Kuwait

Full name of country: State of Kuwait

Region: Middle East

Official language: Arabic

Population: 3,138,355 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Kuwaiti(s) (noun), Kuwaiti (adjective)

Land area: 17,818 sq km (6,880 sq miles)

Capital: Kuwait City

National anthem: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem), by Ahmad Mushari Al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir Al-Soula

National holiday: National Day, February 25 (1950)

Population growth: 1.1% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +3

Flag: The flag of Kuwait features a black trapezoid on the hoist (left) side, followed by three horizontal bands of green (top), white (middle), and red (bottom). In addition to representing the pan-Arab colors, the flag’s colors stand for the defeat of the nation’s enemies in war (black); the blood that covers Kuwaiti swords (red); the fertility of the country’s land (green); and the purity of the country’s actions (white).

Independence: June 19, 1961 (from the UK)

Government type: constitutional emirate

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military or police by law cannot vote; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years

Legal system: mixed legal system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic religious law

Threatened by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in the nineteenth century, Kuwait voluntarily became a British protectorate. Today, Kuwait is an independent nation. It is led by an emir, whose power is limited by the National Assembly. The emir appoints the prime minister and deputy prime ministers. Democracy in Kuwait is still somewhat limited; for example, women did not have the right to vote in Kuwait until 2005. Nonetheless, the American think tank Freedom House reported in the early 2020s that Kuwaitis enjoyed more political rights than most people in the Arab world at that time.

Kuwait became prosperous and stable after extensive desert oilfields were developed following World War II (1939–45). The government used the income to build excellent roads, institute free health care and social services, and support an educational system that has resulted in one of the highest literacy rates in the Middle East. In addition to receiving free education and health care, citizens pay no income tax. Modern Kuwait is one of the world's wealthiest nations per capita.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography

People and Culture

Population: Kuwait is among the more densely populated countries in the world. By 2023 the entire population lived in the country's cities, mainly the capital of Kuwait City. Most of the rest of the country is empty desert.

Kuwait's official population was listed as more than 3 million in 2024, but the actual number of people in the country was estimated at more than 4.4 million in 2019, with immigrants accounting for almost 70 percent of the total. Of the official population, according to 2018 estimates, Kuwaitis accounted for 30.4 percent, people from other Arab countries accounted for 27.4 percent, Asians accounted for 40.3 percent, and Africans accounted for 1 percent. Small Western communities, including North and South Americans, Europeans, and Australians, were also found in Kuwait. The country's population boomed, mostly by immigration, after oil was discovered.

Arabic, the official language, is spoken by most Kuwaitis and by many non-Kuwaiti residents. English is also widely understood and spoken, especially by young people. Discrimination based on language is illegal in Kuwait.

Religious discrimination is also forbidden, although Islam is the state religion. Based on a 2013 estimate which included all of the population (and not just Kuwaiti citizens), roughly 74.6 percent of people in Kuwait were Muslim, mostly Sunni. Approximately 18.2 percent of Kuwaitis were Christian.

Immigrants, who make up an estimated 60 percent of the country's labor force, enjoy fewer benefits than citizens and can face a number of challenges, including exploitation and difficult working conditions.

Women in Kuwait have much more freedom than their counterparts in neighboring countries. They dress as they please, and many wear Western clothes. They can drive cars and travel without their husbands' permission.

Until the mid-1990s, few women in Kuwait worked outside the home or received much education. In the twenty-first century, however, women outnumber men in the university, and nearly half of Kuwaiti women participated in the labor force by 2014. Kuwaiti women have also become active in politics. Within a month after women were granted the right to vote in 2005, the government named a woman minister to the cabinet.

Starting in 2021 women in Kuwait were allowed to volunteer for military service.

Indigenous People: Archaeological evidence reveals that people have lived in the area that is now Kuwait for more than three thousand years. Failaka, the largest of Kuwait's nine islands, was evidently a trading post in the time of the ancient Sumerians. It was also known to the ancient Greeks.

