Independence Year : 1961
Population : 1972000
Life Expectancy : 76.1
Capital : 2429
GNP : 27037.00
GNP Old : 30373.00
Local Name : Al-Kuwayt
Government Form : Constitutional Monarchy (Emirate)
Location : Middle East, in the northwestern corner of the Arabian, or Persian Gulf
Terrain : Flat sandy desert; no rivers or mountains
Climate : Intensely hot and dry in summers; short, cool winters with limited rain
Ethnic Group : Kuwaitis 800 000 (35% of total), Arab, South Asian, Iranian, Southeast Asian
Religions : Islam 85% (most Kuwaiti citizens are Muslim).
Official Website :
www.moc.kw
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General Information - Kuwait
Background
Nominally a province of the Ottoman Empire, ruled from Constantinople from the 16th century until the latter part of the 19th century. In that time Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah or "Mubarak the Great" (r.1896-1915) enters into an agreement with Great Britain, which effectively established Kuwait as an autonomous British protectorate with a semi-autonomous position for the country.
Mid-1930s Kuwait began the development of its petroleum industry, the basis of the country's modern prosperity. On June 19, 1961 Kuwait gained full independence from Britain and in 1963 it became a member of the United Nations.
Kuwait's sovereignty were critically threatened when Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait on August 2, 1990, claiming that Kuwait was harming Iraq economically by refusing to reduce its oil production. Many Kuwaitis were forced to flee to Saudi Arabia and other countries. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, an international coalition of 30 states, led by the United States began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait has spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.
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