FLAG: The flag, adopted in 1961, is a rectangle divided equally into green, white, and red horizontal stripes, with a black trapezoid whose longer base is against the staff and equal to the breadth of the flag, and whose shorter base is equal to the breadth of the white stripe.

ANTHEM: National Anthem, adopted in 1978, begins with the words, “Kuwait, My Country, May you be safe and glorious!”

MONETARY UNIT: The Kuwaiti dinar (kd) has 1,000 fils. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 fils, and notes of 250 and 500 fils and of 1, 5, 10, and 20 Kuwaiti dinars. kd1 = $3.44828 (or $1 = kd0.29) as of 2005.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard, but imperial weights and measures also are in use, and some U.S. measures are recognized.

HOLIDAYS: New Year’s Day, 1 January; Emir’s Accession Day, 25 February. Movable religious holidays include Muslim New Year (1st of Muharram); Laylat al-Miraj; Milad an-Nabi; ‘Id alFitr; and ‘Id al-’Adha’.

TIME: 3 pm = noon GMT.

1 Location and Size

Kuwait is located in the Middle East at the western head of the Persian Gulf. Its area is estimated to be about 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 square miles), slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. Of the islands that form part of Kuwait, only Faylakah is inhabited. The country shares borders with Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with a total land boundary length of 464 kilometers (288 miles) and a coastline of 499 kilometers (310 miles).

Kuwait’s capital, Kuwait City, is located on the Persian Gulf coast.

2 Topography

Kuwait consists almost entirely of flat rolling desert and mud flats. The Mina’ al-Ahmadi Ridge along the southern Persian Gulf is one of the most prominent regions of elevation. The highest named point, however, is in the southwest corner of the nation at Ash-Shaqaya Peak,

GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Geographic Features

Area: 17,820 sq km (6,880 sq mi)

Size ranking: 152 of 194 Highest elevation: 306 meters (1,004 feet) at an unnamed location

Lowest elevation: Sea level at the Persian Gulf

Land Use*

Arable land: 1%

Permanent crops: 0%

Other: 99%

Weather**

Average annual precipitation: 7.6 centimeters (3 inches)

Average temperature in January: 13.9°c (57.0°f)

Average temperature in July: 36.7°c (98.1°f)

* Arable Land: Land used for temporary crops, like meadows for mowing or pasture, gardens, and greenhouses.

Permanent crops: Land cultivated with crops that occupy its use for long periods, such as cocoa, coffee, rubber, fruit and nut orchards, and vineyards.

Other: Any land not specified, including built-on areas, roads, and barren land.

** The measurements for precipitation and average temperatures were taken at weather stations closest to the country’s largest city.

Precipitation and average temperature can vary significantly within a country, due to factors such as latitude, altitude, coastal proximity, and wind patterns.

with an altitude of 290 meters (951 feet). There also is said to be an unnamed elevation as high as 306 meters (1,004 feet). The lowest point is at sea level (Persian Gulf). There are no permanent rivers or streams.

3 Climate

Between November and April, the climate is pleasant, with cool nights and warm, sunny days. In December and January, night temperatures occasionally reach the freezing point. Summer temperatures range from 29°c (84°f) in the morning to more than 49°c (120°f) in the shade at noon. Annual rainfall, which averages 7.6 centimeters (3 inches), comes in the form of showers or storms primarily between October and April. The prevailing northwest wind (shamal) is a cooling breeze in summer.

4 Plants and Animals

Plants and animals are those common to the arid parts of Arabia. There is little vegetation except for camel thorn in the desert and some shrubs along the coastal strip. Between October and March, however, when sufficient rain falls, the desert is transformed. Grass and foliage are plentiful, flowers and plants appear in great variety, and in the spring truffles and mushrooms can be found. The fox and jackal have decreased in numbers; other mammals found in Kuwait include gerbils, jerboas, and desert hares. Reptile species include various lizards, geckos, and snakes. Fish are plentiful. Among the species of migratory birds are swallows, wagtails, chiffchaff, skylarks, wrens, eagles, cormorants, hoopoes, and terns.

