.)

Exports

$103.4 billion (2014 est.)

$115.9 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners

South Korea 16.7%, India 14.9%, Japan 12.3%, US 11.3%, China 9.9% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

67.9%

government consumption

19.4%

household consumption

28.2%

imports of goods and services

-31.3%

investment in fixed capital

15.8%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.4%

industry

60.6%

services

39% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$70,700 (2014 est.)

$70,600 (2013 est.)

$70,000 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.1% (2014 est.)

0.8% (2013 est.)

7.7% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$172.6 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$282.6 billion (2014 est.)

$282.3 billion (2013 est.)

$280 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

46.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

56.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

58.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$27.38 billion (2014 est.)

$25.66 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners

US 12.7%, China 11.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.1%, South Korea 6.9%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 4.8%, India 4.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.3% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2014 est.)

2.7% (2013 est.)

Labor force

2.397 million

note

non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$99.77 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$100.9 billion (31 December 2011)

$119.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

6.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

6.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$31.43 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$32.23 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$116 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$116.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$36.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$33.12 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$3.882 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.744 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$96.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$95.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$32.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$31.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

50.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

3% (2014 est.)

3% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

105.7 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.824 million bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

2.619 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

104 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

50 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

14.7 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

58.9 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

16.88 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

571 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

16.31 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.798 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

467,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

533,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

772,300 bbl/day (2012 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 users

percent of population

86.9% (2014 est.)

total

2.4 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

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 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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

490,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

277 (2014 est.)

total

7.6 million

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

total

3

Heliports

4 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 19

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 261 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

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

Roadways

total

6,608 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

616,958 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,002,480

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

523,206 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

840,912

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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) (2013)

Military expenditures

0% of GDP (2012)

3.35% of GDP (2011)

0% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2012)

Disputes - international

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

93,000 (2014); 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

Trafficking in persons

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, Ghana, Iraq, Lebanon, and Kenya 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 withholding 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; no efforts were made to prosecute or convict trafficking offenders using the 2013 anti-trafficking law or other laws addressing trafficking crimes; victim protection measures remained weak particularly due to a lack of proactive victim identification procedures and non-enforcement of the law prohibiting sponsors from withholding workers’ passports; no system was developed to refer victims to protective services; the government initiated investigations of companies that brought in large numbers of unskilled foreign workers under false promises of work and that illegally sold visas (2014)