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Legislative branch:

unicameral Kosovo Assembly of the Provisional Government (120 seats; 100 seats directly elected, 10 seats for Serbs, 10 seats for other minorities; to serve three-year terms)

elections: last held 17 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)

election results: percent of vote by party - PDK 34.3%, LDK 22.6%, AKR 12.3%, LDD 10.0%, AAK 9.6%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PDK 37, LDK 25, AKR 13, LDD 11, AAK 10, other 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court judges are appointed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG); district courts judges are appointed by the SRSG; municipal courts judges are appointed by the SRSG

note: after the termination of UNMIK's mandate, the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) will propose to the president candidates for appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors; the KJC is also responsible for decisions on the promotion and transfer of judges and disciplinary proceedings against judges; at least 15% of Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from nonmajority communities

Political parties and leaders:

Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Mark KRASNIQI]; Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ]; Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Kososvo and Metohija or SDSKIM [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Autonomous Liberal Party of SLS [Slobodan PETROVIC]; Bosniak Vakat Coalition [Dzezair MURATI]; Citizens' Initiative of Gora or GIG [Murselj HALILI]; Council of Independent Social Democrats of Kosovo or SNSDKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC]; Democratic League of Dardania or LDD [Nexhat DACI]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Fatmir SEJDIU]; Democratic Party of Ashkali of Kosovo or PDAK [Sabit RAHMANI]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP [Mahir YAGCILAR]; New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet NEZIRAJ]; New Democratic Party or ND [Branislav GRBIC]; New Kosovo Alliance or AKR [Behxhet PACOLLI]; Popular Movement of Kosovo or LPK [Emrush XHEMAJLI]; Reform Party Ora; Serb National Party or SNS [Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija Party or SKMS [Dragisa MIRIC]; United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi MERXHA]; Democratic Action Party or SDA [Numan BALIC]; Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija [Oliver IVANOVIC]; Serbian National Council of Northern Kosovo and Metohija or SNV [Milan IVANOVIC]; Democratic Party of Bosniaks [Dzezair MURAIT]; Democratic Party Vatan [Sadik IDRIZI]; Gorani Citizens Initiative [Mursel HALJILJI]; Serbian People Party [Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Democratic Party of Kosovo and Metohija [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Serb Liberal Party [Slobodan PETROVIC]; Independent League of Social-Democrats of Kosovo and Metohija [Ljubisa ZIVIC]

International organization participation:

ITUC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Tina KAIDANOW

embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Nazim Hikmet 30, Pristina, Kosovo

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: 381 38 59 59 3000

FAX: 381 38 549 890

Flag description:

centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of Kosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars - each representing one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo - arrayed in a slight arc

Economy Kosovo

Economy - overview:

Over the past few years Kosovo's economy has shown significant progress in transitioning to a market-based system, but it is still highly dependent on the international community and the diaspora for financial and technical assistance. Remittances from the diaspora - located mainly in Germany and Switzerland - account for about 30% of GDP. Kosovo's citizens are the poorest in Europe with an average annual per capita income of only $1800 - about one-third the level of neighboring Albania. Unemployment - at more than 40% of the population - is a severe problem that encourages outward migration. Most of Kosovo's population lives in rural towns outside of the capital, Pristina. Inefficient, near-subsistence farming is common - the result of small plots, limited mechanization, and lack of technical expertise. Economic growth is largely driven by the private sector - mostly small-scale retail businesses. With international assistance, Kosovo has been able to privatize 50% of its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by number, and over 90% of SOEs by value. Minerals and metals - including lignite, lead, zinc, nickel, chrome, aluminum, magnesium, and a wide variety of construction materials - once formed the backbone of industry, but output has declined because investment has been insufficient to replace ageing Eastern Bloc equipment. Technical and financial problems in the power sector also impedes industrial development. The US has worked with the World Bank to prepare a commercial tender for the development of new power generating and mining capacity. The official currency of Kosovo is the euro, but the Serbian dinar is also used in the Serb enclaves. Kosovo's tie to the euro has helped keep inflation low. Kosovo has maintained a budget surplus as a result of efficient tax collection and inefficient budget execution. While maintaining ultimate oversight, UNMIK continues to work with the EU and with Kosovo's government to accelerate economic growth, lower unemployment, and attract foreign investment. In order to help integrate Kosovo into regional economic structures, UNMIK signed (on behalf of Kosovo) its accession to the Central Europe Free Trade Area (CEFTA) in 2006. In February 2008, UNMIK also represented Kosovo at the newly established Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.237 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 20%

industry: 20%

services: 60% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

832,000 (June 2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 21.4%

industry: NA

services: NA (2006 est,)

Unemployment rate:

43% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

37% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30 (FY05/06)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.364 billion

expenditures: $1.008 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:

NA

Agriculture - products:

NA

Industries:

mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances

Electricity - production:

3.996 billion kWh (2006)

Electricity - consumption:

4.281 billion kWh (2006)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - consumption:

NA bbl

Oil - proved reserves:

NA bbl

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2007)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2007)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

NA cu m

Current account balance:

-$58.3 million (2007)

Exports:

$148.4 million (2007)

Exports - commodities:

mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products, machinery, appliances

Exports - partners:

Central Europe Free Trade Area (CFTA) 56% (2006)

Imports:

$NA

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery and electrical equipment

Imports - partners:

EU 35%, Macedonia 15%, Serbia 13%, Turkey 8% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$324 million (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$NA

Debt - external:

according to the national bank of Serbia, Kosovo's external debt was around $1.2 billion; Kosovo was willing to accept around $900 million (2007)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR); Serbian Dinar (RSD) is also in circulation

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007)

Communications Kosovo

Telephones - main lines in use:

106,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

562,000 (2006)

Transportation Kosovo

Airports:

10 (2008)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 4 (2008)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4

under 914 m: 4 (2008)

Heliports:

2 (2008)

Railways:

total: 430 km (2005)

Roadways:

total: 1,924 km

paved: 1,666 km

unpaved: 258 km (2006)

Transnational Issues Kosovo

Disputes - international:

Serbia with several other states protest the US and other states' recognition of Kosovo's declaring itself as a sovereign and independent state in February 2008; ethnic Serbian municipalities along Kosovo's northern border challenge final status of Kosovo-Serbia boundary; several thousand NATO-led KFOR peacekeepers under UNMIK authority continue to keep the peace within Kosovo between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority in Kosovo; Kosovo authorities object to alignment of the Kosovo boundary with Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDP's: 21,000 (2007)

This page was last updated on 15 July, 2008

The World Factbook

Kuwait

Introduction Kuwait

Background:

Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since returning to power in 1991 and reestablished an elected legislature that in recent years has become increasingly assertive.

Geography Kuwait

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: 17,820 sq km

land: 17,820 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 462 km

border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline:

499 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain:

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 0.84%

permanent crops: 0.17%

other: 98.99% (2005)

Irrigated land:

130 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.02 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural):

total: 0.44 cu km/yr (45%/2%/52%)

per capita: 164 cu m/yr (2000)

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 fresh water 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

People Kuwait

Population:

2,596,799

note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.6% (male 351,057/female 338,634)

15-64 years: 70.6% (male 1,172,460/female 659,927)

65 years and over: 2.9% (male 46,770/female 27,951) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.1 years

male: 28 years

female: 22.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.591%

note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

21.9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

2.37 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

16.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.78 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.67 male(s)/female

total population: 1.53 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.53 years

male: 76.38 years

female: 78.73 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Kuwaiti(s)

adjective: Kuwaiti

Ethnic groups:

Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%

Religions:

Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.3%

male: 94.4%

female: 91% (2005 census)

Government Kuwait

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Kuwait

conventional short form: Kuwait

local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt

local short form: Al Kuwayt

Government type:

constitutional emirate

Capital:

name: Kuwait

geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak Al Kabir

Independence:

19 June 1961 (from UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 25 February (1950)

Constitution:

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Legal system:

civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal (adult); note - males in the military or police are not allowed to vote; adult females were allowed to vote as of 16 May 2005; all voters must have been citizens for 20 years