A Closer Look at Kuwait
Kuwait Flag
Kuwait Formation Date
Kuwait's country formation date is June 19, 1961.
Kuwait Capital Name
Kuwait City is the capital of Kuwait.
Kuwait Neighbours
Exploring Kuwait
Origin of Kuwait
Kuwait is located in the Middle East, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, in the Gulf of Arabia. Kuwait is a small country that covers an area of about 18,091 square miles and ranks the 177th largest country in the world. The official name of Kuwait is "State of Kuwait" and the capital and largest city is Kuwait City. The country's history as a nation dates back to the 16th century when it was a part of the Ottoman Empire. It was part of the British protectorate until its independence in 1961 and is part of the Gulf Cooperative Council since its foundation in 1981.Culture
Kuwait combines traditional Bedouin, Islamic, and Western elements to shape its culture. The culture of Kuwait draws from both modern elements and traditional Bedouin influences. The Bedouin culture is rooted in the nomadic lifestyle where hospitality towards guests is essential. This tradition of hospitality is still followed to this day. Arabic is the official language of Kuwait, and Islam is its predominant religion. There is a small, but vibrant, Christian community in Kuwait, which has access to the numerous churches located in the country.Sport
Sports and recreation are an essential part of Kuwaiti culture. Football is the main sport in Kuwait, followed by basketball and volleyball. The Kuwaiti national football team has qualified for several FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with the best achievement being the 4th place in the 1980 Asian Cup. Kuwaiti basketball is among the strongest in Asia, having won in the 24th FIBA Asia Championship. Kuwaiti athletes have also made a name for themselves at the international level, having won numerous gold, silver, and bronze medals at Olympic Games.Religion
Islam is the official religion of Kuwait and is practiced by more than 85% of the population. Muslims are predominantly of the Sunni denomination, and their rites are oftentimes reinforced by the Middle Eastern culture. Christianity and Hinduism are also practiced in the region, with a significant Shia Muslim minority. Kuwait has also established a solid relationship with other religions, and religious minorities have the right to practice their faith in the country.Languages
Kuwait's official language is Arabic, spoken by nearly all its citizens. Secondary languages are also spoken, including English, which is used in business and the media, as well as for instruction in some schools. Turkish is also widely used, especially among the more educated Kuwaitis and those of Turkish origin. Additionally, French and German are also present in the country.Education
Kuwait has a high literacy rate (98%), one of the highest in the world. Education is free and compulsory until the age of 16. Education is managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, which controls both public and private institutions. Kuwait University, the premier educational institution in the country, offers numerous degrees in several fields, including social sciences, engineering, medicine, sciences, and business.Demographics
Kuwait is a small, ethnic and religious diverse country. In 2018 it had a population of 4.3 million, of which 38% were expatriates. Kuwait is a predominantly Muslim country, with Sunni Muslims making up 77% of the population and Shias making up 16%. The majority of Kuwaiti citizens are Kunbus, a local ethnicity, although there are also Ahmedis, Bedouins, and smaller Asian and African ethnic communities.Commerce
Kuwait is a major economic power in the Middle East and has the world's fifth largest petroleum reserves. The country has a high economic growth rate and a low unemployment rate, and its oil-exporting economy makes it one of the world’s wealthiest countries. The Kuwaiti economy relies heavily on its extensive petroleum resources, but it also has a strong industrial sector. In addition, it has significant investments in banking, industry, and export-oriented manufacturing.Weather
Kuwait has a desert climate, with very hot summers and mild winters. The average temperature is °F during the summer and can reach as high as 120 °F, while in the winter the temperature drops significantly. Sandstorms also occur during spring and winter months and can cause problems for outdoor activities. Rainfall in Kuwait is sparse, with most areas receiving only few inches of rain per year.Borders
Kuwait is located in the Middle East, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, in the Gulf of Arabia. It has land boundaries with both Iraq and Saudi Arabia, as well as with the Persian Gulf. Because of its strategic location, Kuwait serves as a gateway into the Middle East for international trade. The small area of Kuwait also makes it easy to travel within the country.Kuwait Highest Point Name
Kuwait’s highest point is Mount Al-Mutlaa at an elevation of 306 meters (1,004 feet) above sea level. This peak is located in the northeastern part of Kuwait near its borders with Iraq.
