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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 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]

2,771 (2012) country comparison to the world: 156

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) (2011)

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

510,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 96

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

5.526 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 105

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $114.1 billion expenditures: $61.81 billion (2013 est.)

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

29.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Central bank discount rate [time series]

1.25% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

4.9% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 5% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$69.13 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $80.33 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$34.41 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $35.29 billion (2012 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - more than 6% 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. Budget surpluses have stayed around 30% of GDP, which has led to higher budget expenditures, particularly wage hikes for many public sector employees, as well as increased allotments to Kuwait’s Future Generations Fund. 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 historically acrimonious relationship between the National Assembly and the executive branch, which has stymied most movement on economic reforms. In 2010, Kuwait passed an economic development plan that pledges to spend up to $130 billion over five years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy, though much of these funds have yet to be allocated.

Exchange rates [time series]

Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2838 (2013 est.) 0.2799 (2012 est.) 0.2866 (2010 est.) 0.2877 (2009) 0.2679 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$112 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $121 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners [time series]

South Korea 16.1%, India 15.7%, Japan 13.4%, US 11.7%, China 9.2%, Singapore 4.2% (2013 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$179.5 billion (2013 est.)

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

$165.8 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $159.6 billion (2012 est.) $144.8 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 23.9% government consumption: 16.4% investment in fixed capital: 16.2% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 68.5% imports of goods and services: -25.1% (2013 est.)

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

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 50.6% services: 49.1% (2013 est.)

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

$42,100 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $41,800 (2012 est.) $39,200 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

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

2.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 8.3% (2012 est.) 10.2% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

54.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 58.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 58.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$24.42 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $22.79 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners [time series]

US 11.8%, China 9.2%, Saudi Arabia 8.6%, Japan 8.2%, South Korea 6.9%, German 5.1%, India 4.6%, UAE 4.4% (2013 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 2.9% (2012 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.38 million country comparison to the world: 114 note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$97.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $100.9 billion (31 December 2011) $NA (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

6.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 6.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$34.35 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $29 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$110.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $105.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$60.76 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 $52.59 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

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

$5.677 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $5.212 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$90.63 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $89.13 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$31.68 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $27.55 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

63.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 3

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.4% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 2.9% (2010)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

82.37 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

1.395 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Crude oil - production [time series]

2.797 million bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

104 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Electricity - consumption [time series]

46.71 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

13.5 million kW (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - production [time series]

55.55 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

14.22 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas - imports [time series]

688 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - production [time series]

13.53 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

1.798 trillion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

339,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

656,100 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

915,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

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: 0.91 cu km/yr (47%/2%/51%) per capita: 441.2 cu m/yr (2005)

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]

86 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.62% permanent crops: 0.28% other: 99.1% (2011)

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 (2011)

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 (2013)

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 (since 9 September 2011) 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 (since 10 October 2001) 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 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah; Deputy Prime Ministers KHALD al-Jarrah al-Sabah, MUHAMMAD AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah, Abdulmohsen MUDEJ cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir; new cabinet formed in January 2014 (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: none; the amir is chosen from within the ruling family and confirmed by parliamentary vote; 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, CD, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Constitutional Court (five judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with five judges) judge selection and term of office: all Kuwaiti judges appointed by the Amir upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, a consultative body comprised of Kuwaiti judges and Ministry of Justice officials subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; Court of First Instance; Summary Court

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 (65 seats; 50 members elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms and 16 cabinet ministers serve as ex officio members on most issues, two of whom are also elected MPs, appointed by the prime minister) elections: last held 27 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2017) election results: voter turnout 52%; seats won - pro-government 30, liberals 9, Shiites 8, Sunni 3

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

name: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem)

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; while the formation of political parties is not permitted, they are 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 - members of the military or police by law cannot vote; 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 2009 of four women to its National Assembly. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs, known as bidun, 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 - rallied repeatedly in 2011 for the prime minister's dismissal amid allegations of widespread government corruption. Demonstrators forced the prime minister to resign in late 2011. In late 2012, Kuwait witnessed unprecedented protests in response to the Amir's changes to the electoral law by decree reducing the number of votes per person from four to one. The opposition, led by a coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribalists, some liberals, and myriad youth groups, largely boycotted legislative elections in 2012 and 2013 ushering in legislatures more amenable to the government's agenda. Since 2006, the Amir has dissolved the National Assembly on five occasions (the Constitutional Court annulled the Assembly in June 2012 and again in June 2013) and shuffled the cabinet over a dozen times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government.

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; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2013)

Military expenditures [time series]

0% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 132 3.35% of GDP (2011) 0% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 25.4% (male 363,001/female 334,851) 15-24 years: 15.3% (male 230,628/female 188,892) 25-54 years: 52.3% (male 910,832/female 524,690) 55-64 years: 4.7% (male 73,816/female 54,678) 65 years and over: 2.1% (male 29,312/female 32,011) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.26 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

2.2% (2012) country comparison to the world: 120

Death rate [time series]

2.16 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 223

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 37.1 % youth dependency ratio: 33.8 % elderly dependency ratio: 3.3 % potential support ratio: 30.4 (2014 est.)

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 (2012 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 116

Ethnic groups [time series]

Kuwaiti 31.3%, other Arab 27.9%, Asian 37.8%, African 1.9%, other 1.1% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

2.7% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 182

Hospital bed density [time series]

2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.51 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 159 male: 7.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.64 years country comparison to the world: 64 male: 76.37 years female: 78.96 years (2014 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.9% male: 95% female: 91.8% (2008 est.)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

KUWAIT (capital) 2.406 million (2011)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

14 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 145

Median age [time series]

total: 28.9 years male: 30.1 years female: 26.8 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

42% (2008) country comparison to the world: 10

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.79 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population [time series]

2,742,711 country comparison to the world: 141 note: Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Information estimates the country's total population to be 3,996,899 for 2014, with immigrants accounting for almost 69% (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.7% country comparison to the world: 73 note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2014 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim (official) 76.7%, Christian 17.3%, other and unspecified 5.9% note: represents the total population; about 69% of the population consists of immigrants (2013 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population 0% of population 0% of population 0% of population (2012 est.)

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

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2004)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.22 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.74 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.42 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.43 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.53 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 11.3% country comparison to the world: 103 male: 11.8% female: 10% (2005)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 98.3% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 2.42% 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

stateless persons: 93,000 (2012); note - Kuwait's 1959 Nationality Law defined citizens as persons who settled in the country before 1920 and who had maintained normal residence since then; one-third of the population, descendants of Bedouin tribes, missed the window of opportunity to register for nationality rights after Kuwait became independent in 1961 and were classified as bidun (meaning without); since the 1980s Kuwait's bidun have progressively lost their rights, including opportunities for employment and education, amid official claims that they are nationals of other countries who have destroyed their identification documents in hopes of gaining Kuwaiti citizenship; Kuwaiti authorities have delayed processing citizenship applications and labeled biduns as "illegal residents," denying them access to civil documentation, such as birth and marriage certificates; 2011 bidun demonstrations for the recognition of their Kuwaiti nationality led to several arrests

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men and women 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 enacted comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation in 2013 but did not report any arrests, prosecutions, convictions, or sentences of traffickers for either forced labor or sex trafficking in the last year; 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 (2013)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

7 (2013) country comparison to the world: 168

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Heliports [time series]

4 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 34 country comparison to the world: 82 by type: bulk carrier 2, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 19 registered in other countries: 45 (Bahamas 1, Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 2, Panama 12, Qatar 6, Saudi Arabia 4, UAE 10) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 261 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

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

Roadways [time series]

total: 6,608 km (2010) country comparison to the world: 148