Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%
Languages
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Exports
oil and refined products, fertilizers
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
External Debt
$41,730,000,000 $
$33,740,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar - 0.2679 (2008 est.), 0.2844 (2007), 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004)
Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar - 5.4 (2008 est.), 5.67 (2007), 5.725 (2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
5.300%
3.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula
Area
17,818 km sq
1,001,450 km sq
Coastline
499 km
2,450 km
Climate
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
