2017 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 early 2011 demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Youth activist groups' repeated rallies in 2011 for the dismissal of a prime minister seen as being corrupt, ultimately led to his resignation in late 2011. Demonstrations renewed in late 2012 in response to an Amiri decree amending the electoral law. 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. However, the opposition, expressing strong opposition to the government’s fiscal reforms, participated in the November 2016 National Assembly and won almost half of the positions. Since coming to power in 2006, the Amir has dissolved the National Assembly on seven 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

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

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

108 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: 3.6 km W. of Al-Salmi Border Post 300 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point

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

mean elevation

108 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

Geographic coordinates

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Irrigated land

105 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

475 km Iraq 254 km, Saudi Arabia 221 km

border countries (2)

Iraq 254 km, Saudi Arabia 221 km

total

475 km

Land use

8.5% arable land 0.6%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 7.6% 0.4% 91.1% (2011 est.)

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

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Age structure

25.02% (male 374,259/female 345,104) 15.1% (male 238,451/female 195,700) 52.27% (male 948,902/female 554,050) 5.07% (male 82,366/female 63,505) 2.54% (male 33,561/female 39,524) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

25.02% (male 374,259/female 345,104)

15-24 years

15.1% (male 238,451/female 195,700)

25-54 years

52.27% (male 948,902/female 554,050)

55-64 years

5.07% (male 82,366/female 63,505)

65 years and over

2.54% (male 33,561/female 39,524) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

19.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3% (2014)

Death rate

2.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

29.8 27.1 2.7 37.3 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

2.7

potential support ratio

37.3 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

29.8

youth dependency ratio

27.1

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.)

rural

1% of population

total

1% of population (2015 est.)

urban

1% of population

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

3% of GDP (2014)

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

7 deaths/1,000 live births 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

78.2 years 76.8 years 79.6 years (2017 est.)

female

79.6 years (2017 est.)

male

76.8 years

total population

78.2 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 95.7% 96.4% 94.5% (2016 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.5% (2016 est.)

male

96.4%

total population

95.7%

Major urban areas - population

KUWAIT (capital) 2.779 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

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

Median age

29.3 years 30.4 years 27.4 years (2017 est.)

female

27.4 years (2017 est.)

male

30.4 years

total

29.3 years

Nationality

Kuwaiti(s) Kuwaiti

adjective

Kuwaiti

noun

Kuwaiti(s)

Net migration rate

-2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

37.9% (2016)

Physicians density

1.95 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

2,875,422 (July 2017 est.) Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Information estimates the country's total population to be 4,183,658 for 2015, with immigrants accounting more than 69%

note

Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Information estimates the country's total population to be 4,183,658 for 2015, with immigrants accounting more than 69%

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

1.46% (2017 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 76.7%, Christian 17.3%, other and unspecified 5.9% represents the total population; about 69% of the population consists of immigrants (2013 est.)

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 urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 13 years 14 years (2013)

female

14 years (2013)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female 1.22 male(s)/female 1.72 male(s)/female 1.31 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 1.41 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.08 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.22 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.72 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.31 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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.4 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

14.6% N/A N/A (2011 est.)

female

N/A (2011 est.)

male

N/A

total

14.6%

Urbanization

98.4% of total population (2017) 2.29% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.29% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

98.4% of total population (2017)

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)

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of Kuwait no not specified

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 proposed by the amir or supported by at least one-third of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds consent by the Assembly membership and promulgation by the amir; constitutional articles on the initiation, approval, and promulgation of general legislation cannot be amended (2016)

amendments

proposed by the amir or supported by at least one-third of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds consent by the Assembly membership and promulgation by the amir; constitutional articles on the initiation, approval, and promulgation of general legislation cannot be amended (2016)

history

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Country name

State of Kuwait Kuwait Dawlat al Kuwayt Al Kuwayt the name derives from the capital city, which is from Arabic "al-Kuwayt" a diminutive of "kut" meaning "fortress encircled by water"

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

Ambassador Lawrence R. SILVERMAN (since 5 October 2016) 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] 2538-6562

chief of mission

Ambassador Lawrence R. SILVERMAN (since 5 October 2016)

embassy

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

FAX

[965] 2538-6562

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 (since 10 October 2001) 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 966-0702 [1] (202) 966-8468 Los Angeles

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

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 SABAH Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah; Deputy Prime Ministers al-KHALD al-Jarrah al-Sabah (since 4 August 2013), MUHAMMAD AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 4 August 2013, Abd al-Muhsin al-MADAJ (since January 2014) Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir amir chosen from within the ruling family, confirmed by the National Assembly; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the amir

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 (since 4 August 2013), MUHAMMAD AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 4 August 2013, Abd al-Muhsin al-MADAJ (since January 2014)

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 monarchy

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

Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with 5 judges) 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 High Court of Appeal; Court of First Instance; Summary Court

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

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) last held on 26 November 2016 (next to be held in 2020) preliminary results - opposition groups including those linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists 24 seats, other 26

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

preliminary results - opposition groups including those linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists 24 seats, other 26

elections

last held on 26 November 2016 (next to be held in 2020)

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)

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

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

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

Suffrage

21 years of age and at least 20-year citizenship; universal; note - in early 2017, legislation was introduced to lower the voting age to 18 and instate suffrage for the armed forces and police

Agriculture - products

fish

Budget

$47.46 billion $59.59 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$59.59 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$47.46 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-11% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

