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Compare Kuwait (2001) - Southern Ocean (2006)

Compare Kuwait (2001) z Southern Ocean (2006)

 Kuwait (2001)Southern Ocean (2006)
 KuwaitSouthern Ocean
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 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:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
17,820 sq km

land:
17,820 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 20.327 million sq km


note: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey slightly more than twice the size of the US
Background 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. A large body of recent oceanographic research has shown that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), an ocean current that flows from west to east around Antarctica, plays a crucial role in global ocean circulation. The region where the cold waters of the ACC meet and mingle with the warmer waters of the north defines a distinct border - the Antarctic Convergence - which fluctuates with the seasons, but which encompasses a discrete body of water and a unique ecologic region. The Convergence concentrates nutrients, which promotes marine plant life, and which in turn allows for a greater abundance of animal life. In the spring of 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization decided to delimit the waters within the Convergence as a fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean - by combining the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which coincides with the Antarctic Treaty Limit and which approximates the extent of the Antarctic Convergence. As such, the Southern Ocean is now the fourth largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean). It should be noted that inclusion of the Southern Ocean does not imply recognition of this feature as one of the world's primary oceans by the US Government.
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 dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degrees Celsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent and frequently are intense because of the temperature contrast between ice and open ocean; the ocean area from about latitude 40 south to the Antarctic Circle has the strongest average winds found anywhere on Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees south latitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south latitude in the Atlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures well below 0 degrees Celsius; at some coastal points intense persistent drainage winds from the interior keep the shoreline ice-free throughout the winter
Coastline 499 km 17,968 km
Constitution approved and promulgated 11 November 1962 -
Country name 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.) -
Diplomatic representation from the US 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 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 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 Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in extending those continental shelf claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to include undersea ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so); no formal claims exist in the waters in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west
Economic aid - recipient $27.6 million (1995) -
Economy - overview 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. Fisheries in 2003-04 landed 136,262 metric tons, of which 87% (118,166 tons) was krill and 8% (11,182 tons) Patagonian toothfish, compared to 142,555 tons in 2002-03 of which 83% (117,728 tons) was krill and 12% (16,479 tons) Patagonian toothfish (estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention of the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which extends slightly beyond the Southern Ocean area). International agreements were adopted in late 1999 to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which in the 2000-01 season landed, by one estimate, 8,376 metric tons of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish. In the 2004-05 Antarctic summer 28,202 tourists, most of them seaborne (approximately 97%), visited the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, compared to 14,762 in 1999-2000.
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:
Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location 306 m
lowest point: -7,235 m at the southern end of the South Sandwich Trench


highest point: sea level 0 m
Environment - current 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 increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish


note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries
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
the Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (regulates fishing)


note: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the very cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north
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 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 29 30 N, 45 45 E 60 00 S, 90 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude
Geography - note strategic location at head of Persian Gulf the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extent of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the very cold polar surface waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; the Front and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of 60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the far South Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly winds
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 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 total:
464 km

border countries:
Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
-
Land use 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 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 Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica
Map references Middle East Antarctic Region
Maritime claims 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 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 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 huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 meter thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances; high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and rescue
Natural resources petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields on the continental margin, manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales, and seals - none exploited; krill, fishes
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 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 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 flat to slightly undulating desert plain the Southern Ocean is deep, 4,000 to 5,000 meters over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 meters (the global mean is 133 meters); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million square kilometers in March to about 18.8 million square kilometers in September, better than a sixfold increase in area; the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (21,000 km in length) moves perpetually eastward; it is the world's largest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers
Total fertility rate 3.2 children born/woman (2001 est.) -
Transportation - note - Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal
Unemployment rate 1.8% (official 1996 est.) -
Waterways none -
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