2019 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 in August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault in February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. In 1992, the Amir reconstituted the parliament that he had dissolved in 1986. 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. Other demographic groups, notably Islamists and Kuwaitis from tribal backgrounds, soon joined the growing protest movements, which culminated in late 2011 with the resignation of the prime minister amidst allegations of corruption. Demonstrations renewed in late 2012 in response to an amiri decree amending the electoral law that lessened the voting power of the tribal blocs. An opposition coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribal populists, and some liberals, largely boycotted legislative elections in 2012 and 2013, which ushered in a legislature more amenable to the government's agenda. Faced with the prospect of painful subsidy cuts, oppositionists and independents actively participated in the November 2016 election, winning nearly half of the seats but a cohesive opposition alliance largely ceased to exist with the 2016 election and the opposition became increasingly factionalized. Since coming to power in 2006, the Amir has dissolved the National Assembly on seven occasions (the Constitutional Court annulled the Assembly elections 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

Highest Point

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

Lowest Point

Persian Gulf 0 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; loss of biodiversity

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

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

Border Countries

Iraq 254 km, Saudi Arabia 221 km

Total

475 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

8.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

0.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.3% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

7.6% (2011 est.)

Forest

0.4% (2011 est.)

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

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

0 14 Years

24.81% (male 376,652 /female 347,019)

15 24 Years

15.04% (male 240,638 /female 197,946)

25 54 Years

52.3% (male 961,205 /female 563,979)

55 64 Years

5.2% (male 85,146 /female 66,373)

65 Years And Over

2.66% (male 35,117 /female 42,392) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

18.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

3% (2014)

Current Health Expenditure

3.9% (2016)

Death Rate

2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

2.7 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

37.3 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

29.8 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

27.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

99% of population

Improved Total

99% of population

Improved Urban

99% of population

Unimproved Rural

1% of population

Unimproved Total

1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

1% of population

Ethnic Groups

Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other .9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<100 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

<1000 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

7 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

6.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

79.8 years

Male

76.9 years

Total Population

78.3 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

94.8% (2017)

Male

96.7%

Total Population

96%

Major Urban Areas Population

3.052 million KUWAIT (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

27.6 years

Male

30.5 years

Total

29.4 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Kuwaiti

Noun

Kuwaiti(s)

Net Migration Rate

-2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

37.9% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.58 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

2,916,467 (July 2017 est.) (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.38% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

100% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

100% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

100% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

14 years (2013)

Male

13 years

Total

14 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.09 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.22 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.7 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.28 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.83 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.4 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.35 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

30% N/A (2016 est.)

Male

9.4% N/A

Total

15.4%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.78% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

100% of total population (2019)

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

Amendments

proposed by the amir or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds consent of 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

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," possibly a reference to a small castle built on the current location of Kuwait City by the Beni Khaled tribe in the 17th century

Local Long Form

Dawlat al Kuwayt

Local Short Form

Al Kuwayt

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Lawrence R. SILVERMAN (since 5 October 2016)

Embassy

P.O. Box 77, Safat 13001

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

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

Lost Angeles

Consulate's General

New York City

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

Elections Appointments

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

Head Of Government

Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister NASIR Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 11 December 2017); Deputy Prime Ministers SABAH KHALID al-Hamid al-Sabah (since 13 December 2011), KHALID al-Jarrah al-Sabah (since 4 August 2013), Anas Khalid al-SALEH (since 4 August 2013); note - on 14 November 2019, the government of Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah resigned

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 (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, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

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 sharia law

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (65 seats; 50 members directly elected from 5 multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 15 ex-officio members (cabinet ministers) appointed by the amir; members serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

seats won - oppositionists and independents, including populists, Islamists, and liberals 26, pro-government loyalists 24; composition for elected members only - men 49, women 1, percent of women 1.5%

Elections

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

National Anthem

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; national colors: green, white, red, black

Political Parties And Leaders

none; the government does not recognize any political parties or allow their formation, although no formal law bans political parties

Suffrage

21 years of age and at least 20-year citizenship

Agriculture Products

fish

Budget

Expenditures

62.6 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

50.5 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-10% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

18 December 2017

2.75%

31 December 2016

2.5%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

4.5%

31 December 2017

4.68%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$5.056 billion

2017

$7.127 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$38.34 billion

31 December 2017

$47.24 billion

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.With world oil prices declining, Kuwait realized a budget deficit in 2015 for the first time more than a decade; 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. In 2017 the deficit was reduced to 7.2% of GDP, and the government raised $8 billion by issuing international bonds. 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 74% 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. To increase non-oil revenues, the Kuwaiti Government in August 2017 approved draft bills supporting a Gulf Cooperation Council-wide value added tax scheduled to take effect in 2018.

