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Compare Kuwait (2001) - Virgin Islands (2003)

Compare Kuwait (2001) z Virgin Islands (2003)

 Kuwait (2001)Virgin Islands (2003)
 KuwaitVirgin Islands
Administrative divisions 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
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.)
0-14 years: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794)


15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157)


65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products practically no crops; fish fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Airports 8 (2000 est.) 2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
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: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey twice the size of Washington, DC
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. During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Birth rate 21.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 15.8 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$11.5 billion

expenditures:
$17.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02)
revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Capital Kuwait Charlotte Amalie
Climate dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Coastline 499 km 188 km
Constitution approved and promulgated 11 November 1962 Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Country name conventional long form:
State of Kuwait

conventional short form:
Kuwait

local long form:
Dawlat al Kuwayt

local short form:
Al Kuwayt
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
Currency Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 2.45 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $6.9 billion (2000 est.) $NA
Dependency status - organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
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
none (territory of the US)
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
none (territory of the US)
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 none
Economic aid - recipient $27.6 million (1995) $NA
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. Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment.
Electricity - consumption 29.357 billion kWh (1999) 957.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 31.567 billion kWh (1999) 1.03 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location 306 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 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 lack of natural freshwater resources
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% black 78%, white 10%, other 12%


note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%
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) the US dollar is used
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
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave RICHARDS (since NA January 2003)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
Exports $23.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities oil and refined products, fertilizers refined petroleum products
Exports - partners Japan 23%, US 12%, Singapore 8%, Netherlands 7% (1999) US, Puerto Rico
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 October - 30 September
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
GDP purchasing power parity - $29.3 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
0%

industry:
55%

services:
45% (1996)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6% (2000 est.) 2% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 N, 45 45 E 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Geography - note strategic location at head of Persian Gulf important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Heliports 3 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
4,450 km

paved:
3,590 km

unpaved:
860 km (1999 est.)
total: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners US 15%, Japan 10%, UK 7%, Germany 7% (1999) US, Puerto Rico
Independence 19 June 1961 (from UK) -
Industrial production growth rate 1% (1997 est.) NA%
Industries petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Infant mortality rate 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2000) 2% (1992)
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 ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 3 (2000) 50 (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch High Court of Appeal US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Labor force 1.3 million (1998 est.)

note:
68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
49,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Land boundaries total:
464 km

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

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
8%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
92% (1993 est.)
arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), English widely spoken English (official), Spanish, Creole
Legal system civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on US laws
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
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Life expectancy at birth total population:
76.27 years

male:
75.42 years

female:
77.15 years (2001 est.)
total population: 78.59 years


male: 74.73 years


female: 82.68 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
78.6%

male:
82.2%

female:
74.9% (1995 est.)
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Middle East Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea:
12 NM
exclusive economic 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.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the US
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) Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Nationality noun:
Kuwaiti(s)

adjective:
Kuwaiti
noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
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 several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas sun, sand, sea, surf
Net migration rate 14.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
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 NA
Population 2,041,961

note:
includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
124,778 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 3.38% (2001 est.)

note:
this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates
1.02% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Radio broadcast stations AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios 1.175 million (1997) -
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15% Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
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.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 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
18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
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
general assessment: NA


domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Telephones - main lines in use 412,000 (1997) 65,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 210,000 (1997) 2,000 (1992)
Television broadcast stations 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997) 2 (2002)
Terrain flat to slightly undulating desert plain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Total fertility rate 3.2 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 1.8% (official 1996 est.) 4.9% (March 1999)
Waterways none none
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