century but did not fully incorporate them into the Serbian realm
until the early 13th century. The Serbian defeat at the Battle of
Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of Ottoman rule during which
large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to Kosovo. By the end of
the 19th century, Albanians replaced the Serbs as the dominant
ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over Kosovo from
the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War (1912). After World
War II (1945), the government of the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia led by Josip TITO reorganized Kosovo as an autonomous
province within the constituent republic of Serbia. Over the next
four decades, Kosovo Albanians lobbied for greater autonomy, and
Kosovo was granted the status almost equal to that of a republic in
the 1974 Yugoslav Constitution. Despite the legislative concessions,
Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s leading to nationalist
riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. Serbs in Kosovo
complained of mistreatment and Serb nationalist leaders, such as
Slobodan MILOSEVIC, exploited those charges to win support among
Serbian voters many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural
heartland. Under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia instituted a new
constitution in 1989 that drastically curtailed Kosovo's autonomy.
Kosovo Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum
that declared Kosovo independent from Serbia. The MILOSEVIC regime
carried out repressive measures against the Albanians in the early
1990s as the unofficial government of Kosovo, led by Ibrahim RUGOVA,
tried to use passive resistance to gain international assistance and
recognition of its demands for independence. In 1995, Albanians
dissatisfied with RUGOVA's nonviolent strategy created the Kosovo
Liberation Army and launched an insurgency. In 1998, MILOSEVIC
authorized a counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres
and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians by Serbian military,
police, and paramilitary forces. The international community tried
to resolve the conflict peacefully, but MILOSEVIC rejected the
proposed international settlement - the Rambouillet Accords -
leading to a three-month NATO bombing of Serbia beginning in March
1999, which forced Serbia to withdraw its military and police forces
from Kosovo in June 1999. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)
placed Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of
Kosovo's future status. Under the resolution, Serbia's territorial
integrity was protected, but it was UNMIK that assumed
responsibility for governing Kosovo. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a
Constitutional Framework, which established Kosovo's Provisional
Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). In succeeding years UNMIK
increasingly devolved responsibilities to the PISG. A UN-led process
began in late 2005 to determine Kosovo's future status. Negotiations
held intermittently between 2006 and 2007 on issues related to
decentralization, religious heritage, and minority rights failed to
yield a resolution between Serbia's willingness to grant a high
degree of autonomy and the Albanians' call for full independence for
Kosovo. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared its
independence from Serbia.
Geography
Kosovo
Location:
Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia
Geographic coordinates:
42 35 N, 21 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 10,887 sq km
land: 10,887 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 702 km
border countries: Albania 112 km, Macedonia 159 km, Montenegro 79
km, Serbia 352 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold
winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns;
Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation;
maximum rainfall between October and December
Terrain:
flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level
surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000
to 2,500 m
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim 297 m (located on the border
with Albania)
highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,565 m
Natural resources:
nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
People
Kosovo
Population:
2,126,708 (2007 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovac (Serbian)
adjective: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovski (Serbian)
note: Kosovan, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or
adjective
Ethnic groups:
Albanians 88%, Serbs 7%, other 5% (Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Turk,
Ashkali, Egyptian)
Religions:
Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic
Languages:
Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Roma
Government
Kosovo
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo
conventional short form: Kosovo
local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosova)
local short form: Kosova (Kosovo)
former: Kosovo and Metohija Autonomous Province
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Pristina (Prishtine)
geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
30 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna in Albanian; opstine,
singular - opstina in Serbian); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas),
Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica),
Gllogoc/Drenas (Glogovac), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Istog (Istok),
Kacanik, Kamenice/Dardana (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Leposaviq
(Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mitrovice
(Mitrovica), Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Peje (Pec),
Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec
(Orahovac), Shtime (Stimlje), Shterpce (Strpce), Skenderaj (Srbica),
Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin
Potok, Zvecan
Independence:
17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
Constitution:
ratified 9 April 2008; effective 15 June 2008
Legal system:
evolving legal system based on terms of UN Special Envoy Martti
