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Background:Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait has spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.Kuwait GeographyLocation: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi ArabiaGeographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E Map references: Middle East Area: Total: 17,820 sq km; slightly smaller than New Jersey Border Countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km Climate: Dry desert; intensely hot summers(50+Cº); short, cool winters(15-20ºC) Terrain: Flat to slightly undulating desert plain Natural resources: Petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas Kuwait PeoplePopulation: 2,041,961 (includes 1,159,913 non-nationals)Nationality: Noun: Kuwaiti(s),adjective: Kuwaiti Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7% Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian, Hindu, Pharsi, and other 15% Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken Literacy: Total population: 88.6% Kuwait GovernmentCountry name: Conventional long form: State of Kuwait, conventional short form: Kuwait, local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt, local short form: Al KuwaytGovernment type: Nominal constitutional monarchy Capital: Kuwait City Administrative divisions: 6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra',Hawalli,Muhafazat Mubarak AlKabair Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK) National holiday:National Day, 25 February (1950) Constitution: Approved and promulgated 11 November 1962 Legal system: Civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: Adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21 note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time. Women has just recently been given the right to vote. Executive branch: Chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977) passed away on Jan.15, 2006. Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah is now the new Amir. (effective Jan.24/2006) Crown Prince:Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed Prime Minister:Sheikh Nasser Muhammad al-Ahmed, Head of government:First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992); Deputy Prime Minister JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamud Al Sabah (since NA) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the monarch. Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: None; formation of political parties is illegal Political pressure groups and leaders: Several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists Flag description: Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side.  Kuwait EconomyEconomy - overview: Kuwait has a small, relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of the GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Higher oil prices put the FY99/00 budget into a $2 billion surplus.Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% Labor force: 1.3 million. Note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national Unemployment rate: 1.8% Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) Currency code: KWD Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 Television broadcast stations: 13 (plus several satellite channels) Internet country code: KW Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 ISPs (Many Prepaid Card Services)   |
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