Between 1710 and 1740, desert nomads from Saudi Arabia founded Kuwait; the port they built later became Kuwait City. In 1775 the British established Kuwait as the starting point of a mail and carrier service to Aleppo, Syria.

Education: All state education in Kuwait is free. Nine years' school attendance is compulsory for children, beginning at age six.

The government has pushed for better education in the twentieth and early twenty-first century, partly because not enough Kuwaitis are educated enough to work in the oil industry; these jobs are often filled by foreigners. By 2014, approximately 100 percent of children were being enrolled in primary school. Part of the result is one of the highest literacy rates in the world, at 96.5 percent overall (2020 est.).

As part of its initial educational reform efforts, the government opened Kuwait University in 1966. In addition, the government provides scholarships to those who want to study abroad in subjects not offered at Kuwait University. Many other students study abroad at their own expense.

Health Care: Thanks to oil revenues, health care is also completely free to Kuwaiti nationals. Average life expectancy is 79.6 years (78.1 years for men and 81.1 years for women, 2024 est.). There are 2.34 physicians available for every 1,000 people (2020 est.). The country’s health expenditures represented approximately 6.3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP, purchasing power parity) in 2020.  Kuwait's HDI value for 2022 is 0.847— which put the country in the Very High human development category—positioning it at 49 out of 193 countries and territories.

Flies and insects present a public health problem in Kuwait. Also, the wind-borne sand and dust often aggravate infections and allergic conditions. Common health problems include back pain, migraines, skin conditions, diabetes, anemia, anxiety, and asthma.

Food: The Kuwaiti diet generally consists of more vegetables than animal products. While most food is imported, fresh fruits, vegetables, and Persian Gulf fish are sold in local markets. Because Kuwait is an Islamic country, alcohol sales are forbidden.

Kuwaitis often eat fish and seafood, including hamra (red snapper), zubaidi (pomfret), hamour (grouper), and shrimp. Meat is frequently skewered and grilled in typical Middle Eastern fashion. Mutton (sheep) and lamb are traditional meats, but beef is imported and has grown in popularity. Chicken is also widely eaten.

Salads of cucumbers, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, red onions, and radishes often accompany meals, with a dressing of lemon juice and salt. Other popular vegetable ingredients include peppers and pickled turnips.

Since the days of the ancient spice trade, cumin, coriander, nutmeg, cardamom, pepper, cloves, paprika, and cinnamon have been used to flavor Kuwaiti cuisine. Dessert dishes often use seasonings such as tamarind syrup and rose water.

Arts & Entertainment: Because Kuwait is a trading crossroads, many cultures have influenced its music. For instance, some Kuwaiti music rhythms come from the Bedouins, who sang to pass the time on long journeys. Travelers on trade routes brought back other musical forms from Asia and Africa.

Traditional dance in Kuwait is segregated by gender. Women's dances include the Samiri, Fraisah, Al Zifan, Khamari, and Tanboura. These are performed at social events and family gatherings. In the Ardah, a men's dance performed at weddings and feasts, the dancers exhibit their swordsmanship, accompanied by drums and tambourines.

Ceramics and jewelry are an important aspect of Kuwaiti art. Bedouin silver jewelry is exhibited at the Tareq Rajab Museum. Many museums exhibit Kuwaiti antiquities and art, both traditional and modern. The Bedouin art of sadu involves weaving and decorating cloth from sheep's wool.

Traditional Kuwaiti architecture is a blend of traditional and modern, simple structure and heavy adornment. One example is the Grand Mosque, a large, modern building with traditional Islamic designs and calligraphy. Current architecture tends toward intricate design.

The Kuwaiti government promotes awareness of the dramatic arts. The Gulf Theater, Popular Theater, and Kuwaiti Theater are a few of the country's theatrical companies.

