Iraqi
acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which demands that Iraq
accept its internationally recognized border with Kuwait, ended earlier
claims to Bubiyan and Warbah Islands or to all of Kuwait; ownership
of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim Islands disputed by Saudi Arabia

_#_Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

_#_Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain

_#_Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

_#_Land use: arable land NEGL%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and
pastures 8%; forest and woodland NEGL%; other 92%; includes irrigated
NEGL%

_#_Environment: some of world's largest and most sophisticated
desalination facilities provide most of water; air and water pollution;
desertification

_#_Note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

_*_People
_#_Population: 2,204,400 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 29 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 2 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 10 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 76 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 3.7 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Kuwaiti(s); adjective--Kuwaiti

_#_Ethnic divisions: Kuwaiti 27.9%, other Arab 39%, South Asian 9%,
Iranian 4%, other 20.1%

_#_Religion:
Muslim 85% (Shia 30%, Sunni 45%, other 10%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi,
and other 15%

_#_Language: Arabic (official); English widely spoken

_#_Literacy: 74% (male 78%, female 69%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1985)

_#_Labor force: 566,000 (1986); services 45.0%, construction 20.0%,
trade 12.0%, manufacturing 8.6%, finance and real estate 2.6%,
agriculture 1.9%, power and water 1.7%, mining and quarrying 1.4%; 70% of
labor force was non-Kuwaiti

_#_Organized labor: labor unions exist in oil industry and among
government personnel

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: State of Kuwait

_#_Type: nominal constitutional monarchy

_#_Capital: Kuwait

_#_Administrative divisions: 4 governorates (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Jahrah, Al Kuwayt,
Hawalli; note--there may be a new governorate of Farwaniyyah

_#_Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)

_#_Constitution: 16 November 1962 (some provisions suspended since 29
August 1962)

_#_Legal system: civil law s