dult prevalence rate: 0.12% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti

Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%,
other 7%

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

Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 78.6% male: 82.2% female: 74.9% (1995 est.)

Government Kuwait

Country name: conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short
form: Kuwait local short form: Al Kuwayt local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt

Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kuwait

Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli

Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)

National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)

Constitution: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal
matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more
or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants
at age 21 note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have
been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time

Executive branch: chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah
(since 31 December 1977) head of government: Prime Minister and Crown
Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978);
First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17
October 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamud Al Sabah
(since NA) and MUHAMMAD KHALID al-Hamed Al Sabah (since NA) cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by
the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister
and deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma
(50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 July 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election
results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50; note - all
cabinet ministers are also ex officio