5 Environment

The Persian Gulf War of 1991 and its aftermath caused severe environmental problems for Kuwait, releasing large quantities of oil into the environment and threatening the water supply. Kuwait has no renewable water resources and must rely on wells and desalination of sea water. The nation has some of the largest and most advanced desalination plants in the world, which provide much of its water.

In 2006, 1 of Kuwait’s mammal species and 12 of its bird species were threatened. The slender-billed curlew and hawksbill turtle are on the endangered list. The Saudi gazelle has become extinct in the wild.

6 Population

Kuwait had an estimated population of 2.6 million in 2005. The projected population is 4.6 million for the year 2025. Metropolitan Kuwait, the national capital, had an estimated population of nearly 1.2 million in 2005. The average population density is estimated at 138 persons per square kilometer (357 per square mile).

7 Migration

With the discovery of oil, Kuwait acquired a large immigrant population. In 1994, foreign residents accounted for an estimated 56.4% of the population. Of the estimated 400,000 Palestinians living in Kuwait before the 1991 Persian Gulf War, reportedly only about one-sixth were allowed to remain, as most were suspected of collaborating with the occupying Iraqis. By 1996, immigrant Egyptians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, and others had filled the void left behind by the previous foreign workers.

In 2000, there were 1,108,000 migrants living in Kuwait. This number represented 57.9% of the population. The number of refugees that year was 2,800. In 2005, the estimated net migration rate was 14.9 migrants per 1,000 population.

8 Ethnic Groups

Ethnic Kuwaitis are mostly descendants of the tribes of Najd (central Arabia), but some descend from Iraqi Arabs. Still others are of Iranian origin. The number of non-Kuwaitis is divided roughly in half between Arabs and non-Arabs such as Iranians, Indians, Pakistanis, and Filipinos. In 2003, 45% of the population was Kuwaiti, 35% other Arab, 9% South Asian, 4% Iranian, and 7% other.

9 Languages

Arabic is the official language. The Arabic spoken in Kuwait is closer to classical Arabic than to the colloquial Arabic spoken in many other parts of the Middle East. English is used generally by business people, employees of oil companies, foreign residents, and students, and is the second language taught in the schools.

10 Religions

Islam is the state religion. According 2004 figures, Muslims comprise about 64% of the total population, with a majority believed to be Sunni Muslim. About 30–35% of Muslim citizens are of the Shia branch. Other religious groups are also represented, primarily among foreign worker groups. These include Christians (mostly Roman Catholics and Anglicans), Hindus, Parsis, Baha’is, Sikhs, and others.

11 Transportation

Roadways extended 4,450 kilometers (2,777 miles) in 2002, including 3,590 kilometers (2,230 miles) of paved roads. In 2003, there were some 770,375 passenger cars and 200,315 commercial taxis, trucks, and buses in use. Although there are no railways, Kuwait has five ports, including a cargo port at Ash Shuaybah. In 2005, Kuwait had 39 merchant ships in service with a capacity of 2,319,082 gross registered tons. In 2005, there were seven airports, four of which had paved runways. Air transportation is highly advanced, with Kuwait Airways providing service to and from the major Middle Eastern and European cities. In 2003, the airline carried 2.2 million passengers on domestic and international flights.

12 History

By the sixth century bc, the Arab coast of the Persian Gulf was a principal supply route for trade with India. Its people converted to Islam in the seventh century ad, during the lifetime of Muhammad.

Kuwait’s recent history starts in 1716, when members of the tribe of Aniza migrated from the Arabian Desert to a tiny Gulf coastal area, later to be called Kuwait (a form of the word kut meaning “fort”). In 1756, the settled tribesmen chose as their ruler Sheikh Sabah ‘Abd ar-Rahim, founder of the present ruling dynasty. During the latter part of the century, raids by land and by sea resulted in the decline of Kuwait, but after the British crackdown on piracy in the region, trading and shipbuilding prospered.

