Overview
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia located at the head of the Persian Gulf in the northeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. With a coastline of approximately 500 km (311 mi), it borders Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. Kuwait is geographically the closest Gulf country to mainland Iran, separated only by a small Iraqi coastline.
Geography and Population
Kuwait is a small city-state where most of the population resides in the urban agglomeration of Kuwait City, the capital and largest city. As of 2024, Kuwait has a population of 4.82 million, comprising 1.53 million Kuwaiti citizens and 3.29 million foreign nationals from over 100 countries. In 2024, Kuwait had the world's seventh largest number of foreign nationals as a percentage of the population, with citizens making up fewer than 30% of the overall population.
History
Ancient and Classical Periods
The territory of modern-day Kuwait has been inhabited by humans since antiquity, with evidence of human presence dating back to the Mesolithic era around 8000 BC. Historically, most of present-day Kuwait was part of ancient Mesopotamia. During the Ubaid period (c. 5500–3700 BC), Kuwait served as the central borderland between Mesopotamia and Eastern Arabia.
Mesopotamians first settled in the Kuwaiti island of Failaka in 2000 BC, with traders from the Sumerian city of Ur running mercantile businesses there. From 4000 BC until 2000 BC, Kuwait was home to the Dilmun civilization, which at its peak in 2000 BC controlled the Persian Gulf trading routes.
After the Fall of Babylon, the bay of Kuwait came under the control of the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BC). In the fourth century BC, ancient Greeks colonized the bay of Kuwait under Alexander the Great, naming mainland Kuwait Larissa and Failaka as Ikaros. By 127 BC, Kuwait became part of the Parthian Empire with the establishment of the kingdom of Characene. In 224 AD, Kuwait became part of the Sassanid Empire, known as Meshan.
Medieval and Early Modern Period
In 1669 AD, Kuwait came under the Bani Khalid Emirate. In 1752, following the death of the Bani Khalid leader, the Utub Tribe elected Sabah Bin Jaber The First to rule Kuwait and declare independence from the Emirate of Bani Khalid, establishing the Sheikdom of Kuwait.
Pre-Oil Era (1752–1945)
In the early to mid-1700s, Kuwait City was a small fishing village. Sometime in the mid-1700s, the Bani Utbah settled in Kuwait City and took control from the Bani Khalid clan through successive matrimonial alliances.
In the latter half of the eighteenth century, Kuwait began establishing itself as a maritime port and gradually became a principal commercial center for the transit of goods between Baghdad, India, Persia, Muscat, and the Arabian Peninsula. During the Persian siege of Basra in 1775–79, Iraqi merchants took refuge in Kuwait and contributed to the expansion of Kuwait's boatbuilding and trading activities. The East India Company was diverted to Kuwait in 1792 to secure sea routes between Kuwait, India, and the east coasts of Africa. In the late 18th century, Kuwait became a haven for Basra merchants fleeing Ottoman persecution and was the center of boat building in the Persian Gulf, with ships renowned throughout the Indian Ocean.
Modern Era
In 1899, Kuwait became a British protectorate. Prior to the discovery of oil reserves in 1938, the territory of modern-day Kuwait contained a regional trade port. The protectorate agreements with the United Kingdom ended in June 1961 when Kuwait officially became an independent state.
From 1946 to 1982, Kuwait underwent large-scale modernization, largely based on income from oil production. In the 1980s, Kuwait experienced a period of geopolitical instability and an economic crisis following a stock market crash. During the Iran–Iraq War, Kuwait suffered pro-Iranian attacks as a result of its financial support to Iraq.
In 1990, Kuwait was invaded by Ba'athist Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein following disputes over oil production. A puppet regime was installed, and Iraq subsequently annexed Kuwait. The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait ended on 26 February 1991, after a U.S.–led international coalition expelled Iraqi forces from the country during the Gulf War.
Government and Politics
Kuwait is an emirate where the emir serves as the head of state. The ruling Al Sabah family dominates the country's political system. The official state religion is Islam, specifically the Maliki school of Sunni Islam.
Economy
Kuwait is a high-income economy backed by the world's sixth largest oil reserves. As of February 2026, Kuwait has the world's most valuable currency, with one Kuwaiti Dinar being worth 3.25 USD.
International Relations
Kuwait is a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and is also a member of the United Nations, OPEC, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Etymology
The name "Kuwait" comes from the Mesopotamian Arabic diminutive form of كويت (Kut or Kout), meaning "fortress built near water". The country's official name has been the "State of Kuwait" since 1961.