State of Kuwait

National name: Dawlat al-Kuwayt

Emir: Sheik Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (2006)

Prime Minister: Sheik Nasser Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah (2006)

Total area: 6,880 sq mi (17,819 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 2,418,393 (growth rate: 3.5%); birth rate: 21.9/1000; infant mortality rate: 9.7/1000; life expectancy: 77.2; density per sq mi: 352

Capital (2003 est.): Kuwait, 1,709,800 (metro. area), 32,600 (city proper)

Largest city: as-Salimiyah, 146,900

Monetary unit: Kuwaiti dinar

Languages: Arabic (official), English

Ethnicity/race: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%

Religions: Islam 85% (Sunni 70%, Shiite 30%); Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

Literacy rate: 84% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $53.31 billion; per capita $22,800. Real growth rate: 5.6%. Inflation: 3.5%. Unemployment: 2.2% (2004 est.). Arable land: 1%. Agriculture: practically no crops; fish. Labor force: 1.67 million; note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force; agriculture n.a., industry n.a., services n.a. Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, desalination, food processing, construction materials. Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas. Exports: $44.43 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): oil and refined products, fertilizers. Imports: $12.23 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing. Major trading partners: Japan, South Korea, U.S., Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, China (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 412,000 (1997); mobile cellular: 210,000 (1997). Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998). Radios: 1.175 million (1997). Television broadcast stations: 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997). Televisions: 875,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (2000). Internet users: 200,000 (2002).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 4,450 km; paved: 3,587 km; unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.). Waterways: none. Ports and harbors: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud. Airports: 6 (2002).

International disputes: the Kuwait 1994 land and Khawr 'Abd Allah channel boundary demarcation ended Iraqi claims to Kuwait and Bubiyan and Warbah islands; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are negotiating maritime boundary with Iran.

 

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