MEPI in Kuwait
About Kuwait
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Area
17,820 sq km
Population
2,691,157 including 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 26.4%; 15-64 years: 70.7%; 65 years and over: 2.9% (2009 est.)
Median age
26.2 years
Population growth rate
3.55% (2009 estimates)
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 15%
Languages
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy
(Age 15 and over can read and write) total population: 93.3%; male: 94.4%; female: 91% (2005 census)
Government type
constitutional emirate
Capital
Kuwait
Legislative Branch
Unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma
Judicial Branch
High Court of Appeal
Gross Domestic Product
$149.1 billion, per capita $57,400 (2008 est.)
GDP Growth Rate
8.5% (2008 est.)