Official Name
State of Kuwait
Capital Kuwait City
Currencies Kuwaiti dinar
Language(s) Arabic
Population 2 million
GNP per head (US$) 18030
Area (square kilometres) 17820
Population per sq. km 112
Population per sq. mile 291


COUNTRY INFORMATION

Introduction

At the northwest extreme of the Persian Gulf, Kuwait is dwarfed by its neighbors. The flat, almost featureless landscape conceals huge oil and gas reserves, which put Kuwait among the world's first oil-rich states. In 1990 Iraq invaded, claiming Kuwait as its 19th province. A US-led alliance, under the aegis of the UN, expelled Iraqi forces following a short war in 1991 and restored the rule of the al-Sabah dynasty. Kuwait has now built a wall separating its territory from Iraq.



Climate

Summer temperatures can soar to over 40°C (104°F), but winters can be cold, with frost at night.



People
Languages Arabic, English
URBAN/RURAL POPULATION DIVIDE
Urban 98
% Rural 2
%

Kuwait is a conservative Sunni Muslim society (27% of the population are Shi'ite). Women have considerable freedom, although the amir's decree providing for female enfranchisement has been repeatedly rejected by the National Assembly.

Kuwait's oil wealth has drawn in thousands of workers from other Arab countries and south Asia. The Palestine Liberation Organization's support for the Iraqi invasion led to most Palestinians, hitherto more numerous in Kuwait than elsewhere in the Arabian peninsula, being driven out. Native Kuwaitis are outnumbered by resident foreign nationals.



Economy
GNP (US$) 35771
M GNP World rank 54
 
Inflation 2 % Unemployment 2 %

Strengths

Recovery of oil and gas production. Large overseas investments. Stable banking system.

Weaknesses

Overreliance of economy on oil and gas. Adverse consequences of Iraqi invasion. Strategic vulnerability deters investment. Reliance on imported skilled labor, food, and raw materials. Delays in enacting privatization package.



Politics
Lower house Last election 1999 Next election 2003
Upper house Last election Not applicable Next election Not applicable

In 1992 Amir Shaikh Jaber restored the National Assembly. There was then a government of "national unity" until 1999, when elections strengthened the amir's Islamist and liberal opponents. The Council of Ministers resigned in 2001 in the face of Assembly criticism. In the new cabinet the ruling al-Sabah family still holds the top posts.



International Affairs
 

Strategically important as a major exporter of crude oil and natural gas, Kuwait has always maintained very close links with the West, which have deepened since the war with Iraq, and on which it depends for its future security. In 2002 Iraq promised to respect the common border, but has yet to return the POWs and detained Kuwaiti nationals.



Defence
Expenditure (US$) 3210 M Portion of GDP 10 %
Army 385 main battle tanks (150 M-84, 218 M-1A2, 17 Chieftain)
Navy 10 patrol boats
Airforce 82 combat aircraft (F/A-18, Mirage F1-CK/BK)
Nuclear capab. None

In August 1990 Kuwait's 11,000-strong, partly volunteer army was easily overrun by vastly superior Iraqi forces. Since its liberation, defense pacts have been signed with the USA, the UK, France, and Russia. Kuwait is rearming fast, with weapons purchased from major Western suppliers.



Resources
Minerals Oil, natural gas, salt
Oil reserves (barrels) 96.5bn barrels Oil production (barrels/day) 2.14m b/d

The oil industry is Kuwait's most profitable sector, accounting for over 80% of export earnings. Although badly hit by the Gulf War, when a number of wells were deliberately fired, it was quickly rehabilitated. Kuwait also possesses valuable reserves of natural gas. Other resources are dates, fish, ammonia, and chemicals.



Environment
Protected land 2 % Part protected land No data %
Environmental trends

The Iraqi invasion and the subsequent war caused an ecological disaster. Although the effects of this did not prove as grave as some observers first feared, marine life has been damaged and many thousands of hectares of cultivated land have been obliterated. Millions of land mines still litter border areas. Water is scarce.



Communications
Main airport Kuwait International, Kuwait City Passengers per year 3870016
Motorways 280
km Roads 3590
km Railways 0
km

Kuwait has a system of radial expressways around the capital and good connecting roads to Saudi Arabia.



International Aid
Donated (US$) 165
M Received (US$) Not applicable
M

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development continued to give aid even during the invasion crisis.



Health
Life expectancy 76 Life expect. World rank 33
Population per doctor 526 Infant mortality (per 1000 births) 9
Expend. % GDP 3 %
Principal causes of death Heart diseases, accidents, cancers, perinatal deaths

Despite theft of equipment during the Iraqi invasion, Kuwait has restored its Western-standard health care service. Nationals receive free treatment.



Education
Literacy 83 % Expend. % GNP 7

%

PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION IN FULL TIME EDUCATION
Primary 77 % Secondary 65 % Tertiary 19 %

Kuwaiti citizens receive free education from nursery to university. Since the liberation, more emphasis has been placed on technology in the curriculum.



Criminality
Crime rate trend Up 8% 1996–1998
Prison population 1735
Murder 1 per 100,000 population
Rape 0 per 100,000 population
Theft 345 per 100,000 population

Isolated acts of terrorism occur. There have been complaints of human rights abuses.



Wealth
Cars 317 per 1,000 population
Telephones 244 per 1,000 population
Televisions 486 per 1,000 population

As well as the oil-rich elite, most Kuwaitis enjoy high incomes, and the government has repeatedly rescued citizens who have suffered stock market or other financial losses. School and university leavers are guaranteed jobs. Capital is easily transferred abroad and there are effectively no exchange controls.



Media
Newspapers There are 7 daily newspapers, including Al-Qabas and As-Seyassah
TV services 1 state-controlled service
Radio services 1 state-controlled service


Tourism
Visitors per year 77000

Most Western visitors to Kuwait go specifically to see relatives working in the oil industry. The limited tourism from neighboring Arab states, notably Saudi Arabia, has not recovered since the 1990–1991 Gulf War.



History

Kuwait traces its independence to 1710, but was under British rule from the late 18th century until 1961. The government denies any historical link with Iraq.

  • 1961 Independence from UK. Iraq claims Kuwait.
  • 1976 Amir suspends National Assembly.
  • 1990 Iraqi invasion.
  • 1991 Liberation following Gulf War.
  • 1992 National Assembly elections.
  • 1999 Elections; Islamists and liberals win most seats.