Kuwait

sovereign state in Western Asia

Kuwait (Arabic: الكويت) is a small Arab country (about 17,819 square kilometers) in the Middle East.

State of Kuwait
دولة الكويت (Arabic)
Dawlat al-Kuwait
Emblem of Kuwait
Emblem
Anthem: 
Location of  Kuwait  (green)
Location of  Kuwait  (green)
Location of Kuwait
Capital
and largest city
Kuwait City
29°22′N 47°58′E / 29.367°N 47.967°E / 29.367; 47.967
Official languagesArabic
Ethnic groups
  • 60% Arab (31.1% Kuwaiti, 28.9% other Arabs)[1]
  • 37.8% South Asian
  • 1.9% African
Religion
Islam
Demonym(s)Kuwaiti
GovernmentUnitary constitutional monarchy[1]
• Emir
Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah
Ahmed Al-Sadoun
LegislatureNational Assembly
Establishment
• Independence from the Emirate of Al Hasa
1752
1913
• End of treaties with the United Kingdom
19 June 1961
Area
• Total
17,818 km2 (6,880 sq mi) (152nd)
• Water (%)
negligible
Population
• 2021 estimate
4,250,114[2][3] (128th)
• 2005 census
2,213,403[4]
• Density
200.2/km2 (518.5/sq mi) (61st)
GDP (PPP)2018 estimate
• Total
$303 billion[5]
• Per capita
$69,669[5] (5th)
GDP (nominal)2018 estimate
• Total
$118.271 billion[5] (55th)
• Per capita
$28,199[5] (23rd)
HDI (2017)Increase 0.803[6]
very high · 56th
CurrencyKuwaiti dinar (KWD)
Time zoneUTC+3 (AST)
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Driving sideright
Calling code+965
ISO 3166 codeKW
Internet TLD.kw
  1. Nominal succession within the House of Sabah.
  2. Emirate
Location of Kuwait
Location of Kuwait
Map of Kuwait
A satellite Image of Kuwait (taken in 2001)
Skyline of Kuwait

Kuwait is the most socially progressive country in the Gulf region. It has a small and rich economy. It has about 96 billion barrels of crude oil reserves. Crude oil reserves are the oil that is still under the ground and has not yet been cleaned up. Kuwait has 10% of all of the oil reserves in the world. The country makes a lot of money by selling oil. This money is almost half of all the money the country makes. The oil money is also 95% of the money made by selling things to different countries (people call that exports). Also, the oil money is 80% of the money the government makes. Kuwait is now talking with oil companies of other countries to make oil fields in the northern part of the country.

Kuwait's weather makes farming hard (too little rain). Instead of farming, the country catches fish and buys food from other countries. About 75% of the country's water to drink has to be distilled (have the salt removed) or purchased from other countries.

In 1990, Iraq invaded (brought an army in to fight against) Kuwait. This started the first Gulf War. Kuwait's official religion is Islam, although 15% of its population are Christian or Hindu. Arabic is mostly spoken in Kuwait but English is widespread among Kuwaitis (residents of Kuwait). Kuwait is one of the few nations that has education for every age.

Another interesting fact about Kuwait is that a lot of people speak English.

Demographics

change

As of 2023, Kuwait has a population of 4.82 million people of which 1.53 million are Kuwaiti citizens while the remaining 3.29 million are foreign nationals from over 100 countries.[7] Of the total population of Kuwait, only 31% are Kuwaitis while around 69% are Non-Kuwaitis.[8] Indians are the biggest Expat community in Kuwait making 21% of the population followed by Egyptians who are 13% of the population.[8]

Population (in thousands) for 2004: 2595. CBR (per 1000) for 2004: 19.4. CDR (per 1000). Growth rate (%) for 2004: 1.9. For 1992-2002: 2.1. The total fertility rate for 2002 is 2.7. Percent population living in urban areas is 96.2 in 2003. Per capita gross national income ($) in 2002: 612. Population density (per square kilometer) in 2000: 107.4. Infant mortality rate (per 1000) for 2005: 9.95. Adult literacy rate: 85%. Female literacy rate: 81% as of 2002.

Governorates

change

Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates. The governorates are divided into districts, And the establishment of the governorates of Kuwait dates back to the Emiri Decree No. 6 issued in 1962, which divided Kuwait into three governorates: the Capital Governorate, Hawalli Governorate and Al-Ahmadi Governorate. The decree clarified the work of the governor, his subordination of the governor to the Ministry of Interior, and his responsibility towards security, provided that the Ministry of Interior issues the necessary decisions to indicate the limits of the governor's jurisdiction. There have been some changes regarding the governorates of Kuwait, which we summarize as follows:

. On November 14, 1979: Some provisions of the administrative division decree were amended so that a fourth governorate, Al-Jahra Governorate, was added.

. On October 12, 1988: The first article of the article was amended to divide Kuwait into five governorates by adding Al-Farwaniyah Governorate.

. On November 27, 1999: Emiri Decree No. 290 was issued to add a sixth governorate, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate.

Thus, Kuwait has become administratively divided into six governorates, each affiliated with several regions. Warba Island and Bubiyan Island belong to the Jahra Governorate, while the rest of the islands belong to the Capital Governorate.

 
Subdivision Capital Area
km²
Population
Census
of 2005
Created
Al Asimah (Al Kuwayt)2) Al Kuwait 200 261 013 original Governorate
Hawalli Hawalli District 84 487 514 original Governorate
Al Farwaniyah Al Farwaniyah 190 622 123 1988 from Al Asimah
Al Ahmadi1) Al Ahmadi 5 120 393 861 1946 from Al Asimah
Al Jahra3) Al Jahra 12 130 272 373 1979 from Al Asimah
Mubarak Al-Kabeer Mubarak Al-Kabeer 94 176 519 November 1999 from Hawalli
TOTAL 17 818 2 213 403  
1) The Neutral Zone was dissolved on 18 December 1969,
and the northern part with 2590 km² was added to Al Ahmadi (with small part in the northwest added to Al Jahra)
2) including the islands of Failaka, Miskan, and Auhah
3) including the islands of Warbah and Bubiyan
change

References

change
  1. 1.0 1.1 "Kuwait". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014.
  2. "World Population Prospects 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX). population.un.org ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  4. "Population of Kuwait". Kuwait Government Online. 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "IMF Report for Selected Countries and Subjects : Kuwait". International Monetary Fund. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  6. "2018 Human Development Report". United Nations Development Programme. 2018. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  7. "Kuwait: Population surpasses pre-Covid peak in mid-2023" (PDF). NBK Group. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Jabr, Ahmad (22 February 2024). "Expats still make up two thirds of population as some communities grow". Kuwait Times.