note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$158.1 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
4.7% (2007 est.)
6.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$57,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$55,000 (2007 est.)
$54,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 52.2%
services: 47.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.088 million
country comparison to the world: 119
note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
18.3% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Budget:
revenues: $105.2 billion
expenditures: $58.08 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
7.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
29.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
5.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3.75% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 70
6.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.61% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 100
8.54% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$15.31 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 38
$15.12 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$63.08 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 26
$55.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$88.77 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 40
$78.25 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$107.2 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 40
$188 billion (31 December 2007)
$128.9 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
practically no crops; fish
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water
desalination, food processing, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - production:
45.83 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - consumption:
40.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.741 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Oil - consumption:
325,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - exports:
2.349 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - proved reserves:
104 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - production:
12.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - consumption:
12.7 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.794 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Current account balance:
$64.78 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$47.48 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$86.94 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$63.68 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners:
Japan 18.4%, South Korea 14.6%, India 11.5%, US 8.9%, Singapore
7.9%, China 6.1% (2008)
Imports:
$22.94 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$20.63 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners:
US 11.9%, Japan 9.2%, Germany 8.1%, China 7.6%, Saudi Arabia 7%,
Italy 4.8%, UK 4.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$17.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$16.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$36.89 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$33.62 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$1.22 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$942 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$25.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$16.93 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2679 (2008 est.), 0.2844
(2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004)
Communications ::Kuwait
Telephones - main lines in use:
541,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.907 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 110
Telephone system:
general assessment: the quality of service is excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new
subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular
telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well
supplied with pay telephones
international: country code - 965; linked to international submarine
cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); linked to Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; coaxial cable and
microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 6
(3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 1 Inmarsat -
Atlantic Ocean, and 2 Arabsat)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Internet country code:
.kw
Internet hosts:
2,305 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 148
Internet users:
1 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
Transportation ::Kuwait
Airports:
7 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Heliports:
4 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 5,749 km
country comparison to the world: 150
paved: 4,887 km
unpaved: 862 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 38
country comparison to the world: 79
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, carrier 3, container 6, liquefied
gas 4, petroleum tanker 22
registered in other countries: 34 (Bahrain 5, Comoros 1, Libya 1,
Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saudi Arabia 7, UAE 10)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd
Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi
Military ::Kuwait
Military branches:
Kuwaiti Land Forces (KLF), Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force
(Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), Kuwaiti National Guard (KNG)
(2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for compulsory and 18-25 years of age for
voluntary military service; women age 18-30 may be subject to
compulsory military service; conscription suspended in 2001 (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,032,408
females age 16-49: 568,657 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 935,525
females age 16-49: 519,854 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 18,122
female: 18,865 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.3% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 16
Transnational Issues ::Kuwait
Disputes - international:
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime
boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the
Persian Gulf
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men and women
who migrate legally from South and Southeast Asia for domestic or
low-skilled labor, but are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude by employers in Kuwait including conditions of physical
and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement to the home, and
withholding of passports to restrict their freedom of movement;
Kuwait is reportedly a transit point for South and East Asian
workers recruited for low-skilled work in Iraq; some of these
workers are deceived as to the true location and nature of this
work, and others are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude in Iraq
tier rating: Tier 3 - insufficient efforts in 2007 to prosecute and
punish abusive employers and those who traffic women for sexual
exploitation; the government failed for the fourth year in a row to
live up to promises to provide shelter and protective services for
victims of involuntary domestic servitude and other forms of
trafficking (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Kyrgyzstan
Background:
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud
nomadic traditions, most of Kyrgyzstan was formally annexed to
Russia in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist
Empire in 1916 in which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population
was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1936 and achieved
independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide
demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of
President Askar AKAEV, who had run the country since 1990.
Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were won
overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIEV. The
political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in April,
May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of a new
constitution that transferred some of the president's powers to
parliament and the government. In December 2006, the Kyrgyzstani
parliament voted to adopt new amendments, restoring some of the
presidential powers lost in the November 2006 constitutional change.
By late-September 2007, both previous versions of the constitution
were declared illegal, and the country reverted to the AKAEV-era
2003 constitution, which was subsequently modified in a flawed
referendum initiated by BAKIEV. The president then dissolved
parliament, called for early elections, and gained control of the
new parliament through his newly-created political party, Ak Jol, in
December 2007 elections. Current concerns include: privatization of
state-owned enterprises, negative trends in democracy and political
freedoms, endemic corruption, improving interethnic relations,
electricity generation, rising food prices, and combating terrorism.