At the end of the 19th century, Sheikh Mubarak as-Sabah, fearing the territorial ambitions of the Ottoman Turks, asked to be taken under British protection. The British, in turn, were concerned not only by Turkish claims but also by the activities of Russia and Germany in the area. In 1899, Sheikh Mubarak agreed not to open any of his territory to foreign control. In return, the British offered their services as well as an annual subsidy to support the sheikh and his heirs.

On 19 June 1961, the protective treaty with the United Kingdom was terminated by mutual consent and Kuwait declared itself fully independent. By this time, the sheikhdom had already become a major oil producer. Iraq refused to recognize Kuwait’s independence, asserting it had inherited the Ottoman claim to the territory. Baghdad’s threat of an invasion was foiled by British troops and later by the support of the Arab League. Iraq then appeared to agree to Kuwait’s sovereignty, although border issues were never definitely resolved. During the next two decades, Kuwait succeeded in establishing an open and prosperous economy, based in large part on foreign, especially Palestinian and Egyptian, labor.

During the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88), Kuwait, although technically neutral, provided important aid to Baghdad, including shipment of goods and more than $6 billion in loans. In 1987, Iranian attacks on Persian Gulf shipping led Kuwait to request U.S. protection for its supertankers.

With the end of the war, Iraq-Kuwait relations were stable until 1990 when Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq, accused his neighbor of illegally pumping oil from the shared Rumailia field. On 2 August 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, asserting that they were rightfully reclaiming their own territory. Kuwaiti defense forces offered little resistance and most senior officials fled the country.

The United States led an international coalition of Arab and other nations to demand the withdrawal of Iraqi forces. After a lengthy buildup of forces, Iraq was assaulted by massive air and land forces; after six weeks, its defenses collapsed and Kuwait was liberated in February 1991. Kuwait’s leaders returned to find a hostile population that resented their abandonment and demanded greater political participation. Enormous physical damage had been inflicted on the country, including more than 700 oil well fires that did serious ecological damage before being extinguished after almost nine months of effort.

The regime and many Kuwaitis turned harshly against those suspected of collaboration with Iraq, and much of the large Palestinian community was ejected from the country. Relations with Iraq remained tense. Kuwait’s vulnerability to a possible attack from Iraq or Iran drew the nation closer to the United States, which was willing to offer enhanced security collaboration.

In October 1994, Iraq began moving 60,000 troops to within 32 kilometers (20 miles) of the Kuwaiti border. The United Nations Security Council condemned Iraq’s actions. Kuwait then

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE

Name: Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jabir Al-Sabah

Position: Emir of a nominal constitutional monarchy

Took Office: 29 January 2006

Birthdate: 1929

Education: Completed his education under tutors

agreed to let the United States station a squadron of warplanes there. On 10 November 1994, Iraq agreed to recognize the independence and borders of Kuwait. In April 1996, an international military exercise was held in Kuwait by some of its Persian Gulf War allies. The United Nations also renewed its multinational force of border observers to oversee the demilitarized zone that separates Kuwait from Iraq.

Although some of its neighbors in the Persian Gulf began to pursue closer ties with Iraq over the following years, Kuwait maintained its vigilance against the regime of Saddam Hussein. At the end of 1998 it supported North Atlantic Treaty Organization air strikes against Iraq. In January 1999, Kuwait placed its military on full alert in response to renewed threats from Iraq.

On 8 November 2002, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1441, calling on Iraq to disarm itself immediately of weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons), and to allow for the return of UN weapons inspectors (they were expelled from the country in 1998). The United States adopted a firm position toward Iraq’s disarmament, which it believed was not taking place. On 19 March 2003, the United States launched air strikes on Baghdad and the war in Iraq began. Iraq fired a number of missiles at Kuwait and one struck a mall in Kuwait City, but this attack resulted in no deaths. The regime of Saddam Hussein was toppled on 9 April. U.S. soldiers increasingly came under attack in Iraq following the end of major hostilities.

