Travelling Club - Kuwait

Fact Sheet: Kuwait

• Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
• Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E
• Area: total: 17,820 sq km
• Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
• Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
• 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
• Population: 2,418,393
• Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
• Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
• Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
• Government type: constitutional hereditary emirate
• Capital: name: Kuwait
• Currency code: Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
• Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002), 0.3067 (2001)
• Internet country code: .kw
• Airports: 7 (2006)