Background: Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990.

Land boundaries: 462 km total; Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline: 499 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: not specific
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Natural 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

Geography
Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Population: 2,123,711 (July 1990), growth rate 3.8% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Kuwaiti(s; adjective--Kuwaiti

Ethnic groups: 27.9% Kuwaiti, 39% other Arab, 9% South Asian, 4% Iranian, 20.1% other

Languages: Arabic (official; English widely spoken

Religions: 85% Muslim (30% Shia, 45% Sunni, 10% other), 15% Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other

Birth rate: 29 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 2 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 11 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Environment
Current issues: some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution; desertification

Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 71% (est.)

Country 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; note--there may be a new governorate of Farwaniyyah

Independence: 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21; note--out of all citizens, only 8.3% are eligible to vote and only 3.5% actually vote

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 branch: High Court of Appeal

International 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 representation
In 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 p965o 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

Economy 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 5% in 1988.

Agriculture 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:

Unemployment rate: 0%

Budget: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

Exports: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: oil 90%
Partners: Japan, Italy, FRG, US

Imports: $5.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: food, construction material, vehicles and parts, clothing
Partners: Japan, US, FRG, UK

Debt external: $7.2 billion (December 1989 est.)

Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1--0.2915 (January 1990), 0.2937 (1989), 0.2790 (1988), 0.2786 (1987), 0.2919 (1986), 0.3007 (1985)

Electricity
Capacity: 8,287,000 kW capacity; 21,500 million kWh produced, 10,710 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 5.8% of GDP, or $1.2 billion (FY89)

Airports: 8 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Pipelines: crude oil, 877 km; refined products, 40 km; natural gas, 165 km

Merchant marine: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 1,862,010 GRT/2,935,007 DWT; includes 18 cargo, 5 container, 5 livestock carrier, 18 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 5 liquefied gas

Disputes international: ownership of Warbah and Bubiyan islands disputed by Iraq; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands disputed by Saudi Arabia