About Kuwait
Background:
| Kuwait under British Protectorate. During the late 19th century Kuwait found itself under a lot of threats from outsiders particularly from the Ottoman Empire. The seventh ruler of Kuwait from the Sabah family: Mubarak “The Great” strategically sought the protection of the British. On January 23rd 1899 The Anglo- Kuwaiti agreement was signed. Kuwait would remain as a British protectorate until June 1961. In June 1961 Kuwait's demand for independence was accepted by the British, diplomatic notes were exchanged between the ruler of Kuwait; Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al Sabah and the British political resident in the Gulf; Sir William Luce. Independence was declared on the 19th of June 1961.  The Invasion of Kuwait. The first raid into Kuwait began at around 4AM on August 2nd, 1990 and within hours a full-scale attack began. The Kuwaiti resistance were constantly trying to weaken the Iraqis with guerrilla attacks and provided important information to the Allied forces. The invading Iraqi army was routed by the Operation Desert Storm within 42 days on February 26, 1991. Thus, from 1991, this day is celebrated as a public holiday entitled "Liberation Day." Political highlights. The ruling Family of Kuwait is the Al-Sabah Family. Kuwait is one of the few states in the Middle East to have a written Constitution and separation of powers. In May 2005 parliament gave women the right to vote and stand as candidates in elections for the 50-seat National Assembly. The country witnessed the historic election of four women to its National Assembly in May 2009. |
Geography
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 N, 45 45 E
Area: total: 17,818 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 157
Land: 17,818 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 462 km
Border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline: 499 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
Arable land: 0.84%
Permanent crops: 0.17%
Other: 98.99% (2005)
Irrigated land: 130 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: 0.02 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%)
Per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March and August
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - Party to international agreements in: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: Strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People :Kuwait
Population: 2,692,526
Country comparison to the world: 139
Note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 361,274/female 348,351)
15-64 years: 70.7% (male 1,219,674/female 683,494)
65 years and over: 3% (male 49,807/female 29,926) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.2 years
male: 28.1 years
female: 22.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.549%
country comparison to the world: 4
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2009 est.)
Birth rate: 21.79 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Death rate: 2.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Net migration rate:
16.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Urbanization:
urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.78 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.66 male(s)/female
total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 8.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 160
male: 9.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.71 years
country comparison to the world: 52
male: 76.51 years
female: 78.96 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.12% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 94.4%
female: 91% (2005 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures: 3.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 119
Government ::Kuwait
Country name: conventional long form: State of Kuwait
Conventional short form: Kuwait
Local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Local short form: Al Kuwayt
Government type: constitutional emirate
With thanks to TIES Center.
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