In May 1999, the emir of Kuwait dissolved the national assembly in the wake of a longstanding political deadlock between government and opposition forces. The opposition gained ground in the national elections held that July, however, with both Islamists and liberals winning addition seats. Among the matters awaiting parliamentary consideration was a controversial decree by the emir that would have allowed women to vote and run for office by the next election, scheduled for 2003. On 23 November 1999, parliament voted against the emir’s decree to grant full political rights to women.

In July 2003, the emir appointed Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (known as Sheikh Sabah) prime minister, separating the post from the role of heir to the throne for the first time since independence. In May 2005, parliament approved constitutional amendments to give women full political rights. In June, the first female cabinet minister was appointed.

Sheikh Sabah, who had been running the country as prime minister since 2003, became emir in January 2006. Sheikh Sabah then appointed his nephew, Sheikh Nasser Muhammad Al-Ahmen Al-Sabah, to the post of prime minister.

13 Government

Kuwait is an independent, sovereign Arab state, under a constitutional monarch. Executive power is vested in the emir, who exercises it through a council of ministers. The as-Sabah family, advised by wealthy merchants and other community leaders, dominates the government (the emir must be a descendant of Mubarak as-Sabah). The national assembly (Majlis) consists of 50 elected representatives. There are five governorates, but political authority is highly centralized in the capital. A tradition of diwaniyya, or family or tribal gatherings, serves as a forum for debate in society.

14 Political Parties

Political parties are prohibited, but opposition groups are active in the nation’s political life. Muslim fundamentalists held 17 of 50 seats in the national assembly in 1996. Following the 1999 elections, the assembly was split almost evenly between pro-government, liberal, and Islamic members.

The Islamists are divided between the Ikhwan, which traces its political antecedents to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, and two Salafi groups that draw inspiration from Saudi Arabia.

15 Judicial System

A tribunal of first instance has jurisdiction over matters involving personal status, civil and commercial cases, and criminal cases, except those of a religious nature. The high court of appeals, the highest in the land, has jurisdiction over appeals involving personal status and civil cases, as well as those involving commercial and criminal cases. Ordinary criminal cases may be appealed to the high court of appeals. The superior constitutional court interprets the constitution. A military court handles offenses committed by members of the security forces. Religious courts, Sunni and Shiite, decide family law matters according to Muslim law.

Yearly Growth Rate

This economic indicator tells by what percent the economy has increased or decreased when compared with the previous year.

16 Armed Forces

Kuwait’s armed forces totaled 15,500 volunteers in 2005. The army had 11,000 personnel, the air force numbered 2,500, and the navy had 2,000 personnel. There is a 6,600-member national guard. The defense budget in 2005 was estimated at $4.3 billion.

17 Economy

The Kuwaiti standard of living was among the highest in the Middle East and in the world by the early 1980s. The government has used its oil revenues to build ports, roads, an international airport, a seawater distillation plant, and modern government and office buildings.

Kuwait’s economy suffered enormously from the effects of the Persian Gulf War and the Iraqi occupation, which ended in February 1991 with the destruction of much of Kuwait’s oil production capacity and other economic resources. The damage inflicted on the economy was estimated at $20 billion.

The gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate rose 17.22% in 1999, and then an extraordinary 26.88% in 2000. GDP growth in 2001 was 4% and inflation was down to 2%. In 2002, the GDP growth rate slumped to -2.0%, but recovered, jumping to 10% in 2003 and 7.2% in 2004.

18 Income

In 2005, the gross domestic product (GDP) was $51.6 billion, or about $22,100 per person. In 2005, the average annual growth rate of the GDP was 8%. The inflation rate in 2002 stood at 3.5%.

19 Industry

Although oil extraction continues to be the economic mainstay, Kuwait has diversified its industry to give manufacturing a larger role. Small-scale manufacturing plants produce ammonia, fertilizer, paper products, processed foods, and other consumer goods. Major refinery products are fuel oil, gas oil, naphtha, kerosene, and diesel fuel. Industrial products include desalinated water, chemical detergents, chlorine, caustic soda, urea, concrete pipes, soap, flour, cleansers, asbestos, and bricks. The construction industry is highly developed. Manufacturing all but stopped during the Iraqi invasion of 1990 due to shortages of raw material and looting of equipment. After liberation, industry was hard-hit by the departure of Palestinian skilled labor.

