Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
Emir: Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah
Population
287,733
2,646,314
Life Expectancy
74.520 years
77.280 years
Capital City
Bridgetown
Kuwait
Largest city
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
As Salimiyah (population: 147,649)
Human Development Index
0.889
0.912
GDP per capita
$23,700 US
$42,200 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
93.3%
Corruption Perception Index
7
4.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.7%
3.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Nasser Al-Kharafi & family ($8.1bn US)
Unemployment Rate
12.000%
2.200%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
parliamentary democracy
constitutional emirate
Independence date
30 November 1966 (from UK)
19 June 1961 (from UK)
Religions
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
Languages
English
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Exports
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
oil and refined products, fertilizers
External Debt
$668,000,000 $
$41,730,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2679 (2008 est.), 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
5.300%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Area
430 km sq
17,818 km sq
Coastline
97 km
499 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
