General

Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy and has the oldest directly elected parliament of the Persian Gulf Arab countries. Chief of state is the Emir, a hereditary title.

Kuwait was granted independence in 1961. In the same year it became a member of the Arab League, the Kuwait flag was hoisted on all governmental departments and institutions. In 1962 the Kuwaiti elected Constituent Assembly (50 members) convened to draft the Kuwaiti institution, in November, Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah ratified the fist constitution of Kuwait. In January 1963, the first parliamentary elections were held. In the same month, the newly-elected national assembly convened. In May, Kuwait became a member of the United Nations Organization.

The Emir appoints the cabinet and the state constitution provides for the election of a 50-man National Assembly (parliament). Elections to the new assembly took place in October 1992 to run for four years. At these elections the narrowly defined electorate (a mere 13% of Kuwaiti nationals and no women at all) elected the first opposition majority in Kuwait's history. Candidates advocating democratic reform won 31 of the 50 seats.

Overview

Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

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
nominal constitutional monarchy

Capital
Kuwait

Administrative divisions
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli

Independence
19 June 1961 (from UK)

National holiday
National Day, 25 February (1950)