$Unique_ID{COW02103} $Pretitle{385B} $Title{Kuwait Statistical Profile of Kuwait} $Subtitle{} $Author{Central Intelligence Agency} $Affiliation{United States Government} $Subject{km rate kuwait national billion government al july labor kuwaiti} $Date{1990} $Log{National Anthem*63300010.aud Map of Kuwait*0210301.scf Flag of Kuwait*0210302.scf } Country: Kuwait Book: CIA World Factbook Author: Central Intelligence Agency Affiliation: United States Government Date: 1990 [Hear National Anthem] [See Map of Kuwait] [See Flag of Kuwait] Statistical Profile of Kuwait Geography Total area: 17,820 km2; land area: 17,820 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey 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 Disputes: ownership of Warbah and Bubiyan islands disputed by Iraq 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 Environment: some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution; desertification Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf People Population: 2,008,053 (July 1989), growth rate 3.6% (1989) Birth rate: 30 births/1,000 population (1989) Death rate: 2 deaths/1,000 population (1989) Net migration rate: 9 migrants/1,000 population (1989) Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 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) Nationality: noun--Kuwaiti(s); adjective--Kuwaiti Ethnic divisions: 39% Kuwaiti, 39% other Arab, 9% South Asian, 4% Iranian, 9% other Religion: 85% Muslim (30% Shia, 45% Sunni, 10% other), 15% Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other Language: Arabic (official); English widely spoken Literacy: 71% (est.) 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 Organized labor: labor unions exist in oil industry and among government personnel Government Long-form name: State of Kuwait Type: nominal constitutional monarchy Capital: Kuwait Administrative divisions: 4 governorates (muhafazat, singular--muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK) Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29 August 1962) Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; Constitution took effect in 1963; 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 National holiday: National Day, 25 February Branches: Council of Ministers; legislature--National Assembly (suspended since July 1986) Leader: 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) Suffrage: adult males who resided in Kuwait before 1920 and their male descendents (eligible voters, 8.3% of citizenry) Elections: National Assembly elected February 1985 (suspended July 1986) Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited Communists: insignificant Other political or pressure groups: large (350,000) Palestinian community; several small, clandestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist groups are active Member of: 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: Ambassador Shaikh Saud Nasir AL-SABAH; Chancery at 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington DC 20008; 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, 13001 Safat, Kuwait City); telephone [965] 242-4151 through 4159 Flag: 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 4% in 1988. GDP: $19.1 billion, per capita $10,410; real growth rate 4% (1988) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.8% (1988) Unemployment rate: 0% Budget: revenues $7.1 billion; expenditures $10.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.1 billion (FY88) Exports: $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 External debt: $10.4 billion (December 1988) Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1988) Electricity: 7,687,000 kW capacity; 19,539 million kWh produced, 10,080 kWh per capita (1988) Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, salt, construction Agriculture: virtually none; dependent on imports for food; about 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported Aid: NA Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (plural--dinars); 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1--0.2845 (January 1989), 0.2790 (1988), 0.2786 (1987), 0.2919 (1986), 0.3007 (1985) Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June Communications Highways: 3,000 km total; 2,500 km bituminous; 500 km earth, sand, light gravel Pipelines: crude oil, 877 km; refined products, 40 km; natural gas, 165 km Ports: Ash Shuwaykh, Ash Shuaybah, Mina al Ahmadi Merchant 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 Civil air: 29 major transport aircraft Airports: 8 total, 4 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m Telecommunications: excellent international, adequate domestic facilities; 258,000 telephones; stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 3 TV; 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT stations; 1 INMARSAT satellite station; 1 ARABSAT station; coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq and Saudi Arabia Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard Military manpower: males 15-49, about 668,734; about 400,529 fit for military service Military budget: $1.179 million, 10.5% of central government budget (FY89)