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Middle East :: Kuwait

- ## Introduction :: KUWAIT

- Background:
  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. 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 liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family returned to power in 1991 and established one of the most independent legislatures in the Arab World. The country witnessed the historic election in 2009 of four women to its National Assembly. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs, known as bidoon, staged small protests in February and March 2011 demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Youth activist groups - supported by opposition legislators - rallied repeatedly in 2011 for the prime minister's dismissal amid allegations of widespread government corruption, ultimately prompting the prime minister to resign in late 2011. Demonstrations, following a short lull, renewed in late 2012 in response to an Amiri decree amending the electoral law to reduce the number of votes per person from four to one. The opposition, led by a coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribalists, some liberals, and myriad youth groups, largely boycotted legislative elections in 2012 and 2013, which ushered in a legislature more amenable to the government's agenda. Since coming to power in 2006, the Amir has dissolved the National Assembly on five occasions (the Constitutional Court annulled the Assembly in June 2012 and again in June 2013) and shuffled the cabinet over a dozen times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government.

- ## Geography :: KUWAIT

- Location:
  Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
  Geographic coordinates:
  29 30 N, 45 45 E
  Map references:
  Middle East
  Area:
  total: 17,818 sq km
  land: 17,818 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than New Jersey
  Area comparison map:
  Land boundaries:
  total: 475 km
  border countries (2): Iraq 254 km, Saudi Arabia 221 km
  Coastline:
  499 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  Climate:
  dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
  Terrain:
  flat to slightly undulating desert plain
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
  highest point: unnamed elevation 306 m
  Natural resources:
  petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 8.5%
  arable land 0.6%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 7.6%
  forest: 0.4%
  other: 91.1% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  86 sq km (2007)
  Total renewable water resources:
  0.02 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.91 cu km/yr (47%/2%/51%)
  per capita: 441.2 cu m/yr (2005)
  Natural hazards:
  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
  Environment - current issues:
  limited natural freshwater resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
  signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
  Geography - note:
  strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

- ## People and Society :: KUWAIT

- Nationality:
  noun: Kuwaiti(s)
  adjective: Kuwaiti
  Ethnic groups:
  Kuwaiti 31.3%, other Arab 27.9%, Asian 37.8%, African 1.9%, other 1.1% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2013 est.)
  Languages:
  Arabic (official), English widely spoken
  Religions:
  Muslim (official) 76.7%, Christian 17.3%, other and unspecified 5.9%
  note: represents the total population; about 69% of the population consists of immigrants (2013 est.)
  religious affiliation:
  Population:
  2,788,534
  note: Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Information estimates the country's total population to be 3,996,899 for 2014, with immigrants accounting for almost 69% (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 25.32% (male 367,176/female 338,883)
  15-24 years: 15.21% (male 233,306/female 190,903)
  25-54 years: 52.32% (male 924,103/female 534,769)
  55-64 years: 4.82% (male 76,707/female 57,663)
  65 years and over: 2.33% (male 30,681/female 34,343) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 32.1%
  youth dependency ratio: 29.5%
  elderly dependency ratio: 2.6%
  potential support ratio: 38.4% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 29 years
  male: 30.2 years
  female: 27 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.62%
  note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Birth rate:
  19.91 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Death rate:
  2.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 223
  Net migration rate:
  -1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 98.3% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  KUWAIT (capital) 2.779 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.22 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.73 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.41 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  4 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 7.31 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 77.82 years
  male: 76.51 years
  female: 79.19 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Total fertility rate:
  2.48 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Health expenditures:
  2.9% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Physicians density:
  1.79 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
  Hospital bed density:
  2.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99% of population
  rural: 99% of population
  total: 99% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1% of population
  rural: 1% of population
  total: 1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved:
  urban:: 0% of population
  rural:: 0% of population
  total:: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  38.3% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  2.2% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Education expenditures:
  3.8% of GDP (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 96.3%
  male: 96.5%
  female: 95.8% (2015 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 14.55%
  male: N/A
  female: N/A (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94

