| Glorioso Islands (2001) | Kuwait (2001) | |
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| 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 (2000 est.) | 8 (2000 est.) | 
| Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 
 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2000 est.)  | 
				
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 
 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)  | 
				total: 
 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)  | 
				
| Area | total: 
 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock  | 
				total: 
 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km  | 
				
| Area - comparative | about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | slightly smaller than New Jersey | 
| Background | A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse. | 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 | dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters | 
| Coastline | 35.2 km | 499 km | 
| Constitution | - | approved and promulgated 11 November 1962 | 
| Country name | conventional long form: 
 none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses  | 
				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 | possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion | - | 
| Diplomatic representation from the US | none (possession of France) | 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 (possession of France) | 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 | claimed by Madagascar | 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 | no economic activity | 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 | - | 29.357 billion kWh (1999) | 
| Electricity - exports | - | 0 kWh (1999) | 
| Electricity - imports | - | 0 kWh (1999) | 
| Electricity - production | - | 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 12 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: 
 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 | the flag of France is used | 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 | 11 30 S, 47 20 E | 29 30 N, 45 45 E | 
| Geography - note | - | strategic location at head of Persian Gulf | 
| Heliports | - | 3 (2000 est.) | 
| Highways | - | 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 (1993) | 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% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)  | 
				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 France, 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 | Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar | Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia | 
| Map references | Africa | Middle East | 
| Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone: 
 200 NM territorial sea: 12 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 France | - | 
| 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 | periodic cyclones | 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 | guano, coconuts | 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: there is a small French military garrison (July 2001 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 | none; offshore anchorage only | Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud | 
| Radio broadcast stations | - | 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: 
 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 | - | 412,000 (1997) | 
| Telephones - mobile cellular | - | 210,000 (1997) | 
| Television broadcast stations | - | 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997) | 
| Terrain | low and flat | 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 | none |