Kuwait

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<p>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. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs known as Bidoon staged small protests demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Other demographic groups, notably Islamists and Kuwaitis from tribal backgrounds, soon joined the growing protest movements, which culminated with the resignation of the prime minister amid allegations of corruption. Demonstrations renewed in 2012 in response to a decree amending the electoral law that lessened the voting power of the tribal blocs. <br><br>An opposition coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribal populists, and some liberals largely boycotted legislative elections in 2012 and 2013, which ushered in a legislature more amenable to the government's agenda. Faced with the prospect of painful subsidy cuts, oppositionists and independents actively participated in the 2016 election, winning nearly half the seats, but the opposition became increasingly factionalized. Between 2006 and his death in 2020, the Amir dissolved the National Assembly on seven occasions and shuffled the cabinet over a dozen times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government. <br><br>The current Amir, who assumed his role in 2020, launched a "National Dialogue" in 2021 meant to resolve political gridlock. As part of this initiative, the Amir pardoned several opposition figures who had been living in exile, and they returned to Kuwait. Legislative challenges remain, and the cabinet has been reshuffled six times since 2020. </p>

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Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

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29 30 N, 45 45 E

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Middle East

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slightly smaller than New Jersey

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499 km

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dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

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flat to slightly undulating desert plain

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petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

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100 sq km (2015)

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Arabian Aquifer System

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densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country

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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

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strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

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Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)

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Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represent the total population; about 72% of the population consists of immigrants

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1.07% (2025 est.)

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17.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-4.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country

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3.298 million KUWAIT (capital) (2023)

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8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.07 (2025 est.)

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2.27 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

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2.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

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37.9% (2016)

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2.8% (2023 est.)

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limited natural freshwater resources; air and water pollution; desertification; loss of biodiversity

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dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

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54.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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constitutional monarchy (emirate)

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6 governorates (<em>muhafazat</em>, singular - <em>muhafazah</em>); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir

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mixed system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law

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<strong>note:</strong> in May 2024, Amir Sheikh MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly and suspended several articles of the constitution for up to four years

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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21 years of age and at least 20-year citizenship

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<strong>note:</strong> the unicameral National Assembly was dissolved on 10 May 2024 by Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad AL-SABAH for a period of up to four years; the Emir and cabinet officials have assumed the role of the parliament

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none; the government does not recognize any political parties or allow their formation, although no formal law bans political parties

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ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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19 June 1961 (from the UK)

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National Day, 25 February (1950)

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<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a black trapezoid based on the left side<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> green stands for fertile fields, white for purity, red for blood on Kuwaiti swords, and black for defeating the enemy<br><br><strong>history:</strong> colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

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golden falcon

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green, white, red, black

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small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy; renewable energy proponent; regional finance and investment leader; maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund; emerging space and tourism industries; mid-way through 25-year development program

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$160.227 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<strong>note:</strong> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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dates, eggs, milk, tomatoes, chicken, lamb/mutton, cucumbers/gherkins, vegetables, maize, eggplants (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials

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-5.2% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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3.003 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 25%, India 13%, Japan 13%, Taiwan 7%, UK 5% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, hydrocarbons, plastics (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 18%, UAE 10%, USA 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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cars, natural gas, garments, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters; satellite TV available, and pan-Arab TV stations are especially popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels in Arabic and English; first private radio station in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2019)

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.kw

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9K

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6 (2025)

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20 (2025)

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Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwait Army (aka Kuwait Land Forces, KLF), Kuwait Navy (aka Kuwait Naval Force), Kuwait Air Force; Kuwait National Guard (KNG)<br><br>Ministry of Interior: Kuwait Police, State Security, Kuwait Coast Guard (2025)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> the Emiri Guard Authority and the 25th Commando Brigade are special units within the KAF that exercise independent command authority, although activities such as training and equipment procurement are often coordinated with the other services; the 25th Commando Brigade is Kuwait's leading special forces unit; the Emiri Guard Authority (aka Emiri Guard Brigade) is responsible for protecting Kuwait's heads of state<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the National Guard reports directly to the prime minister and the amir and possesses an independent command structure, equipment inventory, and logistics corps separate from the Ministry of Defense, the regular armed services, and the Ministry of Interior; it is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and providing support for the Ministries of Interior and Defense as required

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approximately 17,000 active Kuwait Armed Forces; approximately 7,000 National Guard (2025)

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the military's inventory consists of armaments from Western Europe, Russia, and particularly the US (2025)

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18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month compulsory service for men aged 18-35; mandatory service is divided into two phases – 4 months for training and 8 months for military service (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the National Guard is restricted to citizens, but in 2018, the Army began allowing non-Kuwaitis to join on contract or as non-commissioned officers; that same year, it also began allowing stateless people (Bidoon) to join

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the Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF) are responsible for defending Kuwait's sovereignty and territory; Kuwait’s security concerns include regional threats from state and non-state actors, maritime security, and terrorism; the KAF participates in bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as a limited number of multinational security operations such as maritime patrols in the Persian Gulf; it also provided a few fighter aircraft to the Saudi-led coalition intervention in Yemen in 2015; the KAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region<br><br>Kuwait's key security partner since the 1991 Gulf War has been the US; the US maintains thousands of military personnel as well as logistics and training facilities in Kuwait as part of mutual cooperation agreements signed in 1991 and 2013; the KAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and would look to US assistance in the event of an external attack; Kuwait has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)