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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2004) - Kuwait (2001)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2004) z Kuwait (2001)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2004)Kuwait (2001)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryKuwait
Administrative divisions - 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Age structure - 0-14 years:
28.76% (male 299,080; female 288,125)

15-64 years:
68.82% (male 897,839; female 507,527)

65 years and over:
2.42% (male 31,843; female 17,547) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products - practically no crops; fish
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 8 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total:
4

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Area total: 60 sq km


land: 60 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
total:
17,820 sq km

land:
17,820 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than New Jersey
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. 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.
Birth rate - 21.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget - revenues:
$11.5 billion

expenditures:
$17.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02)
Capital - Kuwait
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Coastline 698 km 499 km
Constitution - approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form:
State of Kuwait

conventional short form:
Kuwait

local long form:
Dawlat al Kuwayt

local short form:
Al Kuwayt
Currency - Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
Death rate - 2.45 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external - $6.9 billion (2000 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission:
Ambassador James A. LAROCCO

embassy:
Bayan, near the Bayan palace, Kuwait City

mailing address:
P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait Unit 69000, APO AE 09880-9000

telephone:
[965] 539-5307

FAX:
[965] 538-0282
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant)

chancery:
2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 966-0702

FAX:
[1] (202) 966-0517
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; the UK resists the Chagossians' demand for an immediate return to the islands; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricted access to the largest island in the chain in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands
Economic aid - recipient - $27.6 million (1995)
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. Kuwait is 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 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. The FY00/01 budget covers only nine months because of a change in the fiscal year. The budget for FY01/02, which begins 1 April, contains higher expenditures for salaries, construction, and other general categories. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 29.357 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 31.567 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location 306 m
Environment - current issues NA 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 - international agreements - party to:
Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
Ethnic groups - Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Exchange rates - Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.3057 (January 2001), 0.3067 (2000), 0.3044 (1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Tony CROMBIE (since January 2004); Administrator Charles A. HAMILTON (since 2002); note - both reside in the UK


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state:
Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977)

head of government:
Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamud Al Sabah (since NA) and MUHAMMAD KHALID al-Hamed Al Sabah (since NA)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Exports - $23.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities - oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners - Japan 23%, US 12%, Singapore 8%, Netherlands 7% (1999)
Fiscal year - 1 April - 31 March
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
GDP - purchasing power parity - $29.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture:
0%

industry:
55%

services:
45% (1996)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 6% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Geography - note archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Heliports - 3 (2000 est.)
Highways total: NA km


paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia


unpaved: NA km
total:
4,450 km

paved:
3,590 km

unpaved:
860 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports - $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities - food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners - US 15%, Japan 10%, UK 7%, Germany 7% (1999)
Independence - 19 June 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate - 1% (1997 est.)
Industries - petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials
Infant mortality rate - 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 3% (2000)
International organization participation - ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 3 (2000)
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch - High Court of Appeal
Labor force - 1.3 million (1998 est.)

note:
68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries 0 km total:
464 km

border countries:
Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2001)
arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
8%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
92% (1993 est.)
Languages - Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch - unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 3 July 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)

election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Life expectancy at birth - total population:
76.27 years

male:
75.42 years

female:
77.15 years (2001 est.)
Literacy - definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
78.6%

male:
82.2%

female:
74.9% (1995 est.)
Location archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Map references Political Map of the World Middle East
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine - total:
45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,461,072 GRT/3,966,645 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 6, container 6, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 20 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 -
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $1.9 billion (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 8.7% (FY00/01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
780,559 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
466,521 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
18,309 (2001 est.)
National holiday - National Day, 25 February (1950)
Nationality - noun:
Kuwaiti(s)

adjective:
Kuwaiti
Natural hazards NA sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April; they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Net migration rate - 14.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km
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
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in 2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (July 2004 est.)
2,041,961

note:
includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 3.38% (2001 est.)

note:
this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates
Ports and harbors Diego Garcia Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios - 1.175 million (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions - Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Sex ratio - at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.77 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
1.81 male(s)/female

total population:
1.51 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
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
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
general assessment:
the quality of service is excellent

domestic:
new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, open wire, and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones

international:
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat
Telephones - main lines in use NA 412,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 210,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation) flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Total fertility rate - 3.2 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate - 1.8% (official 1996 est.)
Waterways - none
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