Form of Government: Constitutional monarchy
Area: 17 818 sq km
Population: 4 464 521 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 250.56 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 30° - 28° N; long. 46° - 48° E
Capital: Kuwait=Al-Kuwayt (capital) 59 590 inhab. (2014); Al-Kuwayt 2 989 270 inhab. (2018), urban agglomeration
Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (1000 fils)
Human development index: 0.806 (rank: 64)
Sovereign: Nawwāf al-’Aḥmad al-Jābir aṣ-Ṣabāḥ, since 30 September 2020
Prime Minister: Ṣabāḥ al-Kāhlid al-Ḥamad aṣ-Ṣabāḥ, since 19 November 2019
Internet: www.csb.gov.kw (Central Statistical Bureau)
Member of Arab League, GCC, OIC, OPEC, UN, WTO
Kuwait

International license plate code KWT
International dialling code 00965
Travel vaccinations requirement none
Electricity (Voltage) 240
Driving side rigth
Internet code .kw
GMT +3
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Al-Kuwayt 26.2
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Al-Kuwayt 13.5/37
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Al-Kuwayt 10/7
Annual average precipitation (mm) Al-Kuwayt 109
Days of rainfall (annual average) Al-Kuwayt 16
Geography.
Kuwait is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and south-west, by Iraq to the north and north-west. The Arabian Gulf lies off its east coast. The land is mainly desert. Kuwait has sovereignty over many islands (of which Būbiyān and Warbah are the largest).
Government
A British protectorate since 1899, the hereditary monarchy of Kuwait became independent on 19 June 1961. On 2 August 1990, the country was invaded by Iraqi troops. It was liberated in February 1991 by an international UN force led by the USA.
The king appoints the prime minister and influences government policy. The National Assembly has 50 members who are elected by direct suffrage, plus the ministers in office.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Air force | 16.1 | % | 2015 |
Army | 71$ | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Homicides | 1.8 | per 100 000 pop. | 2012 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Qalīb ash-Shuyūkh | 227 980 | inhab. | 2011 |
As-Sālimīyah | 196 153 | inhab. | 2011 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Al-Kuwayt | 2 989 270 | inhab. | 2018 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 13.251 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 2.802 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Asian | 37.8 | % | 2013 |
Kuwaiti | 31.3 | % | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Muslim | 74$ | % | 2018 |
Christian | 18.2 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Arabic |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 24.3 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 26.4 | % | 2020 |
Economy
The country’s economy is linked to the trend in oil prices, which comprises more than 90% of exports: by law, at least 10% of the revenue is set aside in an investment fund.
There are about 700 oil-wells in the areas of Al Burqān, Al Maqwa´, Al-Aḥmadī, Muţribah, Ar Rawḍatayn, Al-Baḥrah, Aș-Şābrīyah, Al-Manāqīsh, Umm Qudayr.
Oil pipelines connect the wells to the port of Mīnā’ al-Aḥmadī, where several oil refineries are located. There are other refineries at Mīnā’ ‘Abd Allāh and Mīnā’ az Zawr. There are chemical plants (at Ash Shuwaykh), fertilizer plants, cement factories and several desalination plants. The country is trying to diversify the economy, attract foreign investors and develop the private sector, but economic reforms are compromised by domestic political clashes and by the pervasiveness of the public sector.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 190.62 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 131.82 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 2 386 036 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 25.1 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 6.8 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 63.4 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 19 900 | M LCU | 2017-18 |
Revenues | 13 344.3 | M LCU | 2017-18 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 2$ | % | 2019 |
industry | 24.4 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 0.403 | % | 2019 |
industry | 51.257 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 2.323 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 52 918.607 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 0.786 | % | 2018 |
forests | 0.351 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 2.726 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cereals, total | 17.863 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 45.825 | 1000 t | 2019 |
roots and tubers, total | 45.825 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 10.498 | 1000 t | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 0.538 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, green | 2.195 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grapes | 0.203 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
olives | 0.08 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 115.324 | 1000 t | 2019 |
strawberries | 0.624 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 0.537 | 1000 t | 2019 |
lemons | 0.279 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
dates | 105.867 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 0.65 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
maize | 0.66 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 0.905 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 0.187 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 0.016 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, green | 0.106 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grape | 0.016 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
olive | 0.037 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
strawberries | 0.015 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 0.023 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
lemons | 0.013 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
dates | 3.447 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 20 664 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 30.403 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 30.403 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 687.71 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 212.172 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
equines, total | 1.159 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
horses | 1.159 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
camels | 11.825 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 54 635 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
eggs | 135 | 1000 t | 2019 |
hides and skins | 11.712 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 918 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 190 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural gas | 14 970.5 | M m³ | 2020 |
oil, crude | 127 521.6 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
salt | 58.2 | 1000 t | 2018 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 69 578.8 | M kWh | 2018 |
- other renew. | 158 | M kWh | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 18 793 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- other renew. | 105.4 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 69 662.8 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 18 848.47 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
steel, crude | 1 270 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sulfur, rec. | 850 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bitumen | 183 | 1000 t | 2018 |
petrol | 5 503.3 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ammonia | 250 | 1000 t | 2018 |
caustic soda | 31$ | 1000 t | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
footwear | 142 000 | pairs | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fish, frozen | 4.02 | 1000 t | 2016 |
groundnut oil | 0.384 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
other paper | 37$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
paper | 37$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 4 500 | 1000 t | 2018 |
sheet glass | 106 | 1000 m² | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 3 174.656 | M US$ | 2018 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 704.627 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fuels | 94.368 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
manufactures | 4.719 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Japan | 9 916 | M US$ | 2007 |
Korea, South | 8 747 | M US$ | 2007 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 2 485 | M US$ | 2007 |
Japan | 1 665 | M US$ | 2007 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 17 131 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 8 565 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 43 600 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 7 385.3 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 20.108 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 236.6 | per 1000 pop. | 2005 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 14.694 | years | 2015 |
Graduates | 12 716 | units | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 279 956 | units | 2018 |
Students, secondary level | 302 047 | units | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 16.3 | % of total expenses | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 1.8 | per 1000 pop. | 2017 |
Physicians | 2.1 | per 1000 pop. | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | -0.1 | % of adults | 2018 |
Tuberculosis | 22$ | per 100 000 pop. | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Museums, visitors | 108 987 | units | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.062 | % of GDP | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 100 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 10$ | % | 2013 |
education | 2.4 | % | 2013 |