Home

Geography of Kuwait

Location:Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:499 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources:petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 0.84%
permanent crops: 0.17%
other: 98.99% (2005)
Irrigated land:130 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note:strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

Kuwait Quickstats

  • Population: 2,505,559
  • Area: 17,820 sq km
  • Density: 131 /km² (68th)
  • GDP (total): $88,7 billion
  • GDP (per capita): $29,566
  • Literacy: 93.3%

Languages of Kuwait

Useful to know

  • Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
  • Dial code: +965

International Trade

External sites

More Resources

Recent blog posts