World Factbook
Kuwait
Dawlat al Kuwayt
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
17,818 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
17,818 sq km
Climate
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Land use
other
91.2% (2023 est.)
forest
0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
8.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Location
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Coastline
499 km
Elevation
lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point
3.6 km W. of Al-Salmi Border Post 300 m
mean elevation
108 m
Irrigated land
100 sq km (2015)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
475 km
border countries
Iraq 254 km; Saudi Arabia 221 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
Natural hazards
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March and August
Geography - note
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Geographic coordinates
29 30 N, 45 45 E
Population distribution
densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage
(Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)