State of Kuwait National name: Dawlat al Kuwayt Government: Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy, governed by the al-Sabah family. Geography: Kuwait is situated northeast of Saudi Arabia at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, south of Iraq. The low-lying desert land is mainly sandy and barren. Area: 6,880 sq mi (17,820 sq km) Population (2003 est.): 2,183,161 (growth rate: 1.9%); birth rate: 21.8/1000; infant mortality rate: 10.6/1000; density per sq mi: 317 Capital (2003 est.): Kuwait, 1,709,800 (metro.area), 32,600 (city proper) Largest city: as-Salimiyah, 146,900 Monetary unit: Kuwaiti dinar Languages: Arabic (official), English Ethnicity/race: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7% Religions: Islam, 85% (Shi'ite 30%, Sunni 70%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other, 15% Agriculture: practically no crops; fish. Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials. Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas.

LINKS >> Ministry of Communications Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Planning Kuwait Investment Authority Public Authority for Applied Education and Training National Committee for Missing POW's Affairs Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research Central Bank of Kuwait Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Ottawa, Canada Kuwait Information Office in Washington, United States of America Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the U. N. N. Y.