Conventional Long Form: |
State of Kuwait
|
Conventional Short Form: |
Kuwait |
Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia |
Capital City: |
Kuwait |
Government Type: |
Nominal Constitutional Monarchy |
Population: |
2,041,961 |
Area [sq.km]: |
17,820 (slightly smaller than New Jersey) |
Currency: |
Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) |
Languages: |
Arabic (official), English widely spoken |
National Holiday: |
National Day, 25 February (1950) |
Background: |
Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait has spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. |