Kuwait
sovereign state in Western Asia
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Kuwait is a country located in Asia[1]. It has an area of 18k. The nation operates in the UTC+03:00 and Asia/Kuwait time zone[2].
World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Climate
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
People & Society
Religions
Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.)
Government
Government type
constitutional monarchy (emirate)
Independence
19 June 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday
National Day, 25 February (1950)
Legal system
mixed system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$225.947 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$45,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
-2.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.2% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 25%, India 13%, Japan 13%, Taiwan 7%, UK 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 18%, UAE 10%, USA 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], League of Arab States[4], World Trade Organization[5], Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[6], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[7], International Development Association[8], International Finance Corporation[9], Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[10], International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes[11], African Development Bank[12], Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa[13], Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development[14], Arab Monetary Fund[15], Interpol[16]
- Country: Kuwait[17]
- Head of government: Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah[18]
- Continent: Asia[19]
- Instance of: sovereign state[20]
- Head of state: Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah[21]
- Capital: Kuwait City[22]
- Official language: Arabic[23]
- Currency: Kuwaiti dinar[24]
- Shares border with: Iraq[25], Saudi–Kuwaiti Neutral Zone[26], Saudi Arabia[27], Iran[28]
- Top-level Internet domain: .kw[29]
- Anthem: National Anthem of Kuwait[30]
- Basic form of government: constitutional monarchy[31]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Al Ahmadi Governorate[32], Farwaniya Governorate[33], Capital Governorate[34], Al Jahra Governorate[35], Hawalli[36], Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate[37]
- Flag: flag of Kuwait[38]
- Legislative body: National Assembly of Kuwait[39]
- Executive body: Government of Kuwait[40]
- Coat of arms: Emblem of Kuwait[41]
- Part of: Middle East[42], Gulf States[43]
- Commons category: Kuwait[44]
- Licence plate code: KWT[45]
- Located in time zone: UTC+03:00[46], Asia/Kuwait[47]
- Telephone country code: +965[48]
Body
Cultural Significance
Things named for Kuwait include Kuwait International Airport[49], an international airport[50]; Order of Kuwait[51], an order[52], founded in 1974[53]; and Kuwait Prize[54], an award[55], founded in 1979[56].
Why It Matters
Kuwait has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[57] Kuwait is known by 47 alternative names across languages and contexts.[58]
Entities named for Kuwait include Kuwait International Airport[49], an international airport[50]; Order of Kuwait[51], an order[52], founded in 1974[53]; and Kuwait Prize[54], an award[55], founded in 1979[56].