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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged since 2003; satellite TV is available with pan-Arab TV stations especially popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels in Arabic and English; first private radio station emerged in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.kw

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

2,485 (2010) country comparison to the world: 151

Internet users [time series]

1.1 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 96

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a mobile-cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones international: country code - 965; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

566,300 (2010) country comparison to the world: 93

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4.4 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 108

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $75.01 billion expenditures: $56.59 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

14% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Central bank discount rate [time series]

1.25% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

2.9% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 6.2% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$43.14 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $25.78 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$45.43 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $45.49 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - about 9% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 95% of government income. Kuwaiti officials have committed to increasing oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. The rise in global oil prices throughout 2010 is reviving government consumption and economic growth as Kuwait experiences a 20% increase in government budget revenue. Kuwait has done little to diversify its economy, in part, because of this positive fiscal situation, and, in part, due to the poor business climate and the acrimonious relationship between the National Assembly and the executive branch, which has stymied most movement on economic reforms. Nonetheless, the government in May 2010 passed a privatization bill that allows the government to sell assets to private investors, and in January passed an economic development plan that pledges to spend up to $130 billion in five years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy. Increasing government expenditures by so large an amount during the planned time frame may be difficult to accomplish.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

42.58 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

49.82 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Exchange rates [time series]

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2888 (2010) 0.2877 (2009) 0.2679 (2008) 0.2844 (2007) 0.29 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$66.96 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $51.69 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 15.5%, India 15.3%, South Korea 13.5%, China 10.1%, US 8.4% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$131.3 billion (2010 est.)

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

$136.5 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $133.9 billion (2009 est.) $141.2 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 48% services: 51.7% (2010 est.)

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

$48,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $49,700 (2009 est.) $54,300 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 -5.2% (2009 est.) 5% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$19.06 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $17.29 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners [time series]

US 14.2%, China 9.5%, Saudi Arabia 7.3%, Japan 7.2%, Germany 6.1%, Italy 4.7%, India 4.4% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

12.9% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Labor force [time series]

2.158 million country comparison to the world: 116 note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$119.6 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 42 $95.94 billion (31 December 2009) $107.2 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

12.38 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Natural gas - imports [time series]

890 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - production [time series]

11.49 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

1.798 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Oil - consumption [time series]

354,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Oil - exports [time series]

2.127 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Oil - production [time series]

2.45 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

104 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

9.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 11% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$21.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $20.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$91.35 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $86.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$36.73 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $34.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$2.128 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $2.048 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$99.52 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$20.05 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $16.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

57.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.2% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 17,818 sq km country comparison to the world: 158 land: 17,818 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 elevation 306 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

limited natural freshwater 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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%) per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

100 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.84% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 98.99% (2005)

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 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

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Terrain [time series]

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.02 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Kuwait City geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew H. TUELLER embassy: Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: [965] 2259-1001 FAX: [965] 2538-0282

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702 FAX: [1] (202) 364-2868 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (born 25 June 1937) head of government: Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 4 December 2011); Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD AL-SABAH al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006), Muhammad Muhsin al-AFASI, SABAH AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir; note - the cabinet of Prime Minister NASIR AL-MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad al-Sabah resigned on 28 November 2011, but will continue in a caretaker role (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime minister and deputy prime ministers

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green represents fertile fields, white stands for purity, red denotes blood on Kuwaiti swords, black signifies the defeat of the enemy

Government type [time series]

constitutional emirate

Independence [time series]

19 June 1961 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic religious law

Legislative branch [time series]

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) elections: last held on 16 May 2009 (next election to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc - tribal MPs 25 (all Sunni Muslims, and represented primarily by the Al-Mutairi, Al-Azmi, Al-Ajmi, and Al-Rasheedi tribes), Shia Muslims 9, liberals 7, independents 6, Salafi (Sunni) Islamists 3

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA note: adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 25 February (1950)

National symbol(s) [time series]

golden falcon

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

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

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

other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups

Suffrage [time series]

21 years of age; universal; 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

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs, known as bidoon, staged small protests in February and March 2011 demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Youth activist groups - supported by opposition legislators and the prime minister's rivals within the ruling family - rallied in March 2011 for an end to corruption and the ouster of the prime minister and his cabinet. Similar protests continued sporadically throughout April and May. In late September 2011 government inquiries of widespread corruption drew more public anger and renewed calls for the prime minister's removal.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,002,480 females age 16-49: 616,958 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 840,912 females age 16-49: 523,206 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 17,653 female: 16,232 (2010 est.)

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

Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2011)

Military expenditures [time series]

5.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 15

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 25.8% (male 348,816/female 321,565) 15-64 years: 72.2% (male 1,153,433/female 720,392) 65 years and over: 2% (male 25,443/female 25,979) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

21.32 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Death rate [time series]

2.11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 222

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 99% of population total: 99% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 1% of population total: 1% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 111

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA (2007 est.)

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 87

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 8.07 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 160 male: 7.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.09 years country comparison to the world: 66 male: 75.95 years female: 78.3 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.3% male: 94.4% female: 91% (2005 census)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

KUWAIT (capital) 2.23 million (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 28.5 years male: 29.8 years female: 26.3 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti

Net migration rate [time series]

0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

28.8% (2000) country comparison to the world: 9

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.793 physicians/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 74

Population [time series]

2,595,628 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals

Population growth rate [time series]

1.986% country comparison to the world: 54 note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2011 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.79 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.65 male(s)/female total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.64 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 98% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men and women who are subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser degree, forced prostitution; men and women migrate from India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Syria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran, Jordan, Ethiopia, and Iraq to work in Kuwait, most of them in the domestic service, construction, and sanitation sectors; although most of these migrants enter Kuwait voluntarily, upon arrival some are subjected to conditions of forced labor by their sponsors and labor agents, including nonpayment of wages, long working hours without rest, deprivation of food, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and restrictions on movement, such as the withholding of passports or confinement to the workplace tier rating: Tier 3 - Kuwait does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making sufficient efforts to do so; the government did not enact its draft comprehensive anti-trafficking law; Kuwait's victim-protection measures remain weak, particularly due to its lack of proactive victim-identification procedures and continued reliance on the sponsorship system, which causes victims of trafficking to be punished for immigration violations rather than protected (2011)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

7 (2010) country comparison to the world: 169

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

4 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 30 country comparison to the world: 84 by type: bulk carrier 1, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 16 registered in other countries: 47 (Bahamas 2, Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1, Malta 2, Panama 12, Qatar 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saudi Arabia 4, UAE 10) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

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

Roadways [time series]

total: 5,749 km country comparison to the world: 150 paved: 4,887 km unpaved: 862 km (2004)