Geography ::Kyrgyzstan
Location:
Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 199,951 sq km
country comparison to the world: 86
land: 191,801 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 3,051 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,224 km, Tajikistan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in
southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain:
peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass
entire nation
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources:
abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth
metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other
deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use:
arable land: 6.55%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 93.17%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural-growth walnut
forest (2005)
Irrigated land:
10,720 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
46.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 10.08 cu km/yr (3%/3%/94%)
per capita: 1,916 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; many people get their water directly from
contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases
are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation
practices
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range;
94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level, with an average
elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude
lakes
People ::Kyrgyzstan
Population:
5,431,747 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 822,128/female 789,425)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 1,717,497/female 1,787,551)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 123,045/female 192,101) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.4 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 25.3 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.396% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Birth rate:
23.44 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Death rate:
6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Net migration rate:
-2.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Urbanization:
urban population: 36% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 31.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 72
male: 36.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.43 years
country comparison to the world: 146
male: 65.43 years
female: 73.64 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%,
Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)
Religions:
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages:
Kyrgyz 64.7% (official), Uzbek 13.6%, Russian 12.5% (official),
Dungun 1%, other 8.2% (1999 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 78
Government ::Kyrgyzstan
Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
local short form: Kyrgyzstan
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar);
Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad
Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty
(Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence:
31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution:
approved by referendum in November 2006
note: under the old constitution adopted on 5 May 1993, an amendment
proposed by President Askar AKAEV and passed in a national
referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly expanded the powers of
the president at the expense of the legislature; during large-scale
demonstrations in November 2006, President BAKIEV and the opposition
negotiated a new constitution granting greater powers to the
parliament and the government; amendments added on 30 December 2006
redistributed some power back to the president, but both November
and December 2006 versions were annulled in September 2007, and a
new version was approved by referendum on 21 October 2007; the
BAKIEV-initiated referendum was criticized by Western observers for
voting irregularities, particularly ballot stuffing
Legal system:
based on French and Russian laws; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIEV (since 14 August 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Daniyar USENOV (since 21 October
2009); First Deputy Prime Minister Akylbek JAPAROV (since 22 October
2009)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,
appointed by the president; ministers in charge of defense and
security, appointed solely by the president
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIEV reelected by popular vote for a
five-year term; election last held 23 July 2009 (next scheduled for
2014); prime minister nominated by the parliamentary party holding
more than 50% of the seats; if no such party exists, the president
selects the party that will nominate a prime minister
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIEV elected president; percent of
vote - Kurmanbek BAKIEV 76.1%, Almaz ATAMBAYEV 8.4%, Temir SARIYEV
6.7%, other candidates 8.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kengesh (90 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 December 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Ak Jol 71, Social Democratic Party 11, KCP 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme and
Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by the
Jorgorku Kengesh on the recommendation of the president; their
mandatory retirement age is 70 years); Higher Court of Arbitration;
Local Courts (judges appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the National Council on Legal Affairs for a
probationary period of five years, then 10 years)
Political parties and leaders:
Ak Jol (Good Luck) [Avtandil ARABAEV, Elmira IBRAIMOVA, Vladimir
NIFADYEV, co-chairs]; Ak Shumkar (Gerfalcon) [Temir SARIYEV];
Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIEV]; Asaba (Banner National
Revival Party) [Sovetbek JAMALDINOV]]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland)
[Omurbek TEKEBAEV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Viktor
TCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIEV];
For Justice Movement [Alikbek JEKSHENKULOV]; Green Party [Erkin
BULEKBAEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Medet
SADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Iskhak
MASALIEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party
of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor and Unity
[Tabaldy OROZALIEV]; Revolutionary Committee [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV];
Sanjira (Tree of Life) [Ednan KARABAEV]; Social Democratic Party of
Kyrgyzstan [Almaz ATAMBAEV]; Svoboda Vybora (Free Choice) Party
[Vyacheslav LISOVSKIY]; Turan Party [Kanybek IMANALIYEV]; Uluu
Birimdik (Solidarity) Party [Emilbek KAPTAGAEV]; Union of Democratic
Forces [Osmon ARTYKBAEV]; United Kyrgyzstan [Amangeldi MURALIEV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy and
Civil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAEVA]
International organization participation:
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA,
MINURCAT, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822
FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatiana C. GFOELLER
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264
Flag description:
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays
representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run
counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the
sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized
representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
Economy ::Kyrgyzstan
Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a predominantly
agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main
agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported
in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium,
natural gas, and electricity. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was
progressive in carrying out market reforms such as an improved
regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into
the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in
enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe after
the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995,
production began to recover and exports began to increase. The
economy is heavily weighted toward gold export and a drop in output
at the main Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002
and a 0.6% decline in 2005. The government made steady strides in
controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap
between revenues and expenditures in 2006, before boosting
expenditures more than 20% in 2007-08. The government and
international financial institutions have been engaged in a
comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth
strategy. In 2005, Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform
and, in 2006, became eligible for the heavily indebted poor
countries (HIPC) initiative. Progress fighting corruption, further
restructuring of domestic industry, and success in attracting
foreign investment are keys to future growth. GDP grew more than 6%
annually in 2007-08, partly due to higher gold prices
internationally, but growth is likely to decline from that level in
2009, due to declining demand and lower commodity prices in the wake
of the international financial crisis.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.64 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
$10.82 billion (2007 est.)
$9.971 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.05 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
8.5% (2007 est.)
3.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):