Factbook dossier
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. 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. 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 a…
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Area
total : 17,818 sq km land: 17,818 sq km water: 0 sq km
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
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
Population
total: 3,172,511 (2025 est.) male: 1,827,274 female: 1,345,237
Ethnic groups
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.)
Languages
Arabic (official), English widely spoken major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.) note: data represent the total population; about 72% of the population consists of immigrants
Environmental issues
limited natural freshwater resources; air and water pollution; desertification; loss of biodiversity
Government type
constitutional monarchy (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) etymology: the name comes from the Arabic al-kuwayt , a diminutive of the Hindustani term kut , meaning a fortress-like house
Executive branch
chief of state: Amir MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 16 December 2023) head of government: Prime Minister AHMAD ABDULLAH Al-Ahmad al Sabah (since 15 May 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir election/appointment process: amir chosen from within the ruling family, confirmed by the National Assembly; prime minister appointed by the amir
Legislative branch
expected date of next election: April 2028 note: 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$225.947 billion (2024 est.) $231.884 billion (2023 est.) $235.815 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$45,400 (2024 est.) $47,800 (2023 est.) $51,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.9% (2024 est.) 3.6% (2023 est.) 4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
China 25%, India 13%, Japan 13%, Taiwan 7%, UK 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 18%, UAE 10%, USA 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwait Army (aka Kuwait Land Forces, KLF), Kuwait Navy (aka Kuwait Naval Force), Kuwait Air Force; Kuwait National Guard (KNG) Ministry of Interior: Kuwait Police, State Security, Kuwait Coast Guard (2025) note 1: 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 note 2: 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
Military expenditures
4.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 4.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 6.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)