2020 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. Iraq attacked and overran Kuwait in 1990. After several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault in 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 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 with the resignation of the prime minister amid allegations of corruption. Demonstrations renewed in 2012 in response to a 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 2016 election, winning nearly half the seats, but the opposition became increasingly factionalized. Between 2006 and his death in 2020, the Amir dissolved the National Assembly on seven occasions and shuffled the cabinet over a dozen times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government.  The current Amir, who assumed his role in 2020, launched a "National Dialogue" in 2021 meant to resolve political gridlock. As part of this initiative, the Amir pardoned several opposition figures who had been living in exile, and they returned to Kuwait. Legislative challenges remain, and the cabinet has been reshuffled six times since 2020. 

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

Geographic coordinates

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Irrigated land

100 sq km (2015)

Land boundaries

border countries

Iraq 254 km; Saudi Arabia 221 km

total

475 km

Land use

agricultural land

8.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)

forest

0.4% (2023 est.)

other

91.2% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage

(Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

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

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

23% (male 376,415/female 346,190)

15-64 years

73.4% (male 1,386,349/female 917,465)

65 years and over

3.6% (2024 est.) (male 47,778/female 64,158)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

17.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.8% (2023 est.)

Death rate

2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.1 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

19.7 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

36 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

30.9 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

13.8% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.07 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

9.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.1 years

male

78.1 years

total population

79.6 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

95.3% (2020 est.)

male

97.1% (2020 est.)

total population

96.5% (2020 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.298 million KUWAIT (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

28.9 years

male

31.1 years

total

30.4 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Kuwaiti

noun

Kuwaiti(s)

Net migration rate

-4.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

37.9% (2016)

Physician density

2.27 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

1,345,237

male

1,827,274

total

3,172,511 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

1.07% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2015 est.)

male

13 years (2015 est.)

total

15 years (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.09 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.51 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.36 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.9% (2025 est.)

male

34.9% (2025 est.)

total

22.4% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

the name comes from the Arabic al-kuwayt, a diminutive of the Hindustani term kut, meaning a fortress-like house

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

amendment process

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

history

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962; suspended 1976 to 1981 (4 articles); 1986 to 1991; May to July 1999

Country name

conventional long form

State of Kuwait

conventional short form

Kuwait

etymology

the name derives from the capital city, which comes from the Arabic al-kuwayt, itself a diminutive of the Hindustani term kut, meaning a fortress-like house

local long form

Dawlat al Kuwayt

local short form

Al Kuwayt

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Steven R. BUTLER (since July 2025)

email address and website

KuwaitACS@state.gov https://kw.usembassy.gov/

embassy

P.O. Box 77, Safat 13001

FAX

[00] (965) 2538-0282

mailing address

6200 Kuwait Place, Washington DC 20521-6200

telephone

[00] (965) 2259-1001

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador AL-ZAIN Sabah Naser Saud Al-Sabah (since 19 April 2023)

consulate(s) general

Beverly Hills (CA), New York

email address and website

info@kuwaitembassy.us https://www.kuwaitembassy.us/

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 MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 16 December 2023)

election/appointment process

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

head of government

Prime Minister AHMAD ABDULLAH Al-Ahmad al Sabah (since 15 May 2024)

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a black trapezoid based on the left side meaning: green stands for fertile fields, white for purity, red for blood on Kuwaiti swords, and black for defeating the enemy history: colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), 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 on 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 system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law

Legislative branch

expected date of next election

April 2028

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions

lyrics/music

Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA

title

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

National color(s)

green, white, red, black

National holiday

National Day, 25 February (1950)

National symbol(s)

golden falcon

Political parties

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

Agricultural products

dates, eggs, milk, tomatoes, chicken, lamb/mutton, cucumbers/gherkins, vegetables, maize, eggplants (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

19.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$59.584 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$44.254 billion (2015 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

$63.078 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$51.396 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$46.703 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy; renewable energy proponent; regional finance and investment leader; maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund; emerging space and tourism industries; mid-way through 25-year development program

Exchange rates

Currency

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.306 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.302 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.306 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.307 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.307 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$110.923 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$95.476 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$89.71 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, hydrocarbons, plastics (2023)

Exports - partners

China 25%, India 13%, Japan 13%, Taiwan 7%, UK 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

60.4% (2022 est.)

government consumption

20.7% (2022 est.)

household consumption

32.6% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-30.5% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

16.1% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories

0.8% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.5% (2024 est.)

industry

57.1% (2024 est.)

services

55.9% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$160.227 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$55.909 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$63.43 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$61.521 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, natural gas, garments, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine (2023)

Imports - partners

China 18%, UAE 10%, USA 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-5.2% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

4% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Labor force

3.003 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

9.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$235.815 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$231.884 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$225.947 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

6.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-1.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

-2.6% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$51,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$47,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$45,400 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$52.462 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$52.619 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$50.728 billion (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

2.2% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

28.9% (2024 est.)

male

9.3% (2024 est.)

total

15.4% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

60,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

11 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

152,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

78.047 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

20.294 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

7.516 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

97.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

389.848 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

26.296 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

8.433 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

19.207 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

1.784 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

101.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

430,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

2.91 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2023 est.)

total

49,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters; 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 in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet country code

.kw

Internet users

percent of population

100% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

573,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

168 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

8.11 million (2023 est.)

Airports

6 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9K

Heliports

20 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 15, oil tanker 28, other 133

total

176 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Al Kuwayt, Doha Harbor, Mina Abd Allah, Mina Al Ahmadi, Mina Ash Shuaybah, Mina Az Zawr

large

0

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

4

small

1

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

3

Military - note

the Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF) are responsible for defending Kuwait's sovereignty and territory; Kuwait’s security concerns include regional threats from state and non-state actors, maritime security, and terrorism; the KAF participates in bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as a limited number of multinational security operations such as maritime patrols in the Persian Gulf; it also provided a few fighter aircraft to the Saudi-led coalition intervention in Yemen in 2015; the KAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region Kuwait's key security partner since the 1991 Gulf War has been the US; the US maintains thousands of military personnel as well as logistics and training facilities in Kuwait as part of mutual cooperation agreements signed in 1991 and 2013; the KAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and would look to US assistance in the event of an external attack; Kuwait has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)

Military and security forces

Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwait Army (aka Kuwait Land Forces, KLF), Kuwait Navy (aka Kuwait Naval Force), Kuwait Air Force; Kuwait National Guard (KNG) Ministry of Interior: Kuwait Police, State Security, Kuwait Coast Guard (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 17,000 active Kuwait Armed Forces; approximately 7,000 National Guard (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory consists of armaments from Western Europe, Russia, and particularly the US (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

6.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

4.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month compulsory service for men aged 18-35; mandatory service is divided into two phases – 4 months for training and 8 months for military service (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

1,271 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

92,000 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

149,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

51.587 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

48.723 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

100.459 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

limited natural freshwater resources; air and water pollution; desertification; loss of biodiversity

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Marine Dumping-London Convention

Methane emissions

agriculture

7.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

819.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

256.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

54.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

778.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

23.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

448.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1.75 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

15.4% (2022 est.)