Chapter 58
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 0% other: 92%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
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 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 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
Geographic note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People ------
Population: 1,950,047 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 334,778; female 317,241) 15-64 years: 65% (male 757,535; female 507,064) 65 years and over: 2% (male 18,459; female 14,970) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 6.65% (1996 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of nationals and expatriates
Birth rate: 20.28 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 2.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 48.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.49 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female all ages: 1.32 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.92 years male: 73.59 years female: 78.38 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.82 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic divisions: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Shi'a 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 78.6% male: 82.2% female: 74.9%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt
Data code: KU
Type of government: nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kuwait
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt, Hawalli, Al Farwaniyah
Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21 note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years will be eligible to vote
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977) is a hereditary monarch of the MUBARAK line of the ruling Sabah family head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978), First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992), and Second Deputy Prime Minister Nasir Abdallah al-RUDAN (since NA) were appointed by the Amir cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-umma): elected members serve four-year terms; elections last held 5 October 1992 (next to be held NA September 1996); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (50 total) independents 50; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
Other political or pressure groups: several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER embassy: Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel), Kuwait City mailing address: P.O. Box 77, SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; Unit 6900, APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: [965] 2424151 through 2424159 FAX: [965] 2442855
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
Economy -------
Economic overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Kuwait has rebuilt its war-ravaged petroleum sector; its crude oil production averaged 2.0 million barrels per day in 1994. The government continues to record large fiscal deficits. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 70% of government income. Kuwait lacks water and has practically no arable land, thus preventing development of agriculture. With the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Because of its high per capita income, comparable with Western European incomes, Kuwait provides its citizens with extensive health, educational, and retirement benefits. Per capita military expenditures are among the highest in the world. The economy improved moderately in 1994-95, with the growth in industry and finance. The World Bank has urged Kuwait to push ahead with privatization, including in the oil industry, but the government will move slowly on this front.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $30.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $17,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 0% industry: 55% services: 45%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 1 million (1994 est.) by occupation: industry and agriculture 25.0%, services 25.0%, government and social services 50.0% note: 80% of labor force non-Kuwaiti (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $9.7 billion expenditures: $14.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials, salt, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 7,070,000 kW production: 11 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,007 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: practically no crops; extensive fishing in territorial waters
Exports: $11.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: oil partners: US 23%, Japan 13%, Germany 10%, UK 9%, France 8%
Imports: $6.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing partners: US 14%, Japan 12%, Germany 8%, UK 7%, France 6% (1994 est.)
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.2993 (January 1996), 0.2984 (1995), 0.2976 (1994), 0.3017 (1993), 0.2934 (1992), 0.2843 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 4,273 km paved: NA km (including 280 km of expressways) (1989 est.) unpaved: NA km
Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km
Ports: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine: total: 46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,053,667 GRT/3,242,305 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 7, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 21, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 4 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 548,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: the civil network suffered some damage as a result of the Gulf war, but most of the telephone exchanges were left intact and, by the end of 1994, domestic and international telecommunications had been restored to normal operation; the quality of service is excellent domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, open wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait and the country is well supplied with pay telephones international: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 720,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1986 est.)