AHTISAARI's Plan for Kosovo's supervised independence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fatmir SEJDIU (since 10 February 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January
2008)
cabinet: ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly
elections: the president is elected for a five-year term by the
Kosovo Assembly; election last held 9 January 2008 (next to be held
by in 2013); the prime minister is elected by the Kosovo Assembly
election results: Fatmir SEJDIU reelected president; first round:
Fatmir SEDIU 62, Naim MALOKU 37; second round: Fatmir SEDIU 61, Naim
MALOKU 37; and Hashim THACI elected to be prime minister by the
Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Kosovo Assembly of the Provisional Government (120 seats;
100 seats directly elected, 10 seats for Serbs, 10 seats for other
minorities; to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDK 34.3%, LDK 22.6%,
AKR 12.3%, LDD 10.0%, AAK 9.6%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PDK
37, LDK 25, AKR 13, LDD 11, AAK 10, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court judges are appointed by the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General (SRSG); district courts judges are appointed
by the SRSG; municipal courts judges are appointed by the SRSG
note: after the termination of UNMIK's mandate, the Kosovo Judicial
Council (KJC) will propose to the president candidates for
appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors; the KJC is
also responsible for decisions on the promotion and transfer of
judges and disciplinary proceedings against judges; at least 15% of
Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from nonmajority
communities
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Mark
KRASNIQI]; Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush
HARADINAJ]; Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Kososvo and
Metohija or SDSKIM [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Autonomous Liberal Party of
SLS [Slobodan PETROVIC]; Bosniak Vakat Coalition [Dzezair MURATI];
Citizens' Initiative of Gora or GIG [Murselj HALILI]; Council of
Independent Social Democrats of Kosovo or SNSDKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC];
Democratic League of Dardania or LDD [Nexhat DACI]; Democratic
League of Kosovo or LDK [Fatmir SEJDIU]; Democratic Party of Ashkali
of Kosovo or PDAK [Sabit RAHMANI]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK
[Hashim THACI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP [Mahir
YAGCILAR]; New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet
NEZIRAJ]; New Democratic Party or ND [Branislav GRBIC]; New Kosovo
Alliance or AKR [Behxhet PACOLLI]; Popular Movement of Kosovo or LPK
[Emrush XHEMAJLI]; Reform Party Ora; Serb National Party or SNS
[Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija Party or SKMS
[Dragisa MIRIC]; United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi
MERXHA]; Democratic Action Party or SDA [Numan BALIC]; Serbian List
for Kosovo and Metohija [Oliver IVANOVIC]; Serbian National Council
of Northern Kosovo and Metohija or SNV [Milan IVANOVIC]; Democratic
Party of Bosniaks [Dzezair MURAIT]; Democratic Party Vatan [Sadik
IDRIZI]; Gorani Citizens Initiative [Mursel HALJILJI]; Serbian
People Party [Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Democratic Party of
Kosovo and Metohija [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Serb Liberal Party [Slobodan
PETROVIC]; Independent League of Social-Democrats of Kosovo and
Metohija [Ljubisa ZIVIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom (human rights);
Humanitarian Law Centre (human rights); Movement for
Self-Determination; Serb National Council (SNV)
International organization participation:
ITUC, WFTU
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tina KAIDANOW
embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Nazim Hikmet 30, Pristina, Kosovo
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: 381 38 59 59 3000
FAX: 381 38 549 890
Flag description:
centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of Kosovo in
a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars - each
representing one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo - arrayed in a
slight arc
Economy
Kosovo
Economy - overview:
Over the past few years Kosovo's economy has shown significant
progress in transitioning to a market-based system, but it is still
highly dependent on the international community and the diaspora for
financial and technical assistance. Remittances from the diaspora -
located mainly in Germany and Switzerland - account for about 30% of
GDP. Kosovo's citizens are the poorest in Europe with an average
annual per capita income of only $1800 - about one-third the level
of neighboring Albania. Unemployment - at more than 40% of the
population - is a severe problem that encourages outward migration.
Most of Kosovo's population lives in rural towns outside of the
capital, Pristina. Inefficient, near-subsistence farming is common -
the result of small plots, limited mechanization, and lack of
technical expertise. Economic growth is largely driven by the
private sector - mostly small-scale retail businesses. With
international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize 50% of
its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by number, and over 90% of SOEs
by value. Minerals and metals - including lignite, lead, zinc,
nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety of
construction materials - once formed the backbone of industry, but
output has declined because investment has been insufficient to
replace ageing Eastern Bloc equipment. Technical and financial
problems in the power sector also impedes industrial development.
The US has worked with the World Bank to prepare a commercial tender
for the development of new power generating and mining capacity. The
official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar is
also used in the Serb enclaves. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped
keep inflation low. Kosovo has maintained a budget surplus as a
result of efficient tax collection and inefficient budget execution.