- ## Government :: KUWAIT

- Country name:
  conventional long form: State of Kuwait
  conventional short form: Kuwait
  local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
  local short form: Al Kuwayt
  etymology: the name derives from the capital city, which is from Arabic "al-Kuwayt" a diminutive of "kut" meaning "fortress encircled by water"
  Government type:
  constitutional emirate
  Capital:
  name: Kuwait City
  geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E
  time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC,during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir
  Independence:
  19 June 1961 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  National Day, 25 February (1950)
  Constitution:
  approved and promulgated 11 November 1962 (2015)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic religious law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kuwait
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: not specified
  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
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29 January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (born 25 June 1937)
  head of government: Prime Minister JABIR AL-MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 30 November 2011); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah; Deputy Prime Ministers al-KHALD al-Jarrah al-Sabah, MUHAMMAD AL-KHALID al-Hamad al-Sabah, Abdulmohsen MUDEJ
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir
  elections/appointments: amir chosen from within the ruling family, confirmed by the National Assembly; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the amir
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (65 seats; 50 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 15 ex-officio members - cabinet ministers - appointed by the prime minister; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held 27 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2017)
  election results: seats won - pro-government 30, liberal 9, Shiite 8, Sunni 3
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with 5 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: all Kuwaiti judges appointed by the Amir upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, a consultative body comprised of Kuwaiti judges and Ministry of Justice officials
  subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; Court of First Instance; Summary Court
  Political parties and leaders:
  none; while the formation of political parties is not permitted, they are not forbidden by law
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups
  International organization participation:
  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, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 10 October 2001)
  chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
  FAX: [1] (202) 966-8468
  consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas Alan SILLIMAN (since 31 August 2014)
  embassy: Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City
  mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000
  telephone: [965] 2259-1001 [965] 2259-1001
  FAX: [965] 2538-6562 [965] 2538-6562
  Flag description:
  three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green represents fertile fields, white stands for purity, red denotes blood on Kuwaiti swords, black signifies the defeat of the enemy
  National symbol(s):
  golden falcon; national colors: green, white, red, black
  National anthem:
  name: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem)
  lyrics/music: Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA
  note: adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions

- ## Economy :: KUWAIT

- Economy - overview:
  Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - more than 6% of world reserves. Kuwaiti officials plan to increase oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. Petroleum accounts for over half of GDP, 94% of export revenues, and 89% of government income. For the last decade, high oil prices have generated budget surpluses despite increasing budget expenditures, particularly on wage hikes for public sector employees. Despite Kuwait’s dependence on oil, the government has cushioned itself against the impact of lower oil prices by continuous saving of at least 10% of government revenue in the Fund for Future Generations. Kuwait has done little to diversify its economy, in part, due to a poor business climate and an acrimonious relationship between the National Assembly and the executive branch that has stymied most economic reforms. In 2010, Kuwait passed its first long-term economic development plan in almost twenty-five years. While the government planned to spend up $104 billion over four years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy, many of the projects did not materialize because of the uncertain political situation.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $282.6 billion (2014 est.)
  $282.3 billion (2013 est.)
  $280 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 54
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $172.6 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  0.1% (2014 est.)
  0.8% (2013 est.)
  7.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 199
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $70,700 (2014 est.)
  $70,600 (2013 est.)
  $70,000 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Gross national saving:
  46.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  56.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  58.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 28.2%
  government consumption: 19.4%
  investment in fixed capital: 15.8%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 67.9%
  imports of goods and services: -31.3%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 0.4%
  industry: 60.6%
  services: 39% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  fish
  Industries:
  petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials
  Industrial production growth rate:
  -1.3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Labor force:
  2.397 million
  note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: NA%
  industry: NA%
  services: NA%
  Unemployment rate:
  3% (2014 est.)
  3% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 22
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $87.62 billion
  expenditures: $75.28 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  50.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  7.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Public debt:
  6.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  6.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.9% (2014 est.)
  2.7% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Central bank discount rate:
  1.25% (31 December 2010)
  3% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  4.3% (31 December 2014 est.)
  4.6% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Stock of narrow money:
  $32.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $31.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Stock of broad money:
  $116 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $116.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $96.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $95.09 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $99.77 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $100.9 billion (31 December 2011)
  $119.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Current account balance:
  $53.53 billion (2014 est.)
  $72.46 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Exports:
  $103.4 billion (2014 est.)
  $115.9 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Exports - commodities:
  oil and refined products, fertilizers
  Exports - partners:
  South Korea 16.7%, India 14.9%, Japan 12.3%, US 11.3%, China 9.9% (2014)
  Imports:
  $27.38 billion (2014 est.)
  $25.66 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Imports - commodities:
  food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
  Imports - partners:
  US 12.7%, China 11.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.1%, South Korea 6.9%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 4.8%, India 4.2% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $31.43 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $32.23 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Debt - external:
  $35.22 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $36.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $3.882 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.744 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $36.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $33.12 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Exchange rates:
  Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar -
  0.2845 (2014 est.)
  0.2845 (2013 est.)
  0.28 (2012 est.)
  0.276 (2011 est.)
  0.2866 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: KUWAIT