Televisions: 800,000 (1993 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces, Coast Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 658,270 males fit for military service: 391,586 males reach military age (18) annually: 17,544 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, 12.8% of GDP (FY95/96)
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@Kyrgyzstan ----------
Map ---
Location: 41 00 N, 75 00 E -- Central Asia, west of China
Flag ----
Description: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt
Geography ---------
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total area: 198,500 sq km land area: 191,300 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries: total: 3,878 km border countries: China 858 km, Kazakstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area
Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation lowest point: Kara-Daryya 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu 7,439 m
Natural resources: abundant hydroelectric potential; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: NEGL% meadows and pastures: 42% forest and woodland: 0% other: 51%
Irrigated land: 10,320 sq km (1990)
Environment: current issues: water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Geographic note: landlocked
People ------
Population: 4,529,648 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 37% (male 847,859; female 828,889) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,263,044; female 1,312,040) 65 years and over: 6% (male 100,524; female 177,292) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.07% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 26.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.83 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -16.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.86 years male: 59.18 years female: 68.77 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.22 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kyrgyz(s) adjective: Kyrgyz
Ethnic divisions: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 21.5%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 8.3%
Religions: Muslim NA%, Russian Orthodox NA%
Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz) - official language, Russian - official language note: in March 1996, the Kyrgyz legislature amended the constitution to make Russian an official language, along with Kyrgyz, in territories and work places where Russian-speaking citizens predominate
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.) total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: KG
Type of government: republic
Capital: Bishkek
Administrative divisions: 6 oblasttar (singular - oblast) and 1 city* (singular - shaar); Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol) note: names in parentheses are administrative centers when name differs from oblast name
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993 note: amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held NA); results - Askar AKAYEV won election with 75% of vote with 86% of electorate voting; note - elections were held early which gave the two opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom was a major rival head of government: Prime Minister Apas JUMAGULOV (since NA December 1993) was appointed by the president and reappointed February 1996 cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council (Zhogorku Kenesh) Assembly of People's Representatives: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (70 total) seats by party NA; note - not all the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly Legislative Assembly: elections last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (35 total) seats by party NA; note - not all the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February elections; as a result, run-off elections were held note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for a 10-year term by the Zhogorku Kenesh on recommendation of the president; Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (SDP); Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan (DDK), Jypar JEKSHEYEV, chairman; National Unity; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan (PCK), Absamat MASALIYEV, chairman; Democratic Movement of Free Kyrgyzstan (ErK), Tursunbay Bakir UULU, chairman; Republican Popular Party of Kyrgyzstan; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan; Atu Meken Party, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV; ASABA
Other political or pressure groups: National Unity Democratic Movement; Peasant Party; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs; Agrarian Party
International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Acting Ambassador Almas CHUKIN chancery: (temporary) Suite 706, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 347-3732 FAX: [1] (202) 347-3718
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Eileen A. MALLOY embassy: Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3312) 22-29-20, 22-27-77, 22-26-31, 22-24-73 FAX: [7] (3312) 22-35-51
Flag: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt
Economy -------
Economic overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports included gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. Kyrgyzstan has been one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet Union in carrying out market reforms. Following a successful stabilization program, which has lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to 32% for 1995, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. About half of government stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production have been severe since the break up of the Soviet Union, but by mid-1995 production began to level off as exports began to increase. The level of hardship for pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with salaries arrears continues to be very high. Foreign assistance plays a substantial role in the country's budget. In early 1996, the economy apparently is slowly beginning to restore previous levels of output.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.4 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,140 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 32% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.836 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 38%, industry and construction 21%, other 41% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 4.8% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployed workers (December 1995)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate: -12.5% (1995)
Electricity: capacity: 3,660,000 kW production: 12.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,500 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture: wool, tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe and North America from Southwest Asia
Exports: $380 million (1995) commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes partners: Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, Turkey, Cuba, and Germany
Imports: $439 million (1995) commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear partners: Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakstan, China, and UK
External debt: $480 million (of which $115 million to Russia) (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $56 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,695 million ($390 million disbursements)
Currency: introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993)
Exchange rates: soms per US$1 - 11.2 (yearend 1995), 10.6 (yearend 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways: total: 28,400 km paved: 22,400 km unpaved: 6,000 km (1990)
Pipelines: natural gas 200 km
Ports: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports: total: 54 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 342,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones domestic: principally microwave radio relay international: connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note -1 state-run radio broadcast station
Radios: 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers for program diffusion 748,000)
Television broadcast stations: 1 note: receives Turkish broadcasts
Televisions: 875,000
Defense -------
Branches: Army, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,096,985 males fit for military service: 890,901 males reach military age (18) annually: 44,159 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 151 million soms, NA% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
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@Laos ----
Map ---
Location: 18 00 N, 105 00 E -- Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
Flag ----
Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Geography ---------
Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total area: 236,800 sq km land area: 230,800 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Utah