2.5% (31 December 2016) 1.25% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.5% (31 December 2016 est.) 4.3% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-4.997 billion (2016 est.) $3.742 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$38.34 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $35.59 billion (31 December 2015 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 production to 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2020. Petroleum accounts for over half of GDP, 92% of export revenues, and 90% of government income. In 2015, Kuwait, for the first time in 15 years, realized a budget deficit after decades of high oil prices; in 2016, the deficit grew to 16.5% of GDP. Kuwaiti authorities announced cuts to fuel subsidies in August 2016, provoking outrage among the public and National Assembly, and the Amir dissolved the government for the seventh time in ten years. Despite Kuwait’s dependence on oil, the government has cushioned itself against the impact of lower oil prices, by saving annually at least 10% of government revenue in the Fund for Future Generations. Kuwait has failed to diversify its economy or bolster the private sector, because of a poor business climate, a large public sector that employs about 76% of citizens, and an acrimonious relationship between the National Assembly and the executive branch that has stymied most economic reforms. The Kuwaiti Government has made little progress on its long-term economic development plan first passed in 2010. While the government planned to spend up to $104 billion over four years to diversify the economy, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy, many of the projects did not materialize because of an uncertain political situation or delays in awarding contracts.

Exchange rates

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.3022 (2016 est.) 0.3022 (2016 est.) 0.3009 (2014 est.) 0.2845 (2013 est.) 0.28 (2012 est.)

Exports

$46.26 billion (2016 est.) $54.11 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners

South Korea 16.8%, China 14.4%, Japan 9.6%, India 9.2%, US 7.5%, Singapore 5.6% (2016)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

47.6% 27.3% 30.2% 0% 50.1% -55.3% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

50.1%

government consumption

27.3%

household consumption

47.6%

imports of goods and services

-55.3% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

30.2%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

0.4% 59.6% 40% (2016 est.)

agriculture

0.4%

industry

59.6%

services

40% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$71,900 (2016 est.) $72,100 (2015 est.) $72,600 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2016 est.) 2.1% (2015 est.) 0.6% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$110.9 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$303.7 billion (2016 est.) $292.6 billion (2015 est.) $283.6 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

25.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 30.8% of GDP (2015 est.) 50.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$30.82 billion (2016 est.) $30.96 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners

China 14.1%, US 11.9%, UAE 8.3%, Japan 6.5%, Germany 6.2%, India 5.4%, Italy 5%, Saudi Arabia 4.4%, South Korea 4.4% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

1.2% (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.5% (2016 est.) 3.3% (2015 est.)

Labor force

2.612 million non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2016 est.)

note

non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

NA% NA% NA%

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$81.78 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $83.13 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $99.77 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

17.3% of GDP (2016 est.) 9.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$31.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $28.37 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$116.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $113.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$74.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $69.56 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$12.62 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $12.18 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$98.92 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $98.87 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$31.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $30.95 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

43.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.1% (2016 est.) 3% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

107 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.656 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

2.924 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

101.5 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

54.11 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

16 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

63.84 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

56,655 98% 98% 93% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

93% (2012)

electrification - total population

98%

electrification - urban areas

98%

population without electricity

56,655

Natural gas - consumption

33.18 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - production

16.91 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.798 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

500,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

400,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

11,900 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

920,000 bbl/day (2016 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 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.kw

Internet users

2,219,972 78.4% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

78.4% (July 2016 est.)

total

2,219,972

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 4G LTE 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) (2017)

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 4G LTE 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) (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines

403,234 14 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

403,234

Telephones - mobile cellular

5,392,806 190 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

190 (July 2016 est.)

total

5,392,806

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

total

3

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9K (2016)

Heliports

4 (2013)

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)

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

National air transport system

3,655,366 275,777,666 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

275,777,666 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

3,655,366

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

31

number of registered air carriers

3

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

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

major seaport(s)

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

Roadways

6,608 km (2010)

total

6,608 km (2010)

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

4.83% of GDP (2015) 3.65% of GDP (2014) 3.27% of GDP (2013) 3.41% of GDP (2012) 3.5% of GDP (2011)

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

93,000 (2016); 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

stateless persons

93,000 (2016); 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

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 South and Southeast Asia, Egypt, the Middle East, and increasingly Africa 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 debt bondage; Kuwait’s sponsorship law restricts workers’ movements and penalizes them for running away from abusive workplaces, making domestic workers particularly vulnerable to forced labor in private homes 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; although investigations into visa fraud rings lead to the referral of hundreds of people for prosecution, including complicit officials, the government has not prosecuted or convicted any suspected traffickers; authorities made no effort to enforce the prohibition against withholding workers’ passports, as mandated under Kuwaiti law; punishment of forced labor cases was limited to shutting down labor recruitment firms, assessing fines, and ordering the return of withheld passports and the paying of back-wages; the government made progress in victims’ protection by opening a high-capacity shelter for runaway domestic workers but still lacks formal procedures to identify and refer victims to care services (2015)

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 South and Southeast Asia, Egypt, the Middle East, and increasingly Africa 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 debt bondage; Kuwait’s sponsorship law restricts workers’ movements and penalizes them for running away from abusive workplaces, making domestic workers particularly vulnerable to forced labor in private homes

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; although investigations into visa fraud rings lead to the referral of hundreds of people for prosecution, including complicit officials, the government has not prosecuted or convicted any suspected traffickers; authorities made no effort to enforce the prohibition against withholding workers’ passports, as mandated under Kuwaiti law; punishment of forced labor cases was limited to shutting down labor recruitment firms, assessing fines, and ordering the return of withheld passports and the paying of back-wages; the government made progress in victims’ protection by opening a high-capacity shelter for runaway domestic workers but still lacks formal procedures to identify and refer victims to care services (2015)