|
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 completely liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.
[Top of Page]
The Kuwait Water Towers were opened in 1979 and are one of the most impressive
landmarks of Kuwait. Kuwait Water Towers are located off the Arabian Gulf
Road in Kuwait City. (Click Here For More Photos)
An aerial view of the Kuwait Water Towers.
(More aerial Views of Kuwait:)
The famous and fabulous Green Island.
|
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Geographic co-ordinates:
29 30 N, 45 45 E
Area:
total:
17,820 sq km
land:
17,820 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area—comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total:
464 km
border countries:
Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:
499 km
Climate:
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters.
Notes on Kuwait's weather and topography.
Terrain:
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
8%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1993 est.)
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
Environment—current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most
sophisticated de-salination facilities provide much of the water; air and
water pollution; desertification
Environment—international agreements:
party to:
Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection.
signed, but not ratified (2002): Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
|
[Top of Page]
|
Population:
2,111,561
note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.3% (male 304,200; female 292,900)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 934,115; female 527,331)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 34,106; female 18,909) (2002 est.)
Net migration rate:
13.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Kuwaiti(s)
adjective:
Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups:
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:
Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Kuwaiti Culture:
An Introduction to Kuwaiti culture and a few tips as well.
Kuwait Guide:
A guide to living in Kuwait.
|
[Top of Page]
A night view of Kuwait's Parliament House.
|
Country name:
conventional long form:
State of Kuwait
conventional short form:
Kuwait
local long form:
Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form:
Al Kuwayt
Data code:
KU
Government type:
nominal constitutional monarchy
The flag:
has three equal horizontal bands of green, white, and red with a black
trapezoid based on the hoist side.
Capital:
Kuwait
Administrative divisions:
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah,
Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence:
19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution:
approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system:
civil law system with Islamic law.
Executive branch:
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
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Judicial branch:
High Court of Appeal
International organization participation:
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,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
|
[Top of Page]
Pearl Fishing in the local waters.
Safat Square.
An off-shore oil rig in the Gulf.
A night view of the Stock Exchange Building.
|
Economy—overview:
Kuwait is a small and 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. 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. The economy improved moderately in 1994-97, but in
1998 suffered from the large decline in world oil prices.
Labor force:
1.1 million (1996 est.)
note:
68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998
est.)
Labor force—by occupation:
government and social services 50%, services 40%, industry and agriculture
10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
1.8% (official 1996 est.)
Exports—commodities:
oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports—partners:
Japan 24%, India 16%, US 13%, South Korea 11%, Singapore 8% (1997)
Imports:
$7.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports—commodities:
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports—partners:
US 22%, Japan 15%, UK 13%, Germany 8%, Italy 6% (1997)
Currency:
1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1000 fils
Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1—0.3018 (January 1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033
(1997), 0.2994 (1996), 0.2984 (1995), 0.2976 (1994)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
|
[Top of Page]
|
Telephones:
408,000 (1998)
Telephone system:
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
(with approximately 150,000 subscribers in 1996) 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; satellite earth
stations—3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat
(Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios:
720,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (in addition, there are several satellite channels) (1997)
Televisions:
800,000 (1993 est.)
|
[Top of Page]
|
Railways:
0 km
Roads:
Kuwait has an advanced motorway system, consisting of seven ring roads
intersected by a further series of roads radiating from the heart of Kuwait City.
Public Transport:
The government-owned Kuwait Public Transport Company was founded in 1962 and now
provides bus services for the entire country. It operates 24 hours a day on about
50 different routes in addition to services to educational establishments and ministries.
Taxis run 24 hours a day and rental cars are readily available throughout the country.
At the time of writing, there is a fixed rate of KD 4 from the airport into the city.
Drivers may not speak English so it is a good idea to know the name of your destination.
In the city, there are two types of taxi. Orange taxis work a fixed route and pick up
passengers anywhere along that route. These taxis may be shared. Call taxis pick up
passengers on request only. Fares for a journey of around 15km in a private taxi should
be in the region of KD2.500 but the taxi company will be able to tell you the exact
cost of the taxi when you book.
Driving Licence:
Visitors can use international driving licences issued by their
respective country within the time limit of their visa; however, the licence must be insured.
Foreigners with a Kuwait Residence Visa can apply to the Traffic Department
for a Kuwaiti driving licence.
Ports and harbors:
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi,
Mina' Su'ud
Airports:
8 (1998 est.)
Heliports:
1 (1998 est.)
|
RELATED LINKS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB:
| |
|
WE SOLEMNLY WISH
THE PEOPLE OF
KUWAIT
A LIFETIME OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY
AND PRAY FOR THE SAFE AND SPEEDY RETURN
OF KUWAIT'S POWs AND MISSING PERSONS
|
|
