Part 460

Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E

Map references: Middle East

Area: total : 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: total: 464 km border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline: 499 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point : unnamed location 306 m

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April, they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August

Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification

Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping

Geography - note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

@Kuwait:People

Population: 1,834,269 (July 1997 est.) note: includes 1,381,063 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 333,251; female 272,206) 15-64 years : 65% (male 772,612; female 421,205) 65 years and over: 2% (male 21,028; female 13,967) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 4.34% (1997 est.) note : this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of expatriates

Birth rate: 21.54 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 2.28 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 24.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.22 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.83 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.51 male(s)/female total population : 1.59 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.44 years male: 74.43 years female: 78.56 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.54 children born/woman (1997 est.)