Country Profile

By IGA Editor On Apr 7, 2011

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.)