• Full name: State of Kuwait (dawlat al-kuwayt)
• Capital: Kuwait City
• Date of independence: June 19, 1961 from Great Britain
• Type of government: constitutional monarchy
• Head of state: Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah (since 1977)
• Suffrage: 21-year-old male Kuwaitis, and non-Kuwaitis who have been naturalized for at least 30 years or who have lived in Kuwait since before 1921, and their male descendants who are over 21

Geography and Environment

• Total area: 6,880 miles² (17, 818 km²); slightly smaller than New Jersey

• Physical geography: Kuwait is bounded by Iraq in the west, the Persian Gulf in the east, and Saudi Arabia in the south. Most of the country is desert, except for the Al-Jahrah oasis in the eastern part of the country near Kuwait Bay. Kuwait’s landscape is flat with occasional low hills; the highest peak, located in the western part of the country, reaches 951 ft. (290 m). There are nine offshore islands but only one—Faylakah—is inhabited. Naturally arable land is scarce. Cultivation is possible on the reclaimed land of Kuwait City (known as the green belt) and in the few existing oases such as Al-Jahrah.

• Climate: Typical of a desert climate, Kuwait is hot and dry. The rainy season runs from October to April, bringing an average annual rainfall of 1–7 inches (2.5–18 cm). In the dry months of May to September, the normal daily temperature averages 111°F (44°C) and can rise as high as 130°F (54°C).  Winter temperatures are lower, approaching freezing at night.

• Environmental issues: limited fresh water resources; air and water pollution; desertification

People

• Population: about 2 million, of which 65% are nonnationals  

• Urban population: 97% of total

• Literacy: 82%

• Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arabs 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%

• Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi`a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

• Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Economy (1998 figures)

• GNP per capita: $22,700 (1998)

• Gross domestic product: $30.3 billion

• GDP distribution: agriculture .5%, industry 52%, manufacturing 12.9%, services 47.6%

• Female share of labor force: 31%

• Natural resources: petroleum (10% of known world reserves), fish, shrimp, natural gas reserves

• Main agricultural products: fish, almost no crops

• Important industries: petroleum and petroleum products, cement, fertilizers, petrochemicals, electricity, desalination, and food processing

• Major exports: oil

Official Holidays

National (secular) holidays:

• New Year’s Day (January 1)

• Kuwait National Day (February 25)

• Kuwait Liberation Day (February 26)

Muslim holidays:

• `Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan)

• `Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)

• Islamic New Year

• Mawlid al-Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday)

• Lailat al-Mi`raaj (night of the Prophet’s ascension to heaven)