Kuwait

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet country code

.kw

Internet users

100,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.175 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: the quality of service is excellent domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, open wire, and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones international: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat

Telephones - main lines in use

412,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

210,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Televisions

875,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

practically no crops; fish

Budget

revenues: $11.5 billion expenditures: $17.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02)

Currency

Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)

Currency code

KWD

Debt - external

$6.9 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$27.6 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Kuwait is a small, relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Higher oil prices put the FY99/00 budget into a $2 billion surplus. The FY00/01 budget covers only nine months because of a change in the fiscal year. The budget for FY01/02, which begins 1 April, contains higher expenditures for salaries, construction, and other general categories. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.

Electricity - consumption

29.357 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

31.567 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.3057 (January 2001), 0.3067 (2000), 0.3044 (1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996)

Exports

$23.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners

Japan 23%, US 12%, Singapore 8%, Netherlands 7% (1999)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $29.3 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0% industry: 55% services: 45% (1996)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$7.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners

US 15%, Japan 10%, UK 7%, Germany 7% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (1997 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2000)

Labor force

1.3 million (1998 est.) note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

1.8% (official 1996 est.)

Area

total: 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 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

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping

Geographic coordinates

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Irrigated land

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 464 km border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 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; they bring inordinate amounts of 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

Administrative divisions

5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli

Capital

Kuwait

Constitution

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Country name

conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James A. LAROCCO embassy: Bayan, near the Bayan palace, Kuwait City mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait Unit 69000, APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: [965] 539-5307

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702

Executive branch

chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977) head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamud Al Sabah (since NA) and MUHAMMAD KHALID al-Hamed Al Sabah (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch

FAX

[1] (202) 966-0517

FAX

[965] 538-0282

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side

Government type

nominal constitutional monarchy

Independence

19 June 1961 (from UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

High Court of Appeal

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 3 July 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly

National holiday

National Day, 25 February (1950)

Political parties and leaders

none; formation of political parties is illegal

Political pressure groups and leaders

several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists

Suffrage

adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21 note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time

Background

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 completely liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait has spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.9 billion (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

8.7% (FY00/01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 780,559 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 466,521 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 18,309 (2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.76% (male 299,080; female 288,125) 15-64 years: 68.82% (male 897,839; female 507,527) 65 years and over: 2.42% (male 31,843; female 17,547) (2001 est.)

Birth rate

21.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

2.45 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.12% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.27 years male: 75.42 years female: 77.15 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.6% male: 82.2% female: 74.9% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti

Net migration rate

14.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

2,041,961 note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

3.38% (2001 est.) note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates

Religions

Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.51 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.2 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international

in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands

Airports

8 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Heliports

3 (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 4,450 km paved: 3,590 km unpaved: 860 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,461,072 GRT/3,966,645 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 6, container 6, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 20 (2000 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km

Ports and harbors

Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none