Political leadership

Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (since 29 September 2020)

Prime Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah (since 19 November 2019)

Land

Total 17,818 sq km; Land 17,818 sq km; Water (0) sq km (country comparison to the world: 158)

Boundaries

475 km

Border countries

Iraq 254 km, Saudi Arabia 221 km

Coastline

499 km

Population

4.23 million (2017 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.81% 15-64 years: 72.53% 65+ 2.66% (2018 est.)

Population growth rate

2.05% (2017 est.)

Urbanisation

100% of total population (2018 est.)

Major cities

Kuwait City (capital) 2.99 million (2018 est.)

Ethnic groups

Arab 57.8 (Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%), Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Literacy

(Age 15+ can read and write) total population: 95.7%; male: 96.4%; female: 94.5% (2016 est.)

Real GDP

$31.42 billion (2017); $30.81 billion (2016)

GDP growth

-2.9% (2017); 3.5% (2016)

GDP per capita

$35,545.6 (2017 est.); $35,250.9 (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.14% (2017 est.); 2.23% (2016 est.)

Population below poverty line

N/A

Public debt

20.6% of GDP (2017 est.); 9.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate

1.6% (2017)