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NAVIGATION
State of Kuwait
Dawlat al Kuwayt
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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 completely liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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29 30 N, 45 45 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 17,820 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New Jersey |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km |
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Coastline:
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499 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters |
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Terrain:
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flat to slightly undulating desert plain |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.34%
permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.6% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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60 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April; they 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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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location at head of Persian Gulf |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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2,111,561
note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 28.3% (male 304,200; female 292,900)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 934,115; female 527,331) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 34,106; female 18,909) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.33%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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21.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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2.46 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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13.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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10.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 76.46 years
male: 75.56 years female: 77.39 years (2002 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.14 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.12% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti |
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Ethnic groups:
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Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15% |
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), English widely spoken |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.6% male: 82.2% female: 74.9% (1995 est.) |