While maintaining ultimate oversight, UNMIK continues to work with
the EU and with Kosovo's government to accelerate economic growth,
lower unemployment, and attract foreign investment. In order to help
integrate Kosovo into regional economic structures, UNMIK signed (on
behalf of Kosovo) its accession to the Central Europe Free Trade
Area (CEFTA) in 2006. In February 2008, UNMIK also represented
Kosovo at the newly established Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.237 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
832,000 (June 2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 21.4%
industry: NA
services: NA (2006 est,)
Unemployment rate:
43% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
37% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (FY05/06)
Investment (gross fixed):
29% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.364 billion
expenditures: $1.008 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
NA
Industries:
mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather,
machinery, appliances
Electricity - production:
3.996 billion kWh (2006)
Electricity - consumption:
4.281 billion kWh (2006)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - consumption:
NA bbl
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m
Current account balance:
-$58.3 million (2007)
Exports:
$148.4 million (2007)
Exports - commodities:
mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products,
machinery, appliances
Exports - partners:
Central Europe Free Trade Area (CFTA) 56% (2006)
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery and electrical
equipment
Imports - partners:
EU 35%, Macedonia 15%, Serbia 13%, Turkey 8% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$324 million (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
according to the national bank of Serbia, Kosovo's external debt was
around $1.2 billion; Kosovo was willing to accept around $900
million (2007)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR); Serbian Dinar (RSD) is also in circulation
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007)
Communications
Kosovo
Telephones - main lines in use:
106,300 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
562,000 (2006)
Transportation
Kosovo
Airports:
10 (2008)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2008)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2008)
Heliports:
2 (2008)
Railways:
total: 430 km (2005)
Roadways:
total: 1,924 km
paved: 1,666 km
unpaved: 258 km (2006)
Transnational Issues
Kosovo
Disputes - international:
Serbia with several other states protest the US and other states'
recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and
independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities
along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of
Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers
under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo
between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in
Kosovo; Kosovo and Macedonia completed demarcation of their boundary
in September 2008
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDP's: 21,000 (2007)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Kuwait
Introduction
Kuwait
Background:
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. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since
returning to power in 1991 and reestablished an elected legislature
that in recent years has become increasingly assertive.
Geography
Kuwait
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi
Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:
499 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0.84%
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 98.99% (2005)
Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.02 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%)
per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy
rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms
occur throughout the year but are most common between March and
August
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and
most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the
water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note:
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People
Kuwait
Population:
2,596,799
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.6% (male 351,057/female 338,634)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 1,172,460/female 659,927)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 46,770/female 27,951) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.1 years
male: 28 years
female: 22.6 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.591%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
21.9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
2.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
16.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.78 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.53 years
male: 76.38 years
female: 78.73 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups:
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu,
Parsi) 15%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 94.4%
female: 91% (2005 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.8% of GDP (2006)
Government
Kuwait
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt
Government type:
constitutional emirate
Capital:
name: Kuwait
geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al
'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir
Independence:
19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution:
approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system:
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
NA years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the military or
police are not allowed to vote; adult females were allowed to vote
as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29
January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah
head of government: Prime Minister NASIR MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad al-Sabah
(since 3 April 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR Mubarak
al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers
MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006) and
Faysal al-HAJJI (since 5 April 2007); note - the Amir accepted the
resignation of the prime minister and cabinet on 1 December 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the Amir
elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; all cabinet
ministers are also ex officio voting members of the National
Assembly)
elections: last held 17 May 2008 (next election to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc -
Sunni 21, Islamic Salafi Alliance 10, Liberals 7, Shiites 5, Popular
Action Bloc 4, Islamic Constitutional Movement 3
Judicial branch:
High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
none; formation of political parties is in practice illegal but is
not forbidden by law
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and
pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional members), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO,
G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah K. JONES
embassy: Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the
Bayan palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE
09880-9000
telephone: [965] 259-1001
FAX: [965] 538-0282
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a
black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to
1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I
Economy
Kuwait
Economy - overview:
Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported
crude oil reserves of about 104 billion barrels - 10% of world
reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export
revenues, and 80% of government income. High oil prices in recent
years have helped build Kuwait's budget and trade surpluses and
foreign reserves. As a result of this positive fiscal situation, the
need for economic reforms is less urgent and the government has not
earnestly pushed through new initiatives. Despite its vast oil
reserves, Kuwait experienced power outages during the summer months
in 2006 and 2007 because demand exceeded power generating capacity.
Power outages are likely to worsen, given its high population growth
rates, unless the government can increase generating capacity. In
May 2007 Kuwait changed its currency peg from the US dollar to a
basket of currencies in order to curb inflation and to reduce its
vulnerability to external shocks.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$140 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$111.3 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$55,900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 52.4%
services: 47.3% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
2.093 million
note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: