Map of Kuwait | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 17,818 km²
Land: 17,818 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries
Total: 475 km
Border countries: (2) Iraq 254 km; Saudi Arabia 221 km

Coastline: 499 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Elevation
Highest point: 3.6 km W. of Al-Salmi Border Post 300 m
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Mean elevation: 108 m

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use
Agricultural land: 8.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 7.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0.4% (2018 est.)
Other: 91.1% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 100 km² (2015)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²: Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 450 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 780 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: 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

Geography
Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf


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Population
Distribution: densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country: 3,103,580 (2023 est.)
Note: Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Information estimates the country's total population to be 4,420,110 for 2019, with non-Kuwaitis accounting for nearly 70% of the population
Growth rate: 1.13% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: NA

Nationality
Noun: Kuwaiti(s)
Adjective: Kuwaiti

Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)

Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Major-language samples:

Religions: Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.)
Note: data represent the total population; about 72% of the population consists of immigrants

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 23.32% (male 377,040/female 346,791)
15-64 years: 73.28% (male 1,371,010/female 903,309)
65 years and over: 3.4% (2023 est.) (male 45,351/female 60,079)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 34.4
Youth dependency ratio: 28.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 6
Potential support ratio: 24.9 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 30.1 years (2023 est.)
Male: 31 years
Female: 28.6 years

Population growth rate: 1.13% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 17.7 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -4.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country

Urbanization
Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 3.298 million KUWAIT (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification; loss of biodiversity
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 64.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 98.73 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 6.21 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.52 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.37 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.4 years (2023 est.)
Male: 77.9 years
Female: 80.9 years

Total fertility rate: 2.22 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: 6.3% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: 2.34 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 37.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 17.9% (2020 est.)
Male: 33.5% (2020 est.)
Female: 2.2% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.5% (2020)

Education expenditures: 6.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.5%
Male: 97.1%
Female: 95.4% (2020)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 15 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 16 years (2015)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 25.5% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 17.1%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 46.2%


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Country name
Conventional long form: State of Kuwait
Conventional short form: Kuwait
Local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Local short form: Al Kuwayt
Etymology: the name derives from the capital city, which is from Arabic "al-Kuwayt" a diminutive of "kut" meaning "fortress," possibly a reference to a small castle built on the current location of Kuwait City by the Beni Khaled tribe in the 17th century

Government type: constitutional monarchy (emirate)

Capital
Name: Kuwait City
Geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name derives from Arabic "al-Kuwayt" a diminutive of "kut" meaning "fortress," possibly a reference to a small castle built on the current location of Kuwait City by the Beni Khaled tribe in the 17th century

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 19 June 1961 (from the UK)

National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)

Constitution
History: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962; suspended 1976 to 1981 (4 articles); 1986 to 1991; May to July 1999
Amendments: proposed by the amir or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds consent of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the amir; constitutional articles on the initiation, approval, and promulgation of general legislation cannot be amended

Legal system: mixed legal system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kuwait
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: not specified

Suffrage: 21 years of age and at least 20-year citizenship

Executive branch
Chief of state: Amir Sheikh MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 16 December 2023); he succeeded his brother, Amir Sheikh NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah, who died the same day
Head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh MOHAMMAD Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah (since 4 January 2024); First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh TALAL al-Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (since 16 October 2022); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Khalid al-FADIL (since 9 April 2022); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Oil Bader Hamed Yusef Al-Mula (since 16 October 2022)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir
Elections/appointments: amir chosen from within the ruling family, confirmed by the National Assembly; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the amir; crown prince appointed by the amir and approved by the National Assembly

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (65 seats; 50 members directly elected from 5 multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 15 ex-officio members (cabinet ministers) appointed by the amir; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: snap election held on 6 June 2023 (next to be held in 2,027)
Election results:
Note: on 17 April 2023, Crown Prince Mishal al-AHMAD al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly, which had been reinstated in March at the direction of the Constitutional Court, following its annulment of the September 2022 election; the Assembly was formally dissolved by royal decree on 1 May 2023, and a new election was held on 6 June

