Statistical information Kuwait 1989

Kuwait in the World
top of pageBackground: Kuwait is an oil-rich country on the Persian Gulf.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
462 km total
Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline: 499 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: not specific
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
ElevationNatural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 8% meadows and pastures; NEGL% forest and woodland; 92% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1
top of pagePopulation: 2,008,053 (July 1989), growth rate 3.6% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Kuwaiti(s; adjective - Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: 39% Kuwaiti, 39% other Arab, 9% South Asian, 4% Iranian, 9% other
Languages: Arabic (official; English widely spoken
Religions: 85% Muslim (30% Shia, 45% Sunni, 10% other), 15% Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 30 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 2 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 9 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution; desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1000 live births (July 1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (July 1989)
Total fertility rate: 3.9 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 71% (est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: State of Kuwait
Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kuwait
Administrative divisions: 4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah; Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli
Dependent areasIndependence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 25 February
Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29 August 1962)
Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; popularly elected 50-man National Assembly (the 15 cabinet members can also vote) reinstated in March 1981 after being suspended in 1976, but in July 1986 parliament dissolved by the Amir; judicial review of legislative acts not yet determined; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendents (eligible voters, 8.3% of citizenry)
Executive branch: Chief of State - Amir Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al SABAH (since 31 December 1977; Head of Government - Prime Minister and Crown Prince Sad Abdallah al-Salim Al SABAH (since 8 February 1978)
Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Shaikh Saud Nasir AL-SABAH; Chancery at 2,940 Tilden Street NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 966-0702; US - Ambassador W. Nathaniel HOWELL; Embassy at Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Hilton Hotel), Kuwait City (mailing address is P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13,001 Safat, Kuwait City; telephone Õ965å 242-4,151 through 4,159
Flag description
: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The oil sector dominates the economy. Of the countries in the Middle East, Kuwait has oil reserves second only to those of Saudi Arabia. Earnings from hydrocarbons generate over 90% of both export and government revenues and contribute about 40% to GDP. Most of the nonoil sector is dependent upon oil-derived government revenues to provide infrastructure development and to promote limited industrial diversification. The economy is heavily dependent upon foreign labor - Kuwaitis account for less than 20% of the labor force. The early years of the Iran-Iraq war pushed Kuwait's GDP well below its 1980 peak; however, during the period 1986-88, GDP increased each year, rising to 4% in 1988.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: virtually none; dependent on imports for food; about 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, salt, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1988)
Labor force:
566,000 (1986; 45.0%
services, 20.0% construction, 12.0% trade, 8.6% manufacturing, 2.6% finance and real estate, 1.9% agriculture, 1.7% power and water, 1.4% mining and quarrying; 70% of labor force is non-Kuwaiti
Unemployment rate: 0%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $8.7 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: oil 90%
Partners: Japan, Italy, FRG, US
Imports: $4.9 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: food, construction material, vehicles and parts, clothing
Partners: Japan, US, FRG, UK
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $10.4 billion (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.2845 (January 1989), 0.2790 (1988), 0.2786 (1987), 0.2919 (1986), 0.3007 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 7,687,000 kW capacity; 19,539 million kWh produced, 10,080 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $1.179 million, 10.5% of central government budget (FY89)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 8 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil, 877 km; refined products, 40 km; natural gas, 165 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 839,305 GRT/1,200,079 DWT; includes 17 cargo, 6 container, 5 livestock carrier, 9 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 liquefied gas
Ports and terminalsKuwait - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: ownership of Warbah and Bubiyan islands disputed by Iraq
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs