Overview
Kuwait, officially known as the State of Kuwait, is a country situated in West Asia at the head of the Persian Gulf, on the northeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a small city-state that shares borders with Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south, and it is geographically the closest Gulf country to mainland Iran. Kuwait's coastline stretches approximately 500 kilometers (311 miles) along the Persian Gulf, shaping much of its geography and historical role as a maritime trading hub.
Geography
Positioned at a strategic crossroads in the Persian Gulf region, Kuwait's location has long made it an important point of contact between the Arabian Peninsula and neighboring regions. Its proximity to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran places it in one of the most geopolitically significant areas of the Middle East.
Population and Demographics
Most of Kuwait's population is concentrated in the urban agglomeration surrounding Kuwait City, the nation's capital and largest city. As of 2024, Kuwait's population stands at approximately 4.82 million people. Of this total, only about 1.53 million are Kuwaiti citizens, while the remaining 3.29 million are foreign nationals hailing from more than 100 different countries.
This demographic makeup gives Kuwait one of the most internationally diverse populations in the world. In fact, as of 2024, Kuwait ranked seventh globally in terms of the percentage of foreign nationals relative to its total population. Notably, Kuwaiti citizens make up fewer than 30% of the country's overall population, underscoring the country's heavy reliance on expatriate labor and its role as a major destination for international migrants within the Gulf region.
Why Kuwait Stands Out
- A compact, urbanized city-state with the majority of residents living in and around the capital, Kuwait City.
- One of the most demographically diverse nations globally, with foreign nationals vastly outnumbering native citizens.
- A strategically located country bordering both Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with close geographic proximity to Iran.
- A significant coastline along the Persian Gulf that has shaped its history as a center of trade and seafaring.