Exchange Rates

2013

0.2845

2014

0.3009

2015

0.3022

2016

0.3022

2017

0.3041

Currency

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$46.26 billion

2017

$55.17 billion

Exports Commodities

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports Partners

South Korea 18.3%, China 17.4%, Japan 11.5%, India 11.2%, Singapore 6.3%, US 5.7% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

49.4% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

24.5% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

43.1% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-47% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

26.5% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

3.5% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

0.4% (2017 est.)

Industry

58.7% (2017 est.)

Services

40.9% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$120.7 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$69,200

2016

$69,900

2017

$65,800

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$293.2 billion

2016

$299.7 billion

2017

$289.7 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

-1%

2016

2.2%

2017

-3.3%

Gross National Saving

2015

37.1% of GDP

2016

32.9% of GDP

2017

35.4% of GDP

Imports

2016

$26.56 billion

2017

$29.53 billion

Imports Commodities

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports Partners

China 13.5%, US 13.3%, UAE 9.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.8%, Germany 5.4%, Japan 5%, India 4.7%, Italy 4.5% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

3.5%

2017

1.5%

Labor Force

2.695 million (2017 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2014

$99.77 billion

31 December 2015

$83.13 billion

31 December 2016

$81.78 billion

Public Debt

2016

9.9% of GDP

2017

20.6% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$31.13 billion

31 December 2017

$33.7 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$31.86 billion

31 December 2017

$33.68 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$74.13 billion

31 December 2017

$82.35 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$12.62 billion

31 December 2017

$12.9 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$103.4 billion

31 December 2017

$111.2 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$31.86 billion

31 December 2017

$33.68 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

41.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

1.1%

2017

1.1%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

106.5 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

479,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

2.807 million bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

101.5 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

57.78 billion kWh (2016 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 (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

18.89 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

65.95 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

21.72 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

5.125 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

17.1 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

1.784 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

446,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

705,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

915,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

4 (2017 est.)

Total

113,427

Broadcast Media

state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged; satellite TV available and 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 (2019)

Internet Country Code

.kw

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

78.4% (July 2016 est.)

Total

2,219,972

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line subscriptions are 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular stands at 179 per 100 subscriptions (2018)

General Assessment

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 Kuwai; Internet access is available via 4G LTE connections for fixed and mobile users; high ownership of smart phone in Kuwait; one of the highest mobile penetration rates in the world (2018)

International

country code - 965; landing points for the FOG, GBICS, MENA, Kuwait-Iran, and FALCON submarine cables linking Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; 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) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

19 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

542,082

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

179 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

5,136,384

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

2 438 To 3 047 M

2 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

1 (2017)

Total

4 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

1 (2013)

Total

3 (2013)

Under 914 M

2 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

9K (2016)

Heliports

4 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 18, oil tanker 26, other 114 (2018)

Total

158

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

275,777,666 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

3,655,366 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

31 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

3 (2015)

Pipelines

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

Ports And Terminals

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

Roadways

Paved

4,887 km (2018)

Total

5,749 km (2018)

Unpaved

862 km (2018)

Military And Security Forces

Kuwaiti Armed Forces: Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy (includes Coast Guard), Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

3.59% of GDP

2015

5.01% of GDP

2016

5.81% of GDP

2017

5.64% of GDP

2018

5.06% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Kuwait reintroduced one-year mandatory service for men aged 18-35 in May 2017 after having suspended conscription in 2001; service is divided in two phases &ndash; four months for training and eight months for military service. (2018)

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

92,000 (2018); 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 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)