Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
Kuwait has been ruled by the AL-SABAH dynasty since the 18th century. The threat of Ottoman invasion in 1899 prompted Amir Mubarak AL-SABAH to seek protection from Britain, ceding foreign and defense responsibility to Britain until 1961, when the country attained its independence. Iraq attacked and overran Kuwait in 1990. After several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault in 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. In 1992, the Amir reconstituted the parliament that he had dissolved in 1986.
- Capital
- Kuwait City
- Government
- constitutional monarchy (emirate)
- Population
- 3,172,511
- Area
- 17,818 sq km
- Location
- Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
- Climate
- dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
- Natural resources
- petroleum; fish; shrimp; natural gas
- Languages
- Arabic (official); English widely spoken
- Religions
- Muslim (official) 74.6%; Christian 18.2%; other and unspecified 7.2%
- Independence
- 19 June 1961 (from the UK)
- Administrative divisions
- 6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al K…
- Currency
- Kuwaiti dinars (KD)
- Export partners
- China 25%; India 13%; Japan 13%; Taiwan 7%…
- Import partners
- China 18%; UAE 10%; USA 9%; Saudi Arabia 6%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain