Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:
29 30 N, 45 45 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 17,818 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 17,818 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 158

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Area comparison map: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 475 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (2): Iraq 254 km, Saudi Arabia 221 km

Coastline:
499 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]

Climate:
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
More Climate Details

Terrain:
flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Elevation:
mean elevation: 108 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: 3.6 km W. of Al-Salmi Border Post 300 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use:
agricultural land: 8.5% arable land 0.6%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 7.6%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 0.4%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 91.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
105 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

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

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

Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geography - note:
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf