BORTAMAN: Demographics

Shoppers at a local mall.

As of 2007, Kuwait's population was estimated to be 3 to 3.5 million people which included approximately 2 million non-nationals.^[55] Kuwaiti citizens are therefore a minority of those who reside in Kuwait. The government rarely grants citizenship to foreigners to maintain status quo.^[56]

About 57% of the Kuwaiti population is Arab, 39% Asian, and 4% are classified Bidoon.^[13] Bidoons are a group of stateless Arab residents of Kuwait. In 2008, 68.43% of the population consisted of expatriates^[57]most of whom are from other Arab nations and South Asia. In 2009, more than 580,000 Indian nationalslived in Kuwait, making them the single largest expatriate community there.^[58]^[59] In 2003, there were also an estimated 260,000 Egyptians, 100,000 Syrians and 80,000 Iranians in Kuwait.^[60] After Kuwait was liberated from Iraqi occupation, most of the 400,000 Palestinians living in Kuwait were expelled because of their government's open support for the Iraqi forces. Only a few thousand Palestinians remain in Kuwait.^[61]The population of ethnic Armenians in Kuwait also shrank drastically following the events of the Iraq-Kuwait war.^[62]

Kuwait's official language is Arabic, though English is widely spoken. Other important languages include Persian,^[63] Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi,Urdu, Bengali, and Filipino.

About 85% of Kuwait's population practises Islam.^[13] Despite Islam being the state religion,^[64] Kuwait has large communities of Christians(est. 300,000 to 400,000), Hindus (est. 300,000), Buddhists (est. 100,000), and Sikhs (est. 10,000).^[65] Of the Muslims in Kuwait, 85% areSunni and 15% are Shia Muslims.^[9]

[edit]Culture

Main article: Culture of Kuwait

Kuwait Towers, one of the country's most famous landmarks.

The influence of Islamic and Arab culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is prominent as well.^[66] The most distinctive characteristic of local Kuwaiti culture are the diwaniyas, a large reception room used for social gatherings attended mostly by close family members. While the Islamic dress code is not compulsory, unlike neighboring Saudi Arabia, many of the older Kuwaiti men prefer wearing thawb, an ankle-length white shirt woven from wool or cotton while the minority of women wear abaya, black over-garment covering most parts of the body. This attire is particularly well-suited for Kuwait's hot and dry climate.^[67] Western-style clothing is also fairly popular, especially among Kuwait's youth. Seafood has been the mainstay of the Kuwaiti diet for centuries.^[68] The Arabs in the Persian Gulf region played a crucial role in the spice trade between India and Europe and spices have remained an important ingredient of Kuwaiti cuisine. Traditional Kuwaiti cuisine includes Machboos or Kabsa which borrows heavily from South Asian cuisine.

Before the discovery of oil, pearling formed a crucial part of Kuwait's economy. Pearl fishery, known asghaus, suffered decline after the advent of Japanese pearl farming.^[69] However, Kuwait's pearl industry laid the foundation of its rich maritime history. Dhows, large wooden ships made from teak wood imported from India,^[69] became an indistinct part of Kuwait's maritime fleet and dhow building is still practiced in this Persian Gulf state.^[70] Kuwait's architecture is largely inspired by Islamic architecture. The most prominent landmark in country, the Kuwait Towers, were designed by Swedish architect Sune Lindström and are a unique blend of traditional minaret and modern architectural designs. The National Assembly of Kuwait, another famous landmark building, was designed by the famous Danish architect Jørn Utzon and completed in 1972. Sawt is the most prominent style of Kuwaiti music and is performed by 'ud (plucked lute) andmirwas (a drum), with a violin later supplementing the arrangement. The Bedouins are known for an instrument called the rubabah, while the use of oud, tanbarah (string instrument) and habban (bagpipe) are also widespread.^[71]

See also: Music of Kuwait and Cinema of Kuwait

[edit]Transportation

Main article: Transport in Kuwait

A highway in Kuwait City.

Kuwait has an extensive, modern and well-maintained network of highways. Roadways extended 5,749 km, of which 4,887 km is paved.^[9] In 2000, there were some 552,400 passenger cars, and 167,800 commercial taxis, trucks, and buses in use. Since there is no railway system in the country, most of the people travel by automobiles.^[72] The government plans to construct US$11 billion rail network which will include a city metro for its capital.^[73] Bus services are provided by City Bus and state-owned Kuwait Public Transportation Corporation.^[74]

There are a total of seven airports in the country, of which four have paved runways. Kuwait International Airport serves as the principal hub for international air travel. State-owned Kuwait Airways is the largest airline in the country. In 2001, the airline carried 2,084,600 passengers on domestic and international flights.^[72] In 2004, the first private airline of Kuwait, Jazeera Airways, was launched.^[75] In 2005, the second private airline, Wataniya Airways of Kuwait was founded.

Kuwait has one of the largest shipping industries in the Persian Gulf region. The Kuwait Ports Public Authority manages and operates ports across Kuwait.^[76] The country’s principal commercial seaports are Shuwaikh and Shuaiba which handled combined cargo of 753,334 TEU in 2006.^[77] Mina Al-Ahmadi, the largest port in the country, handles most of Kuwait's oil exports.^[78] Construction of another major port located inBubiyan island started in 2005. The port is expected to handle 1.3 million TEU when operation starts in 2008.^[79]

[edit]Media

The 372 m tall Kuwait Telecommunications Tower(leftmost) is the main communication tower of Kuwait.

Kuwait has one of the most vocal and transparent media in the Arab World.^[80] In 2007, Kuwait was ranked second in the Middle East after Israel in the freedom of press index.^[81] Though the government funds several leading newspapers and satellite channels,^[82] Kuwaiti journalists enjoy greater freedom than their regional counterparts.^[80] State-owned Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is the largest media house in the country. The Ministry of Information regulates all media and communication industry in Kuwait.^[83]

In 1998, there were 15 media stations, which are 6 AM and 11 FM radio stations and 13 television stations. In 2000, there were 624 radios and 486 television sets for every 1,000 people. In 2001, there were 165,000 Internet subscribers served by three service providers.^[84] Kuwait has ten satellite television channels of which four are controlled by the Ministry of Information. State-owned Kuwait Television (KTV) offered first colored broadcast in 1974 and operates three television channels.^[84] Government-funded Radio Kuwait also offers daily informative programming in four foreign languages including Persian, Urdu, Tagalog and English on the AM and SW.

In 2009, Kuwait had seventeen newspapers companies in circulation. In 2002, the Arab Times was the most popular English daily, followed by the Kuwait Times. Al-Anabaa, with a circulation of 106,800 copies, was the most widely read Arabic daily.^[84] Currently, there are around 15 Arabic daily newspapers besides the English newspapers. A press law forbids insulting references to God and Islamic prophet Muhammad. Another law which made leading newspaper publishers eligible for hefty fines for criticizing the ruling family was lifted in 1992. Leading newspapers continue to impose self-restraint while being critical of the emir.^[85]However, no such restraint is observed while criticizing the government.^[84]

Today, the Internet plays a main role in delivering a message. Kuwaiti citizens and small businesses started moving to online media. Salloumi Videos - http://www.salloumi.com - is the first and largest Kuwaiti video sharing environment that allows users to upload their own videos. TV Channels and radio stations started to broadcast online to serve the highest percentage of Kuwait's society. Marina FM - http://marinafm.com- radio station is the most popular broadcasted station in Kuwait. As well as Al-Watan newspaper - http://www.alwatan.com.kw - being one of the most visited websites in Kuwait.