century but did not fully incorporate them into the Serbian realm
until the early 13th century. The defeat of the Serbian empire 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 of 1912.
Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia with status almost
equivalent to that of a republic under the 1974 Constitution of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Despite legislative
concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s, which led
to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. At the same time, Serb
nationalist leaders, such as Slobodan MILOSEVIC, exploited Kosovo
Serb claims of maltreatment to secure votes from supporters, many of
whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural heartland. Under MILOSEVIC's
leadership, Serbia instituted a new constitution in 1989 that
revoked Kosovo's status as an autonomous province of Serbia. Kosovo
Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum that
declared Kosovo independent. Under MILOSEVIC, Serbia carried out
repressive measures against the Albanians in the early 1990s as the
unofficial Kosovo government, led by Ibrahim RUGOVA, used passive
resistance in an attempt to try to gain international assistance and
recognition of an independent Kosovo. Albanians dissatisfied with
RUGOVA's passive strategy in the 1990s created the Kosovo Liberation
Army and launched an insurgency. Starting in 1998, Serbian military,
police, and paramilitary forces conducted a counterinsurgency
campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic
Albanians. International attempts to mediate the conflict failed,
and MILOSEVIC's rejection of a proposed settlement led to a
three-month NATO bombing campaign against Serbia beginning in March
1999 that forced Serbia to agree to withdraw its military and police
forces from Kosovo. 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. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to
determine Kosovo's final status. The negotiations ran in stages
between 2006 and 2007, but ended without agreement between Belgrade
and Pristina. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared
Kosovo independent. Since then, over fifty countries have recognized
Kosovo. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence and
subsequently has sought an advisory opinion with the backing of the
General Assembly from the International Court of Justice on the
legality under international law of Kosovo's independence
declaration.
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
country comparison to the world: 168
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 2,656 m
Natural resources:
nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
People ::Kosovo
Population:
1,804,838 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 260,678/female 239,779)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 617,890/female 567,939)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 50,463/female 68,089) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.4 years (2009 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2009 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
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.6%
female: 87.5% (2007 Census)
Government ::Kosovo
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo
conventional short form: Kosovo
local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosovo)
local short form: Kosova (Kosovo)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina)
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),
Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc/Drenas (Glogovac), 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), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), 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:
adopted by the Kosovo Assembly on 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 after three
rounds; Hashim THACI elected prime minister by the Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral national Assembly (120 seats; 100 seats directly elected,
10 seats guaranteed for ethnic Serbs, 10 seats guaranteed for other
ethnic minorities; to serve four-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; district courts; municipal courts
note: the Kosovo Constitution dictates that the Supreme Court of
Kosovo is the highest judicial authority, and provides for a Kosovo
Judicial Council (KJC) that proposes 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
percent of Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from
non-majority communities
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Tome MARKU];
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ];
Alliance for a New Kosovo or AKR [Behgjet PACOLLI]; Alliance of
Independent Social Democrats of Kosovo 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 HALJILJI]; Council of Independent
Social Democrats of Kosovo or SNSDKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC]; Democratic
Action Party or SDA [Numan BALIC]; Democratic Ashkali Party of
Kosovo or PDAK; 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]; Democratic Party Vatan [Sadik IDRIZI];
Democratic Union of Ashkalis or BDA [Sabit RRAHMANI]; Justice Party
or PD [Sylejman QERKEZI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP
[Mahir YAGCILAR]; Liberal Party of Kosovo or PLK [Gjergi DEDAJ]; 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 [Teuta SAHATCIA]; Serb National Party or
SNS [Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija Party or SKMS
[Dragisa MIRIC]; Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija [Oliver
IVANOVIC]; Social Democratic Party of Kosovo or PSDK [Agim CEKU];
United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi MERXHA]
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 in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Avni SPAHIU
chancery: 900 19th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 2006
telephone: 202-436-3581
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 and maintaining
macroeconomic stability, 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 - are estimated to account for about 15% of
GDP, and donor-financed activities and aid for another 15%. Kosovo's
citizens are the poorest in Europe with an average annual per capita
income of only $2,300. Unemployment, around 40% of the population,
is a significant problem that encourages outward migration and black
market activity. 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. 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 of ageing equipment and insufficient investment. A limited
and unreliable electricity supply due to technical and financial
problems is a major impediment to economic development. Kosovo's
Ministry of Energy and Mining has solicited expressions of interest
from private investors to develop a new power plant in order to
address Kosovo and the region's unmet and growing demands for power.
The official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar
is also used in Serb enclaves. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped
keep core inflation low. Kosovo has one of the most open economies
in the region, and continues to work with the international
community on measures to improve the business environment and
attract foreign investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5 billion (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.237 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
550,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 16.5%
industry: NA
services: NA (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
40% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Population below poverty line:
37% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (FY05/06)
Investment (gross fixed):
30% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Budget:
revenues: $1.19 billion
expenditures: $1.22 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.79% (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers
Industries:
mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather,
machinery, appliances
Electricity - production:
832 million kWh (2006)
country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - consumption:
4.281 billion kWh (2006)
country comparison to the world: 114
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007)
country comparison to the world: 148
Oil - consumption:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m
Current account balance:
-$964 million
Exports:
$527 million
Exports - commodities:
mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products,
machinery, appliances
Imports:
$2.6 billion f.o.b.
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery and electrical
equipment
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007)
Communications ::Kosovo
Telephones - main lines in use:
106,300 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 143
Telephones - mobile cellular:
562,000 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 154
Transportation ::Kosovo
Airports:
8 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 165
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Railways:
total: 430 km
country comparison to the world: 117
standard gauge: 430 km 1.435-m gauge (2007)
Roadways:
total: 1,924 km
country comparison to the world: 175
paved: 1,666 km
unpaved: 258 km (2006)
Military ::Kosovo
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 428,685
females age 16-49: 388,848 (2009 est.)
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)
page last updated on October 27, 2009
======================================================================
@Kuwait (Middle East)
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. The country
witnessed the historic election in May 2009 of four women to its
National Assembly.
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: 17,818 sq km
country comparison to the world: 157
land: 17,818 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:
2,691,158
country comparison to the world: 139
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 361,150/female 348,518)
15-64 years: 70.7% (male 1,219,075/female 683,587)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 49,163/female 29,665) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.2 years
male: 28.1 years
female: 22.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.547%
country comparison to the world: 3
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2009 est.)
Birth rate:
21.81 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Death rate:
2.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
Net migration rate:
16.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Urbanization:
urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 1.66 male(s)/female
total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.96 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 159
male: 9.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.71 years
country comparison to the world: 53
male: 76.51 years
female: 78.95 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.76 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA (2007 est.)
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)
country comparison to the world: 119
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 City
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 the 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:
21 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 AL-MUHAMMAD al-Ahmad
al-Sabah (since 3 April 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR
AL-MUBAREK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime
Minister MUHAMMAD AL-SABAH al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006)
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 16 May 2009 (next election to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by bloc - NA; seats by bloc -
Sunni Muslim groups 11, liberals 7, Shiite Muslim groups 6, Popular
Action Bloc 3, unaffiliated tribal groups 23
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 member), 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) 364-2868
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
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 - 8% of world
reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export
revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait experienced rapid
economic growth over the last several years on the back of high oil
prices and in 2008 posted its tenth consecutive budget surplus. As a
result of this positive fiscal situation, the need for economic
reforms was less urgent and the government did not push through new
initiatives. The drop in oil prices in late 2008 will reduce
Kuwait's fiscal surplus in 2009. The global financial crisis may
slow the pace of investment and development projects, but Kuwait has
vowed to use its considerable financial resources to stabilize the
economy if necessary.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$149.5 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$137.8 billion (2007 est.)