Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Geography: strategic location at head of Arabian Gulf. Area:  total: 17,820 sq km, land: 17,820 sq km, water: 0 sq km. Capital:  Kuwait. Industries:  petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials. Languages:  Arabic (official), English widely spoken. National Holiday:  National Day, 25 February (1950). Currency (Code):  Kuwaiti dinar (KD).

Population:  2,789,132  million. Labor force: 2.154 million Includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2010 est.) non-Kuwaitis represent about 60% of the labor force (2009 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity):
•   $144.3 billion (2010 est.)
•   $139.8 billion (2009 est.)
•   $146.5 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
•   3.2% (2010 est.)
•   -4.6% (2009 est.)
•   8.5% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
 •   $51,700 (2010 est.)
•   $51,900 (2009 est.)
•   $56,400 (2008 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): 13.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Budget:
•   Revenues: $64.81 billion
•   Expenditures: $38.12 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
12.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
13.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Exports:
 •   $65.03 billion (2010 est.)
•   $50.34 billion (2009 est.)
Imports:
•   $20.36 billion (2010 est.)
•   $17.08 billion (2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
•   $1.281 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
•   $1.081 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
•   $44.31 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
•   $34.73 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Military expenditures: 5.3% of GDP (2006).

Airports:  7
Airports - with paved runways:  4
Over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Airports - with unpaved runways: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Under 914 m: 2
Heliports:  4
Aircraft Departures:  16,700

Note: figures are in US dollars
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