CIA - The World Factbook

Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since returning to power in 1991 and reestablished an elected legislature that in recent years has become increasingly assertive. The country witnessed the historic election in May 2009 of four women to its National Assembly.

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

slightly smaller than New Jersey

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

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

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

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

21.81 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)

2.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

16.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)

2.76 children born/woman (2009 est.)

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

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

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

constitutional emirate

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

19 June 1961 (from the UK)

National Day, 25 February (1950)

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

21 years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the military or police are not allowed to vote; adult females were allowed to vote as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; all cabinet ministers are also ex officio voting members of the National Assembly)

High Court of Appeal

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

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 104 billion barrels - 8% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait experienced rapid economic growth over the last several years on the back of high oil prices and in 2008 posted its tenth consecutive budget surplus. As a result of this positive fiscal situation, the need for economic reforms was less urgent and the government did not push through new initiatives. The drop in oil prices in late 2008 will reduce Kuwait's fiscal surplus in 2009. The global financial crisis may slow the pace of investment and development projects, but Kuwait has vowed to use its considerable financial resources to stabilize the economy if necessary.

$149.1 billion (2008 est.)

$137.4 billion (2007)

$131.2 billion (2006)

$159.7 billion (2008 est.)

18.4% of GDP (2008 est.)

7.2% of GDP (2008 est.)

NA% (31 December 2008)

6.25% (31 December 2007)

NA% (31 December 2008)

8.54% (31 December 2007)

$15.31 billion (31 December 2008)

$15.12 billion (31 December 2007)

$63.08 billion (31 December 2008)

$55.2 billion (31 December 2007)

$83.93 billion (31 December 2008)

$78.25 billion (31 December 2007)

$188 billion (31 December 2007)

practically no crops; fish

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

44.75 billion kWh (2006 est.)

39.54 billion kWh (2006 est.)

2.613 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

334,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

2.356 million bbl/day (2005)

8,022 bbl/day (2005)

104 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

12.5 billion cu m (2006 est.)

1.586 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

$65.21 billion (2008 est.)

$95.46 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Japan 19.9%, South Korea 17%, Taiwan 11.2%, Singapore 9.9%, US 8.4%, Netherlands 4.8%, China 4.4% (2007)

$26.54 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

US 12.7%, Japan 8.5%, Germany 7.3%, China 6.8%, South Korea 6.6%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, Italy 5.8%, UK 4.6% (2007)

$10.64 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$38.82 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$1.22 billion (2008 est.)

$28.29 billion (2008 est.)

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2679 (2008 est.), 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004)

2.774 million (2007)

AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2008)

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

Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2008)

18-30 years of age for compulsory and 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women age 18-30 may be subject to compulsory military service; conscription suspended in 2001 (2009)

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