Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios [time series]

1.175 million (1997)

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; approximately 15,000 Internet subscribers in 1996 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

411,600 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

150,000 (1996)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

875,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

practically no crops; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $10 billion expenditures: $13 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils

Debt - external [time series]

$9.27 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$27.6 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 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. Higher oil prices reduced the budget deficit from $5.5 billion to $3 billion in 1999, and prices are expected to remain relatively strong throughout 2000. The government is proceeding slowly with reforms. It inaugurated Kuwait's first free-trade zone in 1999 and will continue discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

25.105 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

26.995 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.3042 (January 2000), 0.3044 (1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996), 0.2984 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$13.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 24%, India 16%, US 13%, South Korea 11%, Singapore 8% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $44.8 billion (1999 est.)

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

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

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

purchasing power parity - $22,500 (1999 est.)

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

1.1% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$8.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners [time series]

US 22%, Japan 15%, UK 13%, Germany 8%, Italy 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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 [time series]

government and social services 50%, services 40%, industry and agriculture 10% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.8% (official 1996 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Climate [time series]

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Coastline [time series]

499 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1993 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% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

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 [time series]

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Terrain [time series]

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Kuwait

Constitution [time series]

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

KU

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 or 539-5308 FAX: [965] 538-0282

Diplomatic representation in the 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 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517

Executive branch [time series]

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); Second Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-Sabah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 7 October 1996) 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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

nominal constitutional monarchy

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, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, 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 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 [time series]

National Day, 25 February (1950)

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

none

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

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

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 were eligible to vote for the first time

Background [time series]

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 dollars to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$2.518 billion (FY99/00)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

8% (FY99/00)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 749,252 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 446,518 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 17,919 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29.36% (male 295,102; female 284,327) 15-64 years: 68.32% (male 860,318; female 488,004) 65 years and over: 2.32% (male 29,544; female 16,277) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

22.04 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

2.45 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

11.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.08 years male: 75.27 years female: 76.92 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti

Net migration rate [time series]

14.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

1,973,572 note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.44% (2000 est.) note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.76 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.5 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.26 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

7 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

2 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,506,448 GRT/4,040,921 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, container 6, liquified gas 7, livestock carrier 4, petroleum tanker 21 (1999 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

0 km