Kuwait

Kuwait Background

Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. 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 liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.

Kuwait Information

• Population: 2,257,549 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti
• Location:: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
• Religions:: Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
• Ethnic Groups:: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
• Land Boundaries:: total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
• Area: total: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 17,820 sq km
• Coast Line: 499 km
• Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
• Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 0.73% permanent crops: 0.11% other: 99.16% (2001)
• Environmental 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
• Natural Resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
• Highways: total: 4,450 km paved: 3,587 km unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
• Airports: 7 (2003 est.)