Governorates of Kuwait

administrative division of Kuwait

The State of Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates (muhafazah). The governorates are then divided into areas. The governorates were first created in 1962, although several newer ones were created many years later.

Governorates of Kuwait
CategoryGovernorate
LocationState of Kuwait Kuwait
Number6 Governorates (as of 27 November 1999)
PopulationsMubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate - 254,999 (lowest); Farwaniya Governorate - 1,169,312 (highest)
AreasHawalli Governorate - 85 km2 (33 sq mi) (smallest); Jahra Governorate - 12,750 km2 (4,920 sq mi) km² (largest)
GovernmentGovernment of Kuwait
SubdivisionsAreas of Kuwait
Governorate ISO 3166-2:KW Formation Population Area (km2) Notes
Ahmadi Governorate KW-AH 1962 959,009 5,120 It was named after Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, 10th ruler of Kuwait.
Al-Asimah Governorate KW-KU 1962 568,567 175 It is the capital governorate. It houses most of Kuwait's financial and business centres such as the Kuwait Stock Exchange.
Farwaniya Governorate KW-FA 1988 1,169,312 204 It is the most populated governorate and is Kuwait's main residential area.
Hawalli Governorate KW-HA 1962 939,792 85 It is the smallest and most densely populated governorate.
Jahra Governorate KW-JA 1979 540,910 12,750 It is the largest governorate and contains the agricultural area.
Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate KW-MU 1999 254,999 104 The newest governorate of Kuwait, founded in 1999 and the least populated governorate in Kuwait.
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