The Arabian Peninsula Partnership

The Gospel for every person and a church for every people in the Arabian Peninsula amongst indigenous peoples

map of Kuwait

Information about Kuwait

(source: Operation World)

GEOGRAPHY
Area: 17,818 sq.km.

An oil-rich wedge of desert between Iraq and Saudi Arabia at the northwest end of the Arabian Gulf.

Population Annual Growth Density
2000: 1,971,634 +3.14% 111 per sq. km.
2010: 2,419,713 +1.85% 136 per sq. km.
2025: 2,974,454 +1.12% 167 per sq. km.
Capital: Kuwait city Urbanites: 97%
PEOPLES

Arabs: 68% of total population:

Kuwaiti: 37%

Foreign Arab: 24.6% (Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian)

Non-Arabs: 32%. Filipino, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Europeans etc.

Literacy: 79%. Official language: Arabic

ECONOMY

The massive capital and petroleum reserves of this oil rich state were seriously damaged by the Iraqi invasion and Gulf War in 1990-91, but due to generous aid/loans, the oil is again being pumped out to the permitted OPEC limits. Warning signs: the budget deficit is ballooning, and 83% of the workforce is foreign. Income/person $20,470

POLITICS

Former British protectorate; became independent in 1961. Constitutional monarchy, but with the Amir and his family exercising quasi-autocratic control. Stuttering democratic progress since 1986. The 1990s were marked by politicized xenophobia due to the Iraqi invasion, suspicions of Kuwaiti-based Iraqi collaborators, and increasing Islamist agitation.

RELIGION

Sunni Islam is the state religion with a large Shi'a minority. Immigrant religious minorities are permitted some worship facilities. Diverse Christian community in a relatively liberal Islamic regime. Proselytizing Muslims is forbidden. Persecution index 20th in the world.

Religions Population % Adherents
Muslim 87.43 1,723,800
Christian 8.17 161,082
Hindu 2.50 49,291
non-Religious 1.10 21,688
Baha'i 0.50 9,858
Buddhist 0.30 5,915
Christians Denom. Affiliation ,000
Protestant 30 0.46 9
Independent 15 0.25 5
Anglican 1 0.01 0
Catholic 2 3.91 77
Orthodox 5 3.54 70

Churches Congregations Members Affiliates
Catholic 8 46,584 75,000
Coptic Orthodox 6 31,579 60,000
National Evangelical 3 1,250 5,000
Indepedent 28 2,778 5,000
Armenian Apostolic 1 2564 4,000
Greek Orthodox 1 2244 3,500
Syrian Orthodox 2 1366 2,200
Mar Thoma Syrian 2 1242 2,000
Melkite Greek Catholic 1 1,111 2,000
Pentecostal Churches 6 974 1,500
16 other denominations 11 689 1,231
Total Christians 69 92,381 161,431
Links

Operation World

Pray for Kuwait