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with 5 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

Political parties and leaders: none; the government does not recognize any political parties or allow their formation, although no formal law bans political parties

International organization participation: 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Alzain Sabah Naser Saud ALSABAH (since 19 April 2023)
In the us chancery: 2,940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008 (po)
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 966-8,468
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires James HOLTSNIDER (since July 2021)
From the us embassy: P.O. Box 77, Safat 13,001
From the us mailing address: 6,200 Kuwait Place, Washington DC 20,521-6,200
From the us telephone: [00] (965) 2,259-1001
From the us FAX: [00] (965) 2,538-0282
From the us email address and website:

Flag description: 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

National symbols: golden falcon; national colors: green, white, red, black

National anthem
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 heritage


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Economy overview: small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy; renewable energy proponent; regional finance and investment leader; maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund; emerging space and tourism industries; mid-way through 25-year development program

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 43.1% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 24.5% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.5% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 3.5% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 49.4% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -47% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.4% (2017 est.)
Industry: 58.7% (2017 est.)
Services: 40.9% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: eggs, dates, tomatoes, cucumbers, poultry, milk, mutton, potatoes, vegetables, eggplants

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

Industrial production growth rate: -12.2% (2020 est.)

Labor force: 2.363 million (2021 est.)
Note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 25.5% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 17.1%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 46.2%

Population below poverty line: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $77.988 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $72.03 billion (2019 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: -10% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 41.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices:

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance:

Exports:
Partners: China 20%, South Korea 16%, India 15%, Japan 10%, Taiwan 6%, Vietnam 5% (2019)
Commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, industrial hydrocarbon products, industrial alcohols (2021)

Imports:
Partners: China 14%, United Arab Emirates 12%, United States 10%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Japan 6%, Germany 5%, India 5% (2019)
Commodities: cars, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicines, jewelry (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 19.371 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 63,802,360,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 6.701 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 68,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 68,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 2,720,500 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 342,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,837,900 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 101.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 915,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 705,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 19,509,907,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Consumption: 24,322,970,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 4,805,531,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Proven reserves: 1,783,958,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 92.582 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 578,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 44.288 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 47.715 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 381.985 million Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 572,511 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 6,918,180 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 163 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media: state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged; satellite TV available and pan-Arab TV stations are 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 (2019)

Internet
Country code: .kw
Users total: 4.3 million (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 100% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 73,948 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)


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Military expenditures:

Military and security forces: Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority; Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2023)
Note 1: the Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade exercise independent command authority within the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of state
Note 2: the Kuwaiti National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required
Note 3: the police, Kuwait State Security, and Coast Guard are under the Ministry of Interior

Military service age and obligation: 18-55 years of age for voluntary military service; Kuwait reintroduced 12-month mandatory service for men aged 18-35 in May 2017 after having suspended conscription in 2001; mandatory service is divided in two phases - 4 months for training and 8 months for military service; women were allowed to volunteer in 2021 (2023)
Note: the National Guard is restricted to citizens, but in 2018, the Army began allowing non-Kuwaitis to join on contract or as non-commissioned officers; that same year, it also began allowing stateless people (Bidoon) to join

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,464,847 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 392.36 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9K

Airports: 7 (2021)
With paved runways: 4
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 3
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports: 4 (2021)

Pipelines: 261 km gas, 540 km oil, 57 km refined products (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 5,749 km (2018)
Paved: 4,887 km (2018)
Unpaved: 862 km (2018)

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 166 (2022)
By type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 29, other 122

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi


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Disputes international: Kuwait-Iraq: no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf; Kuwait has called on Iraq to resolve the domestic legal status of the 2012 Kuwait-Iraq Agreement to regulate maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah and ensure that the agreement remains in force  

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Stateless persons: 92,000 (2022); 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

Illicit drugs