20 Labor

In 2005, the labor force amounted to 1.7 million, approximately 80% of whom were not Kuwaiti nationals. Many laborers from developing countries are willing to tolerate poor or unhealthy working conditions in order to earn wages significantly higher than those available in their own countries.

The minimum working age is 18, although children who are at least 16 years old may work limited hours in non-hazardous occupations. Foreign workers must be at least 18 to work in Kuwait. In 2002, the public-sector minimum wage was about $742 per month for citizens and $296 per month for non-citizens.

21 Agriculture

Only about 1% of the total land area is utilized for the cultivation of crops and farming contributes a negligible amount to the non-oil GDP. Agricultural output in 2004 included 185,620 tons of vegetables and melons and 16,900 tons of fruit.

22 Domesticated Animals

When the desert is green (from the middle of March to the end of April), about one-fourth of Kuwait’s meat supply is provided locally. The 2005 livestock population included 28,000 head of cattle, 900,000 sheep, 150,000 goats, and 32.5 million chickens. Production in 2005 was estimated at 80,535 tons of poultry meat. A small number of Bedouins raise camels, goats, and sheep for meat and milk.

Components of the Economy

This pie chart shows how much of the country’s economy is devoted to agriculture (including forestry, hunting, and fishing), industry, or services.

23 Fishing

Small boats catch enough fish to satisfy local demand. The main types of fish caught include sardines, mackerel, tuna, shark, barracuda, and mullet. Crabs, crayfish, and oysters are plentiful. The fish catch in 2003 totaled 6,095 tons.

24 Forestry

There are no natural forests in Kuwait. Imports of forest products totaled $108 million in 2004.

25 Mining

In addition to petroleum and natural gas, Kuwait produces chlorine, cement, clays, salt, and sand and gravel. Cement production rose to 1.6 million tons in 2004. Ammonia production in 2004 was 413,400 tons.

26 Foreign Trade

Since the end of the Persian Gulf War, exports have consisted exclusively of oil and gas. Imports include chemicals, construction materials, petroleum

Yearly Balance of Trade

The balance of trade is the difference between what a country sells to other countries (its exports) and what it buys (its imports). If a country imports more than it exports, it has a negative balance of trade (a trade deficit). If exports exceed imports there is a positive balance of trade (a trade surplus).

equipment, iron and steel commodities, cement, timber, foodstuffs, electrical apparatus, power tools, household equipment, and motor vehicles. Kuwait’s major trading partners are the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

27 Energy and Power

With proven reserves of about 101.5 billion barrels in 2005, Kuwait possesses about 8% of the known global resources of petroleum. During the Iraqi occupation and the Persian Gulf War, oil production totally ceased, resuming in June 1991. Losses during the invasion cost Kuwait $120 million per day.

In 2005, Kuwait’s average daily production was estimated at 2.6 million barrels, surpassing pre-invasion levels. All electric power is produced thermally from oil or natural gas. Electric power production reached 32.4 billion kilowatt-hours in 2002.

28 Social Development

Kuwait has a widespread system of social welfare that is financed by government oil revenues. It offers welfare services for the poor, provides free medical service and education to all residents, and spends heavily on waterworks, public gardens, and other public facilities. Social insurance

Selected Social Indicators

The statistics below are the most recent estimates available as of 2006. For comparison purposes, data for the United States and averages for low-income countries and high-income countries are also given. About 15% of the world’s 6.5 billion people live in high-income countries, while 37% live in low-income countries.

