Kuwait

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Kuwait

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Dowlat al-Kuwayt/State of Kuwait Area 17,819 sq km/6,879 sq mi Capital Kuwait (and chief port) Language Arabic (78%) (official), English, Kurdish (10%), Farsi (4%) Religion Sunni Muslim 45%, Shiite Muslim 40%; Christian, Hindu, and Parsi about 5% Time difference GMT +3 Major holidays 1 January, 25 February (3 days); variable: Eid-ul-Adha (3 days), end of Ramadan (3 days), New Year (Muslim), Prophet's Birthday, Ascension of the Prophet (March/April), Standing on Mount Arafat (August)


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities as-Salimiya, Hawalli, Al Farwaaniyah, Abraq Kheetan, Al Jahrah, Al Ahmadi, Al Fuhayhil Physical features hot desert; islands of Faylakah, Bubiyan, and Warbah at northeast corner of Arabian Peninsula Airports one international airport and eight other airports, of which four have paved runways; total passengers carried: 2.2 million (2003 est) Railways none Roads total road network: 4,450 km/2,765 mi, of which 80.6% paved (1999 est); passenger cars: 331.9 per 1,000 people (2003 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah from 2006 Head of government Sheikh Nasser Muhammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah from 2006 Political system absolutist Political executive absolute Administrative divisions six governorates Political parties none Death penalty retained and used for ordinary crimes Armed forces 15,500; plus 23,700 reservists and paramilitary forces of 6,600 (2006 est) Conscription compulsory for two years (one year for university students) Defence spend (% GDP) 6.2 (2005 est) Education spend (% GDP) 3.3 (2001 est) Health spend (% GDP) 2.7 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency Kuwaiti dinar GDP (US$) 74.7 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 6.2 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 59.1 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 24,010 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 3.5% (2006 est) Unemployment 3.5% (2004) Labour force 1% agriculture, 5% industry, 94% services (2003 est) Foreign debt (US$) 17 billion (2005 est) Major trading partners USA, Japan, Germany, South Korea, UK, Italy, Singapore, the Netherlands, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh Resources petroleum, natural gas, mineral water Industries petroleum refining, petrochemicals, food processing, gases, construction Exports petroleum and petroleum products, chemical fertilizer, gas (natural and manufactured), basic manufactures. Principal market: Japan 14.8% (2005) Imports consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment, basic manufactures (especially iron, steel, and textiles) and other manufactured goods, live animals and food. Principal source: USA 12.4% (2005) Arable land 0.8 % (2006 est) Agricultural products melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions; livestock rearing (poultry); fishing


POPULATION

Population 2,765,300 (2006 est) Population growth rate 2.5% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 150 (2005 est) Urban population (% of total) 96 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 24%, 15–59 73%, 60+ 3% (2005 est) Ethnic groups about 45% Kuwaiti, 35% non-Kuwaiti Arab, 9% Indian and Pakistani, 4% Iranian Life expectancy 76 (men); 80 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 12 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 8 Literacy rate 85% (men); 81% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 15.3 (2004 est) Hospital beds (per 1,000 people) 2.2 (2003 est)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 19 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 88.6 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 632 (1999) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 407 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 22.3 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 26.1 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

c. 3000 BC Archaeological evidence suggests that coastal parts of Kuwait may have been part of a commercial civilization contemporary with the Sumerian, based in Mesopotamia (the Tigris and Euphrates valley area of Iraq). c. 323 BC Visited by Greek colonists at the time of Alexander the Great. 7th century AD Islam introduced. late 16th century Fell under nominal control of Turkish Ottoman Empire. 1710 Control was assumed by the Utab, a member of the Anaza tribal confederation in northern Arabia, and Kuwait city was founded, soon developing from a fishing village into an important port. 1756 Autonomous Sheikhdom of Kuwait founded by Abd Rahman of the al-Sabah family, a branch of the Utab. 1776 British East India Company set up a base in the Gulf. 1899 Concerned at the potential threat of growing Ottoman and German influence, Britain signed a treaty with Kuwait, establishing a self-governing protectorate in which the Emir received an annual subsidy from Britain in return for agreeing not to alienate any territory to a foreign power. 1914 Britain recognized Kuwait as an ‘independent government under British protection’. 1922–33 Agreement on frontiers with Iraq, to the north, and Nejd (later Saudi Arabia) to the southwest. 1938 Oil discovered; large-scale exploitation after World War II transformed the economy. 1961 Full independence achieved from Britain, with Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah as emir. Attempted Iraqi invasion discouraged by dispatch of British troops to the Gulf. 1962 Constitution introduced, with franchise restricted to 10% of the population. 1977 Crown Prince Jabir Al Ahmad Al Jabir Al Sabah became Emir. National Assembly dissolved. 1978 Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah appointed prime minister by emir. 1981 National Assembly reconstituted. 1983 Shiite guerrillas bombed targets in Kuwait; 17 arrested. 1986 National Assembly dissolved. 1987 Kuwaiti oil tankers reflagged and received US Navy protection; missile attacks by Iran. 1988 Aircraft hijacked by pro-Iranian Shiites demanding release of convicted guerrillas; Kuwait refused. 1989 Two convicted guerrillas released. 1990 Pro-democracy demonstrations suppressed. Kuwait annexed by Iraq in August, causing extensive damage to property and environment. Emir set up government in exile in Saudi Arabia. 1991 US-led coalition forces defeated Iraqi forces in Kuwait in Gulf War. New government omitted any opposition representatives. 1992 Reconstituted national assembly elected, with opposition nominees, including Islamic candidates, winning majority of seats. 1993 Incursions by Iraq into Kuwait repelled by US-led air strikes on Iraqi military sites. 1994 Massing of Iraqi troops on Kuwaiti border prompted US-led response. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein publicly renounced any claim to Kuwait. 1999 Decree to secure political voice for women in Kuwait defeated in parliament, in belief that female participation in politics would violate principles of Islam and Kuwaiti traditions. 2000 High court, and later constitutional court, upheld parliament's refusal to allow women the vote. 2003 In all-male parliamentary elections, Islamist candidates won 21 seats, supporters of ruling dynasty 14, and independents 12. Liberals retained only three seats. Emir appointed Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah prime minister. For first time since independence, post of prime minister separated from role of heir to the throne. 2005 Gun battles, costing several lives, erupted between suspected Islamist militants and police. Parliament passed law allowing women to vote and run for parliament. Massouma al-Mubarak was appointed first female cabinet member. 2006 Emir Sheikh Jaber died; succeeded by Crown Prince Sheikh Saad; removed days later due to ill health; Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad became emir. Sabah named his brother, Sheik Nawaf, as crown prince and nephew Sheikh Nasser as prime minister. Women voted for first time, in municipal by-election; failed to win any seats. Opposition made gains; won almost two-thirds of seats. 2007 Aiming to avert no-confidence vote against health minister, government resigned in March. Prime Minister Sabah was asked to form new government. Oil Minister Sheikh Ali resigned over political standoff between parliament and government.


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