Popular traditional sports in Kuwait include swimming, diving, rowing, navigation, hunting, shooting, horseback riding, and tracking. The Kuwait Olympic Committee was established in 1957; when Kuwait lost to South Korea in the trials for the 2006 Olympic Games, public demonstrations led to the resignation of several officials of the football (soccer) union.

Holidays: In addition to all of the major Muslim religious celebrations, Kuwaitis observe several unique official holidays. National Day (February 25) commemorates the establishment of Kuwait as a nation in 1961. Liberation Day, observed on February 26, marks Kuwait's liberation from Iraqi occupation in 1991.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Slightly smaller than the American state of New Jersey, Kuwait lies at the head of the Persian Gulf, between Iraq on the northwest and Saudi Arabia on the south. The coastline is 193 kilometers (120 miles) long.

Nine islands in the Gulf are also part of Kuwait. The only populated one is Falaika (or Falaykah), 19 kilometers (12 miles) off the coast. The largest island, Bubiyan, is uninhabited.

Most of the country is flat, nearly uninhabited arid desert, with some small hills. Kuwait has no rivers or lakes. Water is obtained primarily through desalination operations, which remove the salt from seawater. One large underground water source was discovered in 1960. Wells exist, but the water is brackish, or salty.

The country's highest point is at 306 meters (1,003 feet) above sea level.

Natural Resources: By far, Kuwait's greatest natural resource is oil. The burning of more than 700 Kuwaiti oil wells by Iraqi forces in 1991 left large areas of the country contaminated with toxic residue. As a result, much of the desert was posted as off-limits. Since that time, however, Kuwaiti oil production has returned to, and surpassed, pre-invasion levels.

Other natural resources include natural gas, fish, and shrimp. Environmental issues facing Kuwait include air and water pollution, desertification, and limited fresh water.

Plants & Animals: The banning of access to large areas of the desert helped Kuwait's plant and animal species to recover, because they were not been disturbed by human activity.

Many animals found in Kuwait's desert are reptiles, such as the dhub, or spiny-tailed lizard. Nonvenomous snakes include the sand boa, the leaf-nosed snake, and the rat snake. Venomous species include the Arabian rear-fanged snake, the horned viper, and the rare black desert cobra.

While only sixteen species of birds breed in Kuwait, up to 280 species migrate through the country. The lesser kestrel (falco naumanni) has been observed over Kuwait City, but it is declining in numbers.

Vegetation is sparse; scrub and grasses grow during the winter and are sufficient to feed camel herds. Wildflowers are commonly found during rainy periods.

Sheep and goats have overgrazed the desert, damaging the plant life. Since the Gulf War, however, grazing has been banned in roughly half of the country's area, to allow plant life to begin to recover.

Climate: Kuwait experiences intensely hot summers and short, mild winters. During July and August, temperatures often climb higher than 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) in the shade, making Kuwait one of the world's hottest countries. In August and September, the humidity is high, as well. January is the coldest month, with temperatures between 10 degrees and 20 degrees Celsius (50 degrees and 68 degrees Fahrenheit). Frosts are common during winter nights.

The average annual rainfall is 10 centimeters (4 inches). Most of this comes in the form of sudden cloudbursts from October through April. Sandstorms can occur anytime, but they are more common from March to August.

Economy

Kuwait's economy depends heavily on oil, which provides more than half of the gross domestic product (GDP), 92 percent of export revenues, and 90 percent of government income. Kuwait is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Unfortunately, the oil industry does not provide many jobs, because machines do most of the work. The government is trying to promote other economic ventures to create jobs, diversify Kuwait's economy, and reduce the country's dependence on oil revenues. Nevertheless, the unemployment rate is 2.08 percent (2023 est.).