Indicator	Kuwait	Low-income countries	High-income countries	United States
sources: World Bank. World Development Indicators. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2006; Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 2006; World Resources Institute, Washington, D.C.
Per capita gross national income (GNI)*	$21,610	$2,258	$31,009	$39,820
Population growth rate	1.0%	2%	0.8%	1.2%
People per square kilometer of land	138	80	30	32
Life expectancy in years: male	75	58	76	75
female	79	60	82	80
Number of physicians per 1,000 people	1.5	0.4	3.7	2.3
Number of pupils per teacher (primary school)	13	43	16	15
Literacy rate (15 years and older)	93.3%	65%	>95%	99%
Television sets per 1,000 people	418	84	735	938
Internet users per 1,000 people	235	28	538	630
Energy consumed per capita (kg of oil equivalent)	9,566	501	5,410	7,843
CO² emissions per capita (metric tons)	25.33	0.85	12.97	19.92
* The GNI is the total of all goods and services produced by the residents of a country in a year. The per capita GNI is calculated by dividing a country’s GNI by its population and adjusting for relative purchasing power.
n.a.: data not available >: greater than <: less than

legislation provides for old-age, disability, and survivor pensions.

Women are denied equal rights and legal protection, and their testimony in a court of law is not considered to be equal to that of men. Female political parties are banned, and women are not allowed to vote or seek political office. Some women occupy professional positions, however, and 33% of women of working age are employed.

Abusive treatment of foreign domestic servants also is an ongoing social problem. Bedouins are not entitled to citizenship and are unable to legally work. In 2004, they were able to enroll their children in school, and health care became available in 2005.

29 Health

Kuwait has a highly advanced public health service that is extended to all Kuwaiti residents, regardless of citizenship. The entire population has access to health care services. As of 2004, there were an estimated 150 physicians, 391 nurses, and 29 dentists per 100,000 people. Influenza is common and measles has resulted in a high death rate among children up to age five. Malaria is also common. Life expectancy in 2005 was 77 years and infant mortality was 9.9 per 1,000 live births. In 2001 the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence was 0.12 cases per 100 adults.

30 Housing

According to the 1995 census, there were 255,477 households in Kuwait. About 50% of all housing units were apartments, 19% were detached homes, and 15% were traditional dwellings (mostly small cottages and mud huts). In 2000– 01 there were 8,875 government housing projects and 3,118 new dwellings constructed.

31 Education

Kuwait offers its citizens free education, including free food, clothing, books, stationery, and transportation, from kindergarten through the fourth year of college. Most foreigners are not eligible for free education and must register their children at a private school. In 2003, the student-to-teacher ratio averaged 13 to 1 in the primary schools. About 83% of primary-school-aged children enrolled in school in 2003. About 80% of age-eligible students attended secondary school in 2003.

Kuwait University was opened in 1966 with 866 students. By 1995, it had a student enrollment of 12,712 and a graduating class of 1,880. The government has adopted a program to wipe out illiteracy by opening adult education centers. As of 2006, the adult literacy rate was estimated at 93.3%.

32 Media

In 2003, there were an estimated 198 mainline telephones and 578 mobile phones for every 1,000 people. In 1998, there were 6 AM and 11 FM radio stations and 13 television stations. In 2003, there were 570 radios for every 1,000 people. In 2003, there were 418 televisions for every 1,000 people. In 2001, there were 165,000 Internet subscribers served by three service providers.

As of 2002, Kuwait had eight daily newspapers. Major Arabic dailies (with estimated 2002 circulation), include Al-Anbaa (The News, 106,830), Al-Rai al-’Amm (Public Opinion, 86,900), and Al Jameheer (83,000). English-language dailies include the Arab Times (41,920) and Kuwait Times (28,000).

33 Tourism and Recreation

By the second anniversary of the Iraqi invasion (which took place in 1990), the government was well on its way to restoring the country’s extensive pre-war accommodations, although hotel prices rose steeply after the war. In 2001, there were 1,988 hotel rooms with a total of 2,857 beds. That year there were 2.1 million foreign visitors to Kuwait and tourism receipts reached $328 million.

34 Famous Kuwaitis

Emir Sir ‘Abdallah as-Salim as-Sabah (1870–1965) was revered as a man of simplicity, devotion, and deep concern for his people. His successors as emir have been Sabah as-Salim as-Sabah (1913–77), who ruled from 1965 to 1977; and Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir as-Sabah (1926–2006), who was succeeded by Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jabir Al-Sabah (1929– ) in 2006.