of Kuwait; the 20 May 1993 final
report of the UN Iraq/Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission was
welcomed by the Security Council in Resolution 833 of 27 May 1993,
which also reaffirmed that the decisions of the commission on the
boundary were final, bringing to a completion the official demarcation
of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary; Iraqi officials still refuse to
unconditionally recognize Kuwaiti sovereignty of the inviolability of
the UN demarcated border; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim
islands disputed by Saudi Arabia
Climate:
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
8%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
92%
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities
provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
natural hazards:
NA
international agreements:
party to - Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not
ratified - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
Note:
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

@Kuwait, People

Population:
1,819,322 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
5.24% (1994 est.)
note:
this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of nationals
and expatriates
Birth rate:
29.43 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
2.37 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
25.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
12.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.99 years
male:
72.83 years
female:
77.25 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Kuwaiti(s)
adjective:
Kuwaiti
Ethnic divisions:
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:
Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi,
and other 15%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
73%
male:
77%
female:
67%
Labor force:
566,000 (1986)
by occupation: