| Economy - overview | Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported crude oil reserves of about 96 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country. High oil prices in recent years have helped build Kuwait's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. As a result of this positive fiscal situation, the need for economic reforms is less urgent and the government has not earnestly pushed through new initiatives. |
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| GDP | 5.3% (2006) |
|
| GDP - real growth rate | 12.6% (2006 est.) |
|
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 48.3%
services: 51.3% (2006 est.) |
|
| Population below poverty line | NA% |
|
Household income or consumption
by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
|
| Labor force | 1.136 million
note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2006 est.) |
|
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% |
|
| Unemployment rate | 2.2% (2004 est.) |
|
| Budget | revenues: $59.58 billion
expenditures: $33.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.) |
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| Industries | petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials |
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| Industrial production growth rate | 13.1% (2005 est.) |
|
Electricity -
production | 40.37 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
production by source | fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
|
Electricity -
consumption | 37.54 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
exports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
imports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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| Oil - production | 2.418 million bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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| Oil - consumption | 335,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - exports | 1.97 million bbl/day (2003) |
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| Oil - imports | NA bbl/day |
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| Oil - proved reserves | 96.5 billion bbl (2006 est.) |
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| Agriculture - products | practically no crops; fish |
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| Exports | $56.06 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Exports - commodities | oil and refined products, fertilizers |
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| Exports - partners | Japan 19.7%, South Korea 15.4%, US 11.9%, Taiwan 11.1%, Singapore 9.5%, Netherlands 4.7% (2005) |
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| Imports | $19.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Imports - commodities | food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing |
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| Imports - partners | US 14.1%, Germany 10.8%, Japan 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, UK 5.7%, France 4.8%, China 4.5% (2005) |
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| Debt - external | $19.7 billion (2006 est.) |
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| Economic aid - recipient | $NA |
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| Currency code | KWD |
|
| Exchange rates | Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002) |
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| Fiscal year | 1 April - 31 March |
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