Kuwait's gross domestic product (GDP, purchasing power parity) was US$225.481 billion in 2023, or $46,500 per capita. Most families own a car, and wealthier Kuwaitis have large homes. The government's social welfare programs guarantee a relatively high standard of living for even the poorest citizens, although immigrants in the country sometimes face reduced standards of living, difficult working conditions, and exploitation,

Industry:Petroleum accounts for over half of Kuwait's GDP, as well as the vast majority of export revenue and government income. The government owns and operates most of the oil industry. In the wake of the Iraq invasion, Kuwait's oil industry infrastructure had to be completely overhauled, at an expense of nearly $10 billion.

Other important industries include chemical production, construction materials manufacturing, and shipbuilding. Due to the country's lack of fresh water, Kuwait is home to some of the world's largest and most advanced water-desalination plants, which remove the salt from seawater.

Exports generated revenues of some $77.1 billion in 2021. South Korea, China, Japan, India, Singapore, and the United States are Kuwait's biggest export partners.

Agriculture: The lack of fresh water, combined with the fact that less than 1 percent of Kuwait's land area is arable, means that few crops are grown on a large scale. Kuwait must import almost all of its food, except fish.

Camels, goats, and sheep are raised on small farms. Livestock products include mutton and lamb, poultry, cows' milk, and eggs. Kuwaiti farmers also grow dates, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, chilies and green peppers, pumpkins, squash, gourds, and a few other vegetables.

Tourism:Tourism and travel provided 136,600 jobs in Kuwait and accounted for 5.3 percent of the nation's total GDP in 2019. Visitors to Kuwait spent US$1.1 billion, or 1.3 percent of total exports. There were 8.5 million tourist arrivals in Kuwait in 2019, but this number plunged to 2.1 million due to the global COVID-19 pandemic that began the following year; the sector continued to face challenges throughout the early 2020s as a result of this.

Popular tourist attractions include the Kuwait Towers resort complex, the Kuwait Zoological Gardens in Omariya, the Kuwait Resort near the Saudi border, and the Entertainment City theme park. Kuwait City boasts many museums and cultural venues.

Many visitors to Kuwait enjoy sailing and water sports. Bird watching is available in nature reserves and on the islands.

Government

Kuwait became a British protectorate in 1899, as it was threatened by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The country became independent in 1961.

In 1938, oil was discovered under Kuwait's desert. After World War II, the American-British Kuwait Oil Company developed the oilfields. In 1975, the Kuwait Oil Company was nationalized.

In 1990, Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq, invaded Kuwait, claiming that Kuwait had violated the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ oil production limits. Hussein also claimed that Kuwait was really part of Iraq. A United States-Saudi-Kuwaiti coalition repelled the invasion in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Kuwait is a constitutional hereditary emirate. For administrative purposes, the country is divided into six governorates. The emir is the chief of state and is chosen by the members of the ruling family from among themselves. The prime minister is the head of government and appoints a cabinet called the Council of Ministers, who are approved by the emir.

The unicameral Majlis al-Umma (National Assembly) exercises legislative power. Fifty of the sixty-five members of the Assembly are elected by simple majority vote to four-year terms. There are fifteen additional cabinet members who are appointed by the prime minister.

Voting rights are extended to natural-born or naturalized citizens over the age of twenty-one. Women won the vote early in 2005, however, women and men must vote at separate polling places. Within a month, a woman had been appointed to the Council of Ministers and two women to the Municipal Council.

Political parties are banned in Kuwait, but several groups act as de facto parties. These include Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shia activists, secular leftists, and nationalists.

Interesting Facts

• The name Kuwait means "little fort" in Arabic.
• One of the most distinctive features on the Kuwait City skyline is the Kuwait Towers, a set of pointed towers with blue-green "sequined" globes that serve as water reservoirs.
• From 2001 to 2009, Kuwait had the highest Human Development Index ranking in the Arab world.

Bibliography

"Human Development Insights." Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar 2024, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Kuwait." UNICEF, data.unicef.org/country/kwt/. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.

"Kuwait." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/kuwait. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Kuwait." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kuwait/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Kuwait Country Profile." BBC News, 18 Dec. 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14644252. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.