Kuwait

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
Flag Emblem
Anthem: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" "National Anthem"
Location of  Kuwait  (green)
Capital and largest city	Kuwait City 29°22′N 47°58′E
Official languages	Arabic
Ethnic groups	60% Arab (31.1% Kuwaiti, 28.9% other Arabs) 37.8% South Asian 1.9% African
Religion	Islam
Demonym(s)	Kuwaiti
Government	Unitary constitutional monarchy
• Emir	Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
• Prime Minister	Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah
• Speaker of the National Assembly	Ahmed Al-Sadoun
Legislature	National Assembly
Establishment
• Independence from the Emirate of Al Hasa	1752
• Anglo-Ottoman Convention	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 (128th)
• 2005 census	2,213,403
• Density	200.2/km2 (518.5/sq mi) (61st)
GDP (PPP)	2018 estimate
• Total	$303 billion
• Per capita	$69,669 (5th)
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$118.271 billion (55th)
• Per capita	$28,199 (23rd)
HDI (2017)	0.803 very high · 56th
Currency	Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
Time zone	UTC+3 (AST)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+965
ISO 3166 code	KW
Internet TLD	.kw
Website www.e.gov.kw
Nominal succession within the House of Sabah. Emirate

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.

Demographics

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. Of the total population of Kuwait, only 31% are Kuwaitis while around 69% are Non-Kuwaitis. Indians are the biggest Expat community in Kuwait making 21% of the population followed by Egyptians who are 13% of the population.

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

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

Related pages

• Kuwait at the Olympics
• Kuwait national football team
• List of rivers of Kuwait