Kuwait

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Explore the bustling Persian Gulf coast and vibrant nightlife of Kuwait's capital

Physical features of Kuwait

Kuwait city, Kuwait: Kuwait Towers

Kuwait: Ethnic composition

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Kuwait: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	State of Kuwait • Dawlat al-Kuwayt
Head Of State And Government	Emir: Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah, assisted by Prime Minister: Sheikh Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah
Capital	Kuwait (city)
Population	(2024 est.) 5,184,000
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 0.308 Kuwaiti dinar
Form Of Government	constitutional monarchy with one legislative house (National Assembly [50¹])
Official Language	Arabic
Official Religion	Islam
Official Name	Dawlat al-Kuwayt (State of Kuwait)
Total Area (Sq Km)	17,818
Total Area (Sq Mi)	6,880
Monetary Unit	Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Population Rank	(2023) 129
Population Projection 2030	5,408,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2024) 753.5
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2024) 290.9
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 100% • Rural: (2024) 0%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 77.3 years • Female: (2021) 81.8 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2020) 97% • Female: (2020) 95%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2022) 168,939
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2022) 39,570
¹Excludes 15 cabinet ministers not elected to the National Assembly serving ex officio.

Photos and Videos

Physical features of Kuwait

Kuwait city, Kuwait: Kuwait Towers

Kuwait city, Kuwait: ʿAbd Allāh al-Mubarraq al-Ṣabāḥ Mosque

Kuwait: Grand Mosque

Kuwait: Age breakdown

Explore the bustling Persian Gulf coast and vibrant nightlife of Kuwait's capital

Witness U.S. Pres. George H.W. Bush addressing Congress after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait

National anthem of Kuwait

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Topics

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