Kuwait Capital Longitude
29.3116° N
Kuwait Capital Latitude
47°57′45″ E
Kuwait Official Languages
The Arabic language is the official language of Kuwait, however, English is widely spoken.
Kuwait Ethnic Groups
The people of Kuwait are predominantly made up of Arab populations (89.2%), including Kuwaiti Arabs (70.3%), and other Arabs (19.3%), such as Sudanese Arabs. The remaining population includes South-Asians (7.8%) such as Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, Persians (1.9%), and Europeans (0.9 %). Additionally, a small number of Bedouin nomads (less than 0.1%) still inhabit the desert regions in Kuwait.
Kuwait Religions
Islam is the official religion of Kuwait, with a majority of its population adhering to the faith. Around 85 percent of the population is Muslim, predominantly of the Sunni denomination. Approximately 10-15 percent of the population follows some forms of Christianity or other religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrian, or Bahá'í. Most of the Christian population are Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians. There are also Bahá'í, Sikh, and small Jewish communities in Kuwait. Freedom of religion is respected, although proselytizing is not allowed and religious services were only allowed to be held at recognized places of worship.
Kuwait Total Area
The total area of Kuwait is about 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 square miles).
Kuwait Land Area
The land area of Kuwait is 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 square miles).
Kuwait Water Area
Kuwait does not have any significant surface water bodies and its total water area is estimated to be around 0.1 square km, or 0.04 square mi.
Kuwait Total Population
The total population of Kuwait is 4,660,297 as of July 2020.
Kuwait Currency Name
Kuwait's official currency is the Kuwaiti dinar (KWD).
Kuwait Currency Code
The currency code for Kuwait is KWD.
Kuwait Currency Symbol
KWD (Kuwaiti Dinar)
Kuwait Time Zones
- UTC+03:00
Kuwait is located in the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East and observed in the Arab Standard Time zone, UTC+3. Unlike many other countries, Kuwait does not observe daylight saving time and does not shift its clocks an hour forward during the summer months. Therefore Kuwait remains on UTC+3 throughout the year, and the official time does not change.
Kuwait Calling Code
The Kuwait country calling code is +965
Kuwait Internet TLD
www.aveholidays.kw
How to Say "Kuwait" In Different Languages?
- Arabic
- الكويت (ar-SA)
- Mandarin Chinese
- 科威特 (zh-CN)
- Danish
- Kuwait (da-DK)
- Finnish
- Kuwait (fi-FI)
- French
- Koweït (fr-FR)
- German
- Kuwait (de-DE)
- Greek
- Κουβέιτ (el-GR)
- Hindi
- कुवैत (hi-IN)
- Hebrew
- כווית (he-IL)
- Italian
- Kuwait (it-IT)
- Japanese
- クウェート (ja-JP)
- Dutch
- Koeweit (nl-NL)
- Urdu
- کویت (ur-PK)
- Polish
- Kuwejt (pl-PL)
- Portuguese
- Kuwait (pt-PT)
- Romanian
- Kuweit (ro-RO)
- Russian
- Кувейт (ru-RU)
- Spanish
- Kuwait (es-ES)
- Swedish
- Kuwait (sv-SE)
- Turkish
- Kuveyt (tr-TR)
Kuwait Popular Holidays
- New Year's Day
- 1 January
- Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
- 8 February
- National Sport Day
- 14 February
- National Day
- 25 February
- Kuwait Liberation Day
- 26 February
- Moulid Al Nabi
- 22 April
- Labour Day
- 1 May
- Eid Al Fitr
- 31 May (4 June)
- Project Kuwait 36th Anniversary
- 8 August
- Eid Al Adha
- 10 August (14 August)
- Al Isra Wal Miraj
- 16 August
- Muharram
- 29 August
- Al-Hijra
- 31 August
- Islamic New Year
- 2 October
- Eid Al-Maulud
- 30 October
- Martyr's Day
- 5 November
- Military Day
- 14 November
- Mangaf Festival
- 27 November
- National Day
- 17 December