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Compare Pakistan (2001) - Kuwait (2002)

Compare Pakistan (2001) z Kuwait (2002)

 Pakistan (2001)Kuwait (2002)
 PakistanKuwait
Administrative divisions 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh

note:
the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Age structure 0-14 years:
40.47% (male 30,131,400; female 28,391,891)

15-64 years:
55.42% (male 40,977,543; female 39,164,663)

65 years and over:
4.11% (male 2,918,872; female 3,032,270) (2001 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs practically no crops; fish
Airports 117 (2000 est.) 7 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
82

over 3,047 m:
12

2,438 to 3,047 m:
21

1,524 to 2,437 m:
32

914 to 1,523 m:
14

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
35

1,524 to 2,437 m:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
11

under 914 m:
17 (2000 est.)
total: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Area total:
803,940 sq km

land:
778,720 sq km

water:
25,220 sq km
total: 17,820 sq km


land: 17,820 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of California slightly smaller than New Jersey
Background The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. 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.
Birth rate 31.21 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 21.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$8.9 billion

expenditures:
$11.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)
revenues: $11.5 billion


expenditures: $17.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02 )
Capital Islamabad Kuwait
Climate mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Coastline 1,046 km 499 km
Constitution 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999 approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Country name conventional long form:
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

conventional short form:
Pakistan

former:
West Pakistan
conventional long form: State of Kuwait


conventional short form: Kuwait


local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt


local short form: Al Kuwayt
Currency Pakistani rupee (PKR) Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Death rate 9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 2.46 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $38 billion (2000 est.) $6.9 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador William B. MILAM

embassy:
Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad

mailing address:
P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200

telephone:
[92] (51) 2080-0000

FAX:
[92] (51) 2276427

consulate(s) general:
Karachi

consulate(s):
Lahore, Peshawar
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 Maleeha LODHI

chancery:
2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 939-6200

FAX:
[1] (202) 387-0484

consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles and New York
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 status of Kashmir with India; water-sharing problems with India over the Indus River (Wular Barrage) 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
Economic aid - recipient $2 billion (FY99/00) NA
Economy - overview Pakistan is a poor, heavily populated country, suffering from internal political disputes, lack of foreign investment, and a costly confrontation with neighboring India. Pakistan's economic outlook continues to be marred by its weak foreign exchange position, which relies on international creditors for hard currency inflows. The MUSHARRAF government will face an estimated $21 billion in foreign debt coming due in 2000-03, despite having rescheduled nearly $2 billion in debt with Paris Club members. Foreign loans and grants provide approximately 25% of government revenue, but debt service obligations total nearly 50% of government expenditure. Although Pakistan successfully negotiated a $600 million IMF Stand-By Arrangement, future loan installments will be jeopardized if Pakistan misses critical IMF benchmarks on revenue collection and the fiscal deficit. MUSHARRAF has complied largely with IMF recommendations to raise petroleum prices, widen the tax net, privatize public sector assets, and improve the balance of trade. However, Pakistan's economic prospects remain uncertain; too little has changed despite the new administration's intentions. Foreign exchange reserves hover at roughly $1 billion, GDP growth hinges on crop performance, the import bill has been hammered by high oil prices, and both foreign and domestic investors remain wary of committing to projects in Pakistan. 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.
Electricity - consumption 57.732 billion kWh (1999) 29.016 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 62.078 billion kWh (1999) 31.2 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
63.38%

hydro:
36.51%

nuclear:
0.11%

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


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point:
K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m


highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Environment - current issues water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification 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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban
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 Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants) Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Exchange rates Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 59.152 (January 2001), 52.814 (2000), 49.118 (1999), 44.943 (1998), 40.918 (1997), 35.909 (1996) Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.3075 (January 2002), 0.3066, (2001), 0.3067 (2000), 0.3044 (1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997)
Executive branch note:
following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF suspended Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; exercising the powers of the head of the government, he appointed an eight-member National Security Council to function as Pakistan's supreme governing body; President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR remains the ceremonial chief of state; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF executive and legislative authority for three years from the coup date

chief of state:
President Mohammad Rafiq TARAR (since 31 December 1997)

head of government:
Chief Executive Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 12 October 1999)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the chief executive

elections:
president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 31 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA); note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF overthrew the government of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF in the military takeover of 12 October 1999; in May 2000, the Supreme Court validated the October 1999 coup and set a three-year limit in office for Chief Executive MUSHARRAF

election results:
Rafiq TARAR elected president; percent of Parliament and provincial vote - NA%; results are for the last election for prime minister prior to the military takeover of 12 October 1999 - Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%
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 $8.6 billion (f.o.b., FY99/00) $16.2 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities textiles (garments, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice, other agricultural products oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners US 24%, Hong Kong 7%, UK 7%, Germany 6%, UAE 6% (FY99/00) Japan 23%, US 14%, South Korea 13%, Singapore 7%, Netherlands 6%, Pakistan 6%, Indonesia 4%, UK 2% (2000)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 April - 31 March
Flag description green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $282 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $30.9 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
25.4%

