Country Profile

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KUWAIT  – COUNTRY PROFILE


Introduction

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 liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.

People

Population:

2,257,549
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.5% (male 316,237; female 304,671)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 1,007,298; female 569,128)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 38,408; female 21,807) (2004 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.9 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 22 years (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:

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: 1.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Religion:

Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi’a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%


Government

Government type:

nominal constitutional monarchy

Political parties and leaders:

none; formation of political parties is illegal

Economy

GDP – per capita:

purchasing power parity – $19,000 (2004 est.)


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