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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces, Coast Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 12.8% of GDP (FY95/96)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 658,270 males fit for military service: 391,586 males reach military age (18) annually: 17,544 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

720,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

the civil network suffered some damage as a result of the Gulf war, but most of the telephone exchanges were left intact and, by the end of 1994, domestic and international telecommunications had been restored to normal operation; 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; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Arabsat

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

548,000 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (1986 est.)

Televisions [time series]

800,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

practically no crops; extensive fishing in territorial waters

Budget [time series]

revenues: $9.7 billion expenditures: $14.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview [time series]

Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Kuwait has rebuilt its war-ravaged petroleum sector; its crude oil production averaged 2.0 million barrels per day in 1994. The government continues to record large fiscal deficits. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 70% of government income. Kuwait lacks water and has practically no arable land, thus preventing development of agriculture. With the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Because of its high per capita income, comparable with Western European incomes, Kuwait provides its citizens with extensive health, educational, and retirement benefits. Per capita military expenditures are among the highest in the world. The economy improved moderately in 1994-95, with the growth in industry and finance. The World Bank has urged Kuwait to push ahead with privatization, including in the oil industry, but the government will move slowly on this front.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 7,070,000 kW production: 11 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,007 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.2993 (January 1996), 0.2984 (1995), 0.2976 (1994), 0.3017 (1993), 0.2934 (1992), 0.2843 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$11.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: oil partners: US 23%, Japan 13%, Germany 10%, UK 9%, France 8%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $30.8 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 0% industry: 55% services: 45%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$17,000 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

3% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$6.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing partners: US 14%, Japan 12%, Germany 8%, UK 7%, France 6% (1994 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (1995 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials, salt, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5% (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1 million (1994 est.) by occupation: industry and agriculture 25.0%, services 25.0%, government and social services 50.0% note: 80% of labor force non-Kuwaiti (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NEGL% (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 17,820 sq km land area: 17,820 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate [time series]

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Coastline [time series]

499 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

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; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands disputed by Saudi Arabia

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 0% other: 92%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Terrain [time series]

flat to slightly undulating desert plain lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli, Al Farwaniyah

Capital [time series]

Kuwait

Constitution [time series]

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977) is a hereditary monarch of the MUBARAK line of the ruling Sabah family 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), and Second Deputy Prime Minister Nasir Abdallah al-RUDAN (since NA) were appointed by the Amir cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 966-0517

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[965] 2442855

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

19 June 1961 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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 (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

Legislative branch (National Assembly (Majlis al-umma)) [time series]

elected members serve four-year terms; elections last held 5 October 1992 (next to be held NA September 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (50 total) independents 50; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 25 February (1950)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none

Suffrage [time series]

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 will be eligible to vote

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

nominal constitutional monarchy

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER embassy: Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel), Kuwait City mailing address: P.O. Box 77, SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; Unit 6900, APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: [965] 2424151 through 2424159

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 334,778; female 317,241) 15-64 years: 65% (male 757,535; female 507,064) 65 years and over: 2% (male 18,459; female 14,970) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.28 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

2.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.92 years male: 73.59 years female: 78.38 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti

Net migration rate [time series]

48.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

1,950,047 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

6.65% (1996 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of nationals and expatriates

Religions [time series]

Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.49 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female all ages: 1.32 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.82 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 4 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 4,273 km paved: NA km (including 280 km of expressways) (1989 est.) unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,053,667 GRT/3,242,305 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 7, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 21, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

0 km