- Electricity - production:
  58.9 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Electricity - consumption:
  50 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 47
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  14.7 million kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 49
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Crude oil - production:
  2.619 million bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Crude oil - exports:
  1.824 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  104 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  772,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  467,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  533,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Natural gas - production:
  16.31 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Natural gas - consumption:
  16.88 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Natural gas - imports:
  571 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  1.798 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  105.7 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 40

- ## Communications :: KUWAIT

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 490,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 7.6 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 277 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: the quality of service is excellent
  domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a mobile-cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones
  international: country code - 965; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat - Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters have emerged since 2003; satellite TV available with pan-Arab TV stations especially popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels in Arabic and English; first private radio station emerged in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
  Television broadcast stations:
  13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .kw
  Internet users:
  total: 2.4 million
  percent of population: 86.9% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 93

- ## Transportation :: KUWAIT

- Airports:
  7 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 4
  over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  under 914 m:
  2 (2013)
  Heliports:
  4 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 261 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 6,608 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Merchant marine:
  total: 34
  by type: bulk carrier 2, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 19
  registered in other countries: 45 (Bahamas 1, Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 2, Panama 12, Qatar 6, Saudi Arabia 4, UAE 10) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi

- ## Military :: KUWAIT

- Military branches:
  Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya; includes Kuwaiti Air Defense Force, KADF), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG) (2013)
  Military service age and obligation:
  17-21 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription suspended (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,002,480
  females age 16-49: 616,958 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 840,912
  females age 16-49: 523,206 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 17,653
  female: 16,232 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  0% of GDP (2012)
  3.35% of GDP (2011)
  0% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 132

- ## Transnational Issues :: KUWAIT

- Disputes - international:
  Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  stateless persons: 93,000 (2014); note - Kuwait's 1959 Nationality Law defined citizens as persons who settled in the country before 1920 and who had maintained normal residence since then; one-third of the population, descendants of Bedouin tribes, missed the window of opportunity to register for nationality rights after Kuwait became independent in 1961 and were classified as bidun (meaning without); since the 1980s Kuwait's bidun have progressively lost their rights, including opportunities for employment and education, amid official claims that they are nationals of other countries who have destroyed their identification documents in hopes of gaining Kuwaiti citizenship; Kuwaiti authorities have delayed processing citizenship applications and labeled biduns as "illegal residents," denying them access to civil documentation, such as birth and marriage certificates
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser degree, forced prostitution; men and women migrate from India, Egypt, Bangladesh, Syria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran, Jordan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Lebanon, and Kenya to work in Kuwait, most of them in the domestic service, construction, and sanitation sectors; although most of these migrants enter Kuwait voluntarily, upon arrival some are subjected to conditions of forced labor by their sponsors and labor agents, including nonpayment of wages, long working hours without rest, deprivation of food, threats, physical or sexual abuse, and restrictions on movement, such as withholding passports or confinement to the workplace
  tier rating: Tier 3 - Kuwait does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making sufficient efforts to do so; no efforts were made to prosecute or convict trafficking offenders using the 2013 anti-trafficking law or other laws addressing trafficking crimes; victim protection measures remained weak particularly due to a lack of proactive victim identification procedures and non-enforcement of the law prohibiting sponsors from withholding workers’ passports; no system was developed to refer victims to protective services; the government initiated investigations of companies that brought in large numbers of unskilled foreign workers under false promises of work and that illegally sold visas (2014)

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