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Kuwait
Kuwait
Population
4.9M
Rank #127Source: World Bank
Capital
Kuwait City
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$160.23B
Rank #59Source: World Bank
Land Area
17.8K km²
Rank #154Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
83.188 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 17,818 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation: mean elevation: 108 m lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: 3.6 km W. of Al-Salmi Border Post 300 m
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...
Environmental Issues: limited natural freshwater resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification; loss of biodiversity
Land Use: agricultural land: 8.5% (2011 est.) forest: 0.4% (2011 est.) other: 91.1% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Natural Resources
petroleumfishshrimpnatural gas
People & Society
Fertility Rate
1.52
Population
4.9M
Ethnic Groups
Kuwaiti (30.4%)other Arab (27.4%)Asian (40.3%)African (1%)other (0.9%)
Religions
Muslim (official) (74.6%)Christian (18.2%)other and unspecified 7.2%
note: data represent the total population; about (69%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$32,717.719
GDP per Capita PPP
52,443.597
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
40,770
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
Not Available
Unemployment
2.151%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
2.899%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
100%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
0.1%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
115.931 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
7.75 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
0.265%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
0.351% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
99.747%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
167.684%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
1.014%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
331.172 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
863,618 TEU
(2020)
(2020)
Airports
68,356
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
8,451 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Kuwaiti Armed Forces: Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), 25th Commando Brigade, and the Kuwait...
Personnel Strength
the Kuwaiti Armed Forces have approximately 17,000 active personnel (12,500 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,500 Air Force); est. 6,500 National Guard; note – Army figures include the Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority...
Military Expenditure (USD)
$7.79B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
4.84%
Military Expenditure History
5.6% of GDP (2019) 5.1% of GDP (2018) 5.6% of GDP (2017) 5.8% of GDP (2016) 5% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the inventory of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces consists of a range of European- and US-sourced weapons systems; the US is the leading supplier of arms to Kuwait since 2010 (2019 est.)
Service Age & Obligation
17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Kuwait reintroduced one-year mandatory service for men aged 18-35 in May 2017 after having suspended conscription in 2001; service is divided in two...
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
60.248%
(2020)
(2020)
Primary Enrollment
82.363%
(2021)
(2021)
Secondary Enrollment
95.393%
(2015)
(2015)
Tertiary Enrollment
51.897%
(2021)
(2021)
Education Spending
6.436% of GDP
(2024)
(2024)
Adult Literacy Rate
96.46%
(2020)
(2020)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
8.881:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
2.273
(2020)
(2020)
Safe Water Access
100%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
100%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
8.8 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
22.394 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
81.751
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
84
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
99%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
Not Available
Food Insecurity
2.5%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
15.43%
(2016)
(2016)
Governance
Women in Government
3.077%
(2023)
(2023)
Voice & Accountability
-0.59
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.41
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
0.01
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
0.32
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
0.34
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
0.21
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
constitutional monarchy (emirate)
Legal System
mixed legal system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law
Executive Branch
chief of state: Amir NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 30 September 2020); Crown Prince Sheikh MESHAAL Al Ahmad Al Sabah, born in 1940, is the brother of Amir NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (65 seats; 50 members directly elected from 5 multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 15 ex-officio members (cabinet...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with 5 judges) judge selection and term of office: all Kuwaiti...
National Symbols
Flag Description
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green represents...
National Symbols
golden falcon; national colors: green, white, red, black
National Anthem
name: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA note: adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions
Safety
Homicide Rate
0.25 per 100,000
(2020)
(2020)
Travel Information
Language(s): Arabic
Currency: KWD (د.ك)
Timezone(s): UTC+03:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +965
Car Sign: KWT
Week Starts: Sunday
Photos
The Kuwait Water Towers: "Mushrooms in the Desert." There are actually 31 of these aesthetically pleasing water towers in Kuwait City; they were completed in 1976.
The Kuwait Water Towers: "Mushrooms in the Desert." There are actually 31 of these aesthetically pleasing water towers in Kuwait City; they were completed in 1976. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Dhows (Arab sailing vessels) played a prominent role in Kuwait's maritime history, and were used in trade, fishing, and pearling. This restored example is on display in Kuwait City.
Dhows (Arab sailing vessels) played a prominent role in Kuwait's maritime history, and were used in trade, fishing, and pearling. This restored example is on display in Kuwait City. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
2 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data