Terrain
Flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Climate
Dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
People
Nationality: Kuwaiti(s)
Population: 2,742,711 (July 2014 est.)
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Religions
Muslim (official) 76.7%, Christian 17.3%, other and unspecified 5.9%
Economy
Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - more than 6% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 95% of government income. Kuwaiti officials have committed to increasing oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. Budget surpluses have stayed around 30% of GDP, which has led to higher budget expenditures.
OPEC OIL EXPORTERS (1:05)
Living Conditions
Kuwaitis are among the richest people in the world. Health care and education (through the university level) are free to all Kuwaiti citizens. Foreign workers are entitled to some of the benefits but are restricted from receiving others. The government sponsors social welfare programs for disabled persons, the elderly, students' families, widows, unmarried women over eighteen, orphans, the poor, and prisoners' families.
Government
Constitutional Emirate
US Military Presence/Support
The United States provides no development assistance to Kuwait. The United States provides military and defense technical assistance to Kuwait from both foreign military sales and commercial sources. U.S. personnel assist the Kuwait military with training, education, readiness, and war fighting.
ALLIANCE WITH THE U.S. ( :54)