industry:
24.9%

services:
49.7% (1999 est.)
industry: 60%


services: 40%


agriculture: 0% (2000)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.8% (2000 est.) 4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 30 00 N, 70 00 E 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Geography - note controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Heliports 8 (2000 est.) 3 (2002)
Highways total:
247,811 km

paved:
141,252 km (including 339 km of expressways)

unpaved:
106,559 km (1998)
total: 4,450 km


paved: 3,590 km


unpaved: 860 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
4.1%

highest 10%:
27.7% (1996)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs key transit area for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western markets; narcotics still move from Afghanistan into Balochistan Province -
Imports $9.6 billion (f.o.b., FY99/00) $7.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery, petroleum, petroleum products, chemicals, transportation equipment, edible oils, grains, pulses, flour food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners Saudi Arabia 8%, UAE 8%, US 6%, Japan 6%, Malaysia 4% (FY99/00) US 12%, Japan 8%, UK 8%, Germany 7%, China 5%, France 4%, Australia 3%, Netherlands 2% (2000)
Independence 14 August 1947 (from UK) 19 June 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 3.8% (1999 est.) 1% (1997 est.)
Industries textiles, food processing, beverages, construction materials, clothing, paper products, shrimp petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials
Infant mortality rate 80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 10.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.2% (2000 est.) 2.7% (2001)
International organization participation AsDB, C (suspended), CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO 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) 30 (2000) 3 (2000)
Irrigated land 171,100 sq km (1993 est.) 60 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court High Court of Appeal
Labor force 40 million

note:
extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor (2000 est.)
1.3 million


note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.) (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 44%, industry 17%, services 39% (1999 est.) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries total:
6,774 km

border countries:
Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km
total: 462 km


border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Land use arable land:
27%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
6%

forests and woodland:
5%

other:
61% (1993 est.)
arable land: 0.34%


permanent crops: 0.06%


other: 99.6% (1998 est.)
Languages Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8% Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Legal system based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999; bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the members up for election every two years) and the National Assembly (217 seats - 10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA); National Assembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA); note - no timetable has yet been given for elections following the military takeover

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J 2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/N 137, PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1, independents 21, minorities 10; note - Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dismissed Parliament 15 October 1999
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:
61.45 years

male:
60.61 years

female:
62.32 years (2001 est.)
total population: 76.46 years


male: 75.56 years


female: 77.39 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
42.7%

male:
55.3%

female:
29% (1998)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 78.6%


male: 82.2%


female: 74.9% (1995 est.)
Location Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Map references Asia Middle East
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total:
17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 240,605 GRT/367,040 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 13, container 3, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)
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, Civil Armed Forces, National Guard Army, Navy, Air Force (including Air Defense Force), National Police Force, National Guard, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $2.435 billion (FY99/00) $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 3.9% (FY99/00) 5.5% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
35,770,928 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 812,059 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
21,897,366 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 486,906 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 17 years of age 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
1,657,723 (2001 est.)
males: 18,309 (2002 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 23 March (1956) National Day, 25 February (1950)
Nationality noun:
Pakistani(s)

adjective:
Pakistani
noun: Kuwaiti(s)


adjective: Kuwaiti
Natural hazards frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) 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
Natural resources land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Net migration rate -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 885 km; natural gas 4,044 km (1987) crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km
Political parties and leaders note:
Gen. Pervez MUSHARRAF dissolved Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999, however, political parties have been allowed to operate; Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. HAYEE Baluch]; Baluch National Party or BNP [Sardar Akhtar MENGAL]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction or JUP/NI [Abdul Sattar Khan NIAZI]; Millat Party [Farooq LEGHARI]; Milli Yakjheti Council or MYC is an umbrella organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED], Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction or JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ], Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan or TJP [Allama Sajid NAQVI], and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction or JUP/NO [Shah Ahmad NOORANI]; Mutahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN]; National People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PKMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed AFZAL Khan]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Junejo faction or PML/J [Hamid Nasir CHATTHA]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto or PPP/SB [Ghinva BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]

note:
political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders military remains important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
Population 144,616,639 (July 2001 est.) 2,111,561


note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2000 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.11% (2001 est.) 3.33%


note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Radio broadcast stations AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998) AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 13.5 million (1997) 1.175 million (1997)
Railways total:
8,163 km

broad gauge:
7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified; 1,037 km double track)

narrow gauge:
445 km 1.000-m gauge (1996 est.) (2000)
0 km
Religions Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3% Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
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.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims 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 domestic system is mediocre, but improving; service is adequate for government and business use, in part because major businesses have established their own private systems; since 1988, the government has promoted investment in the national telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily available to the majority of the rural population

domestic:
microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks

international:
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (1999)
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 2.861 million (March 1999) 412,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 158,000 (1998) 210,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997) 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Terrain flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Total fertility rate 4.41 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.14 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 6% (FY99/00 est.) 1.8% (1996 est.)
Waterways none none
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