Here are the most interesting facts about Kuwait, from remote-controlled camel racing to one of the richest populations in the world.
Fast facts
Official name: State of Kuwait
Capital city: Kuwait City
Population: 3,138,355
Area: 17,818 sq km
Major languages: Arabic, English
Time zone: UTC+3 (Arabia Standard Time)
Interesting facts about Kuwait
1. Kuwait is a tiny country in the Middle East, a region of Western Asia, bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with a coastline along the Persian Gulf.
2. Kuwait is the sixth-richest country in the Middle East and North Africa when measured by GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP). It is the 39th richest country in the world.
3. In 2001, archaeologists believe they discovered the remains of the world’s oldest ocean-going boat in Kuwait. The bitumen pieces indented with reeds and barnacles date from around 5000 BC.
4. Ancient Greece once colonized the Kuwaiti island of Failaki, then named Ikaros, between 2000 and 1000 BC. It became an important trading post on the route from Mesopotamia to India.
5. During the 1600s Kuwait became part of the Ottoman Empire and during the 1700s settlers arrived at the site of present-day Kuwait City transforming it into a trading hub during the 1800s.
6. Kuwait has been ruled by the Al-Sabah dynasty since 1756 and continues to retain absolute power.
7. Kuwait is building the world’s tallest skyscraper. The proposed 1,001m (3,284ft) Burj Mubarak al-Kabir is expected to be completed in 2030. Its height is a reference to the classic collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian folk tales, One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.
8. Kuwait has the world’s fifth-largest proven oil reserves in the Middle East, with 102 billion barrels at the end of 2022. It has the seventh-largest reserves in the world.
9. As of 2024, Kuwait is the 39th richest country per capita when measured by GDP (PPP) per capita.
10. Kuwait is one of the worst polluting countries in terms of CO₂ emissions, registering 20.5 metric tons per capita.
11. Around 70% of Kuwait’s population are expats, with around 3.4 million foreigners living in the country. However, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah intended to reduce the expat population to 30% of the population.
12. The name Kuwait derives from the Arabic “al-Kuwayt” meaning “fortress,” perhaps a reference to a castle built on the current location of Kuwait City by the Beni Khaled tribe in the 17th century.
13. The Kuwaiti flag is horizontally striped green-white-red with a black truncated triangle. The colors are associated with a poem written in the 13th century by Ṣafī ad-Dīn al-Ḥilli. He spoke of the green fields of the Arabs, the black battles they faced, the white purity of their deeds and the red blood on their swords.
See how Kuwait’s flag compares to other Asian flags.
14. Kuwait was the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament. In 1963, following independence in 1961, elections were held for the National Assembly.
15. However, women were not allowed to vote in Kuwait until 2006, when they took part in elections for the first time after a long fight for suffrage.
16. The highest life expectancies in the Middle East are found in Kuwait, Israel and the UAE (83 years).
17. Camel racing is popular in Kuwait and since 2005 races use robots as jockeys after children were banned from the sport. Humanoid jockeys, specifically developed for this purpose, are the size and shape of small boys and are operated by remote control.
18. One of Kuwait’s most famous landmarks is the Kuwait Towers, distinctive blue-green sequined water towers located in Kuwait City. The largest of the three rises to a height of 187 meters (614 feet) and features a viewing platform, gift shop and restaurant.
19. Kuwait is one of 27 countries that doesn’t have any UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It does have four properties on the Tentative List (properties intended to be submitted for nomination).
20. Revealing the soles of the feet is considered offensive in Kuwait, as is crossing your legs.
21. Kuwait has the third-lowest death rate in the world after Qatar and the UAE. On average, there are only 2.3 deaths per 1,000 people each year.
22. Kuwait has no renewable freshwater resources, so instead, it relies solely upon saltwater desalination plants for freshwater.
Explore more from Asia
We strive to verify all facts using authoritative and primary sources where possible. However, if you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.