Formal Name: State of Kuwait (Dawlat Al Kuwayt)
Capital: Kuwait City
Date of Independence: June 19, 1961

Geography:
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Land Area 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 square miles)

Government type: Nominal Constitutional Monarchy
Executive Power exercised by the Amir through Council of Ministers (frequently referred to as "the government") headed by a Prime Minister who is chosen by the Amir after traditional consultations. Legislature Unicameral National Assembly (majlis al-Umma) of 50 members elected by popular vote to serve 4 years terms.

Nationality: Kuwaiti

Population:
2.335 million (July 2005 est.: Source: Public Authority for civil info), Non-Kuwaitis 1.291 million.

Religion:
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

Language: Arabic (official). English is widely spoken.

Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils. Exchange rate (as on July 2005): US$1.00 = KD 0.2947.

Time: 3 hours ahead of GMT; 8 hours ahead of EST.

Country Code: +(965) Kuwait has no city codes.

Economy Overview:
Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 96 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Purchasing power parity - $48 billion (2004 est.)

Tax Laws:
The general rule is that individuals, both Kuwaiti and foreign nationals, and Kuwaiti companies are not subject to taxes on income. However, a foreign corporate body engaged in commercial activities in Kuwait is subject to income tax at the range of 5% to 55% applied progressively to income brackets.