Location.
Kuwait covers an area of 18,000 sq kms and includes nine offshore islands. The mainland is generally flat, desert landscape with the urban population concentrated in the conurbation of Kuwait City, its suburbs and satellite towns. Much of the desert is studded with oil installations and along the southern border at Wafra there is an extensive market gardening area producing vegetables for local shops and markets.

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian 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

Land boundaries:
total: 464 km
border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline:
499 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

Terrain:
flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 92% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1993 est.)