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Compare Kuwait (2002) - West Bank (2008)

Compare Kuwait (2002) z West Bank (2008)

 Kuwait (2002)West Bank (2008)
 KuwaitWest Bank
Administrative divisions 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli -
Age structure 0-14 years: 28.3% (male 304,200; female 292,900)


15-64 years: 69.2% (male 934,115; female 527,331)


65 years and over: 2.5% (male 34,106; female 18,909) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 42.4% (male 551,243/female 524,800)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 704,209/female 670,382)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 36,175/female 49,118) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products practically no crops; fish olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Airports 7 (2001) 3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
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Area total: 17,820 sq km


land: 17,820 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 5,860 sq km


land: 5,640 sq km


water: 220 sq km


note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Area - comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey slightly smaller than Delaware
Background 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 completely liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007 signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue. During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland, ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal of reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008.
Birth rate 21.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 30.99 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $11.5 billion


expenditures: $17.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02 )
revenues: $1.149 billion


expenditures: $2.31 billion


note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)
Capital Kuwait -
Climate dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Coastline 499 km 0 km (landlocked)
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
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: West Bank
Currency Kuwaiti dinar (KD) -
Death rate 2.46 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 3.85 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $6.9 billion (2000 est.) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES


embassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (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, ext. 2240


FAX: [965] 538-0282
-
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al Jaber AL SABAH


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, although the Iraqi Government continues periodic rhetorical challenges West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region
Economic aid - recipient NA $1.4 billion; (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)
Economy - overview Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of 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 envisioned 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. The West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in economic conditions since the second intifada began in September 2000. The downturn has been largely a result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition of closures and access restrictions in response to security concerns in Israel - which disrupted labor and trading relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. International aid of at least $1.14 billion to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade opportunities - due to continued closures both within the West Bank and externally - stymied growth. Israel's and the international community's financial embargo of the PA when HAMAS ran the PA during March 2006 - June 2007 has interrupted the provision of PA social services and the payment of PA salaries. Since June the Fayyad government in the West Bank has restarted salary payments and the provision of services but would be unable to operate absent high levels of international assistance.
Electricity - consumption 29.016 billion kWh (2000) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) NA kWh
Electricity - production 31.2 billion kWh (2000) NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m


highest point: unnamed location 306 m
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m


highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 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 adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
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% Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Exchange rates Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.3075 (January 2002), 0.3066, (2001), 0.3067 (2000), 0.3044 (1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997) new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003)
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 $16.2 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $301 million f.o.b.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)
Exports - commodities oil and refined products, fertilizers olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
Exports - partners Japan 23%, US 14%, South Korea 13%, Singapore 7%, Netherlands 6%, Pakistan 6%, Indonesia 4%, UK 2% (2000) Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
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 - $30.9 billion (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector industry: 60%


services: 40%


agriculture: 0% (2000)
agriculture: 8%


industry: 13%


services: 79% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2001 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2001 est.) -8% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)
Geographic coordinates 29 30 N, 45 45 E 32 00 N, 35 15 E
Geography - note strategic location at head of Persian Gulf landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 242 West Bank settlements and 29 East Jerusalem settlements in addition to at least 20 occupied outposts (August 2005 est.)
Heliports 3 (2002) -
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%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $7.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)
Imports - commodities food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners US 12%, Japan 8%, UK 8%, Germany 7%, China 5%, France 4%, Australia 3%, Netherlands 2% (2000) Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006)
Independence 19 June 1961 (from UK) -
Industrial production growth rate 1% (1997 est.) 2.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)
Industries petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers
Infant mortality rate 10.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 18.67 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 20.59 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 16.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.7% (2001) 3.6% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006)
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, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO -
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 3 (2000) -
Irrigated land 60 sq km (1998 est.) 150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)
Judicial branch High Court of Appeal -
Labor force 1.3 million


note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.) (1998 est.)
605,000 (2006)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% agriculture: 18%


industry: 15%


services: 67% (2006)
Land boundaries total: 462 km


border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
total: 404 km


border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Land use arable land: 0.34%


permanent crops: 0.06%


other: 99.6% (1998 est.)
arable land: 16.9%


permanent crops: 18.97%


other: 64.13% (2001)
Languages Arabic (official), English widely spoken Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
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: 76.46 years


male: 75.56 years


female: 77.39 years (2002 est.)
total population: 73.46 years


male: 71.68 years


female: 75.35 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 78.6%


male: 82.2%


female: 74.9% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 92.4%


male: 96.7%


female: 88% (2004 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia Middle East, west of Jordan
Map references Middle East Middle East
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 NM none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,274,515 GRT/3,627,835 DWT


ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 6, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 19


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Monaco 1, Saudi Arabia 1 (2002 est.)
-
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force (including Air Defense Force), National Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $1,967.3 million (FY01)


note: Kuwait is changing its fiscal year; the above figure is for July-March 2001; future budget years will be April-March annually
-
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 5.5% (FY01) NA
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 812,059 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 486,906 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 18,309 (2002 est.) -
National holiday National Day, 25 February (1950) -
Nationality noun: Kuwaiti(s)


adjective: Kuwaiti
noun: NA


adjective: NA
Natural hazards sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April; they 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 droughts
Natural resources petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas arable land
Net migration rate 13.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 2.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 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 2,111,561


note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2002 est.)
2,535,927


note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 46% (2007 est.)
Population growth rate 3.33%


note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2002 est.)
2.985% (2007 est.)
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) AM 0, FM 25, shortwave 0 (2008)
Radios 1.175 million (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15% Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%
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: 1.8 male(s)/female


total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.736 male(s)/female


total population: 1.038 male(s)/female (2007 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
general assessment: NA


domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services


international: country code - 970 (2004)
Telephones - main lines in use 412,000 (1997) 349,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 210,000 (1997) 1.095 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)
Television broadcast stations 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997) 30 (2008)
Terrain flat to slightly undulating desert plain mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east
Total fertility rate 3.14 children born/woman (2002 est.) 4.17 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 1.8% (1996 est.) 18.6% (2006)
Waterways none -
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