Kuwait

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Kuwait's Information


Capital	Kuwait City
Languages	Arabic (official), English widely spoken
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.)
Religion	Muslim (official) 76.7%, Christian 17.3%, other and unspecified 5.9%
Government	Constitutional monarchy
Independance	19 June 1961 (from the UK)
Area	17,818.00 km²
Land Area	17,818.00 km²
Population	2,832,776.00 Densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country
Location	Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
No. Bordering Countries	2
Bordering Countries	Iraq 254 km, Saudi Arabia 221 km
GDP(PPP)	$301,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$71,300.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are South Korea, China, and Japan.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are oil and refinded products and fertilizers.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, and clothing.
Climate	Dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain	Flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Where is Kuwait?

Located in the Middle East, Kuwait has a 475.00 km border with Iraq (254 km) and Saudi Arabia (221 km). It has a 499.00 km coastline. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue to engotiate a joint maritime boundary with Iran.

The official capital city of Kuwait is Kuwait City. Kuwait City is the capital as well as the largest city in the entire Republic of Kuwait. Kuwait City is the epicenter of Kuwait's culture, tradition, economy, as well as an administrative headquarters. Most of the country's economic activities are conducted within the city. The city dates back to early 1600 when it was founded as the town of Kuwait. During the 18th and 19th centuries Kuwait City, due to its perfect location on the coast, acted as a boat building center. The city supplied the entire Persian Gulf region with boats. Kuwait city is located on the Kuwait Bay, which is one of the deepest natural water harbors on the globe. The environment of the city is considered to be a hot desert climate with very high temperatures during the summer.

Geography

Kuwait has a mean elevation of 108 m above sea level.

It has an arid climate with short winters and intensely hot summers. Its terrain consists of flat desert plain.

Population

Kuwait has a population of 2,832,776 making it the 141st largest in the world. The densest settlements can be found along the Persian Gulf.

Arabic is the official language, while English is widely spoken. The major ethnicities reported are Kuwaiti, Arab, and Asian. The most common religion is Islam.

The official language in Kuwait is standard Arabic. However, Kuwait is a multilingual country, and there are several other languages used within the nation. Some of the minority languages include Kuwait Arabic, English and French. The Kuwait Arabic is similar to Standard Arabic as they share the same phrases and common words as well as the dialect of the coastal region in east Arabia. English is considered to be the second language in Kuwait though it is not an official language.

Government

Kuwait is an independent country. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961. Its constitution was last ratified in 1962.

Kuwait is runs a semi-democratic government and political system. The hybrid government is composed of the elected members of parliament who represent the people from their specific constituencies and the monarchical rule of the Emir. According to Kuwait's Constitution, the members of parliament go through direct elections to assume office and attend the National Assembly proceedings. The judicial system of Kuwait is considered the most independent in the entire Gulf region. The National Assembly is composed of 50 members. The 50 members represent the sub-districts of the Republic of Kuwait, each of the members is elected by the people through a ballot election system conducted by the election commission of Kuwait. According to the Constitution of Kuwait promulgated in 1962, only a maximum of 16 members are allowed to serve in the cabinet. Also, at least one member of the council must be a member of the National Assembly to represent the people during the proceedings of the executive government. The members of the executive branch of government are appointed by the prime minister and go through vetting and scrutiny by the National Assembly. The prime minister is designated by a group of people known as the Emir of which their powers are defined in the Constitution of Kuwait.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Kuwait's GDP is $301,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $71,300.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 54th largest economy and its citizens the 10th richest in the world. The currency of Kuwait is the Dinar (KWD).

Its major export partners are South Korea, China, and Japan. Its main exports are oil and refinded products and fertilizers. Its major import partners are China, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. Its major imports include food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, and clothing.

Flag

The Kuwaiti flag is an internationally recognized symbol for the Republic of Kuwait. It seeks to represent peace, unity, and bloodshed. Since its adoption in 1961, the Kuwaiti flag has not been redesigned again. The adoption of Kuwait’s flag took place on 7th September 1961 and it was officially hoisted later that year on the 24th of November.