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 and Asia bordering Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran.
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. Evidence of the first settlement in Kuwait dates from 4500 BC.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. In 1899, Kuwait became a British protectorate with Britain providing naval protection in return for Kuwait allowing London to control its foreign affairs.
8. Kuwait has been ruled by the Al-Sabah dynasty since 1756 and continues to retain absolute power.
9. In 1961 Kuwait gained complete independence with the British protectorate formally withdrawn.
10. In 1990, Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait accusing the country of stealing its oil from a field near the border. In 1991, a US-led and UN-backed bombing military campaign liberated Kuwait in what became known as the Gulf War or the Persian Gulf War.
11. In 2003, American forces invaded Iraq from Kuwait in the Second Iraq War, which led to the ousting of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
12. 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.
13. The World Health Organization reports that the Gulf countries have some of the highest rates of obesity in the world. Kuwait is the second most obese country in the Arab world. The non-Pacific island nation has classified 73.4% of its population as overweight and 40% as obese.
14. 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.
15. As of 2024, Kuwait is the 39th richest country per capita when measured by GDP (PPP) per capita.
16. Kuwait is one of the worst polluting countries in terms of CO2 emissions, registering 25.6 metric tons per capita.
17. 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 recently announced he intends to reduce the expat population to 30% of the population.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. Camel racing is popular in Kuwait and since 2005 races using 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.
23. 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 187m and features a viewing platform, gift shop and restaurant.
24. 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).
25. Revealing the soles of the feet is considered offensive in Kuwait, as is crossing your legs.
26. Kuwait has the third-lowest death rate in the world after Qatar and the UAE. On average, there are only 2.3 deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear.
27. Kuwait has no renewable freshwater resources, so instead, it relies solely upon saltwater desalination plants for freshwater.
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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.