Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
Jah-Jah.pl / Index countries / Svalbard (2008) - Kuwait (2008) / Compare countries
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Svalbard (2008) - Kuwait (2008)

Compare Svalbard (2008) z Kuwait (2008)

 Svalbard (2008)Kuwait (2008)
 SvalbardKuwait
Administrative divisions - 6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak Al Kabir
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 340,814/female 328,663)


15-64 years: 70.5% (male 1,128,231/female 636,967)


65 years and over: 2.8% (male 44,542/female 26,342) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products - practically no crops; fish
Airports 4 (2007) 7 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
total: 4


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 3


under 914 m: 3 (2007)
total: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Area total: 61,020 sq km


land: 61,020 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
total: 17,820 sq km


land: 17,820 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than West Virginia slightly smaller than New Jersey
Background First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory. 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 liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since returning to power in 1991, and reestablished an elected legislature that in recent years has become increasingly assertive.
Birth rate NA 21.95 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $25.07 million


expenditures: $NA (2004 est.)
revenues: $66.92 billion


expenditures: $36.39 billion (2007 est.)
Capital name: Longyearbyen


geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
name: Kuwait


geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E


time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Coastline 3,587 km 499 km
Constitution - approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)
conventional long form: State of Kuwait


conventional short form: Kuwait


local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt


local short form: Al Kuwayt
Death rate NA 2.39 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external - $33.61 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Dependency status territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway -
Diplomatic representation from the US - chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alan MISENHEIMER


embassy: Bayan 36302, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City


mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000


telephone: [965] 259-1001


FAX: [965] 538-0282
Diplomatic representation in the US - chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah


chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702


FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517
Disputes - international despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf
Economic aid - recipient $8.2 million from Norway (1998) $2.6 million (2004)
Economy - overview Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gave the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox. Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 104 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. High oil prices in recent years have helped build Kuwait's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. As a result of this positive fiscal situation, the need for economic reforms is less urgent and the government has not earnestly pushed through new initiatives. Despite its vast oil reserves, Kuwait experienced power outages during the summer months in 2006 and 2007 because demand exceeded power generating capacity. Power outages are likely to worsen, given its high population growth rates, unless the government can increase generating capacity. In May 2007 Kuwait changed its currency peg from the US dollar to a basket of currencies in order to curb inflation and to reduce its vulnerability to external shocks.
Electricity - consumption - 36.28 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production - 41.11 billion kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Ethnic groups Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998) Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Exchange rates Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 5.8396 (2007), 6.4117 (2006), 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003) Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003)
Executive branch chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)


head of government: Governor Per SEFLAND (since 1 October 2005); Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since 2003)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah


head of government: Prime Minister NASIR MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 3 April 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006) and Faysal al-HAJJI (since 5 April 2007)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir


elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime minister and deputy prime ministers
Exports $197.6 million (2004) 2.2 million bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities - oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners - Japan 20.4%, South Korea 16.2%, Taiwan 10.8%, Singapore 9.7%, US 9%, Netherlands 5.3%, China 4.1% (2006)
Fiscal year - 1 April - 31 March
Flag description the flag of Norway is used three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 0.4%


industry: 54.7%


services: 44.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 5.6% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 78 00 N, 20 00 E 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Geography - note northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area; Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a seed repository established by the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the Norwegian Government strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Heliports 1 (2007) 4 (2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $NA 2,611 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities - food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners - US 14.1%, Germany 7.9%, Japan 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, China 5.7%, UK 5.4%, Italy 4.6% (2006)
Independence none (territory of Norway) 19 June 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate - 0.8% (2007 est.)
Industries - petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: 9.47 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.48 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 3.9% (2007 est.)
International organization participation none ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land NA 130 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch - High Court of Appeal
Labor force NA 1.167 million


note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
Land boundaries 0 km total: 462 km


border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (no trees; the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry) (2005)
arable land: 0.84%


permanent crops: 0.17%


other: 98.99% (2005)
Languages Norwegian, Russian Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Legal system the laws of Norway, 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; all cabinet ministers are also ex officio voting members of the National Assembly)


elections: last held 29 June 2006 (next election to be held in 2010)


election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc - Islamic Bloc (Sunni) 17, Popular Bloc 9, National Action Bloc (liberals) 8, independents 16
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total population: 77.36 years


male: 76.25 years


female: 78.52 years (2007 est.)
Literacy NA definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 93.3%


male: 94.4%


female: 91% (2005 census)
Location Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Map references Arctic Region Middle East
Maritime claims territorial sea: 4 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia
territorial sea: 12 nm
Merchant marine - total: 38 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,195,831 GRT/3,566,308 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 3, petroleum tanker 21


registered in other countries: 28 (Bahrain 3, Comoros 1, Liberia 1, Libya 1, Panama 1, Qatar 7, Saudi Arabia 6, UAE 8) (2007)
Military - note demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920 -
Military branches - Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2007)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 5.3% (2006)
National holiday - National Day, 25 February (1950)
Nationality - noun: Kuwaiti(s)


adjective: Kuwaiti
Natural hazards ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and 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 coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Net migration rate NA 16.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines - gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2007)
Political parties and leaders - none; formation of political parties is in practice illegal, but is not forbidden by law
Political pressure groups and leaders - a number of political groups act as de facto parties; several legislative blocs operate in the National Assembly: tribal groups, merchants, Shi'a activists, Islamists, secular liberals and pro-government deputies; in mid-2006, a coalition of Islamists, liberals, and Shia campaigned successfully for electoral reform to reduce corruption
Population 2,214 (July 2007 est.) 2,505,559


note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate -0.007% (2007 est.) 3.561%


note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998) AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Religions - Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
Sex ratio NA (2007 est.) at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.037 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.771 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.691 male(s)/female


total population: 1.526 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage - NA years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the military or police are not allowed to vote; adult females were allowed to vote as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years
Telephone system general assessment: probably adequate


domestic: local telephone service


international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
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, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones


international: country code - 965; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat
Telephones - main lines in use NA 510,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 2.536 million (2006)
Television broadcast stations NA 13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Terrain wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Total fertility rate NA 2.86 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate - 2.2% (2004 est.)
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.