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Compare Christmas Island (2005) - Kuwait (2005)

Compare Christmas Island (2005) z Kuwait (2005)

 Christmas Island (2005)Kuwait (2005)
 Christmas IslandKuwait
Administrative divisions none (territory of Australia) 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: 27.2% (male 323,382/female 311,700)


15-64 years: 70.1% (male 1,045,589/female 591,243)


65 years and over: 2.7% (male 40,439/female 23,295) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products NA practically no crops; fish
Airports 1 (2004 est.) 7 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Area total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 17,820 sq km


land: 17,820 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than New Jersey
Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park. 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.
Birth rate NA 21.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $35.82 billion


expenditures: $19.53 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital The Settlement Kuwait
Climate tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Coastline 138.9 km 499 km
Constitution Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Country name conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
conventional long form: State of Kuwait


conventional short form: Kuwait


local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt


local short form: Al Kuwayt
Death rate NA 2.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external - $15.02 billion (2004 est.)
Dependency status territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador Richard LEBARON


embassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City


mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000


telephone: [965] 539-5307, 5308


FAX: [965] 538-0282
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of Australia) chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah


chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702


FAX: [1] (202) 364-2868
Disputes - international none Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf
Economic aid - recipient NA NA (2001)
Economy - overview Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in the near future Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 96 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% 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. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.
Electricity - consumption - 30.16 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production - 32.43 billion kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Murray Hill 361 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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Ethnic groups Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Exchange rates Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000) Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002), 0.3067 (2001), 0.3068 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 31 December 1977); Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdullah al-Salim al-Sabah


head of government: Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 13 July 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior NAWWAF al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 2001) and Muhammad Dayfallah al-SHARAR (since 2003)


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 NA 1.97 million bbl/day (2003)
Exports - commodities phosphate oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners Australia, NZ Japan 20.5%, South Korea 13.7%, US 12.4%, Singapore 11.3%, Taiwan 9.9% (2004)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 April - 31 March
Flag description the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture: 0.4%


industry: 60.5%


services: 39.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $21,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 6.8% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 10 30 S, 105 40 E 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Geography - note located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Heliports - 3 (2004 est.)
Highways total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
total: 4,450 km


paved: 3,587 km


unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Imports NA NA
Imports - commodities consumer goods food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners principally Australia US 12.9%, Germany 11.9%, Japan 7.9%, UK 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.5%, Italy 5%, France 4.5%, China 4.1% (2004)
Independence none (territory of Australia) 19 June 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate - -5% (2002 est.)
Industries tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, desalination, food processing, construction materials
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 9.95 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.96 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 2.3% (2004 est.)
International organization participation none ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land NA sq km 60 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court High Court of Appeal
Labor force NA 1.42 million


note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation NA agriculture NA, industries NA, services NA
Land boundaries 0 km total: 462 km


border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
arable land: 0.73%


permanent crops: 0.11%


other: 99.16% (2001)
Languages English (official), Chinese, Malay Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Legal system under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Islamists 21, government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total population: 77.03 years


male: 76.01 years


female: 78.1 years (2005 est.)
Literacy NA definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 83.5%


male: 85.1%


female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Map references Southeast Asia Middle East
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Merchant marine - total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,319,082 GRT/3,768,828 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 20


registered in other countries: 19 (2005)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Australia -
Military branches - Land Forces, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense Force), National Guard (2002)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $2,584.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 5.3% (2004)
National holiday Australia Day, 26 January (1788) National Day, 25 February (1950)
Nationality noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
noun: Kuwaiti(s)


adjective: Kuwaiti
Natural hazards the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard 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 August
Natural resources phosphate, beaches petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Net migration rate NA 14.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
People - note the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census -
Pipelines - gas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders none none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders none several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
Population 361 (July 2005 est.) 2,335,648


note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA
Population growth rate 0% (2005 est.) 3.44%


note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Flying Fish Cove Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Religions Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997) Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Sex ratio NA 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: 1.74 male(s)/female


total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2005 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: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005


international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (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, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones


international: country code - 965; 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 486,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 1.42 million (2003)
Television broadcast stations NA 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Terrain steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Total fertility rate NA 2.97 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate - 2.2% (2004 est.)
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