科威特(Kuwait)
正式名称科威特国（State of Kuwait）
面积17,818平方公里。人口约2,275,000（2001）。首都︰科威特市。人民大部分是阿拉伯人。语言︰阿拉伯语（官方语）、波斯语和英语。宗教：伊斯兰教（国教）。货币︰科威特第纳尔（KD）。除了科威特湾西端的杰赫拉绿洲以及东南部和沿海一带有一些沃土外，大部分是沙漠；年降雨量仅有25～180公厘。全国有1/12的土地用作放养牲畜的牧地，包括绵羊和山羊。科威特几乎没有适合农耕的土壤，但该国蕴藏大量的石油和天然气，是其经济的基础。据估计科威特的石油储量占全球储量的1/10，排名第三，仅此於伊拉克和沙乌地阿拉伯。政府形式为君主立宪政体，有一立法机构。国家元首暨政府首脑是埃米尔，由首相辅佐。
科威特湾的费莱凯岛（Faylakah）曾有过一个古文明，年代可追溯到西元前第三千纪。此文明一直繁盛到西元前1200年才从历史记载中消失。西元前4世纪时，希腊人在此建立殖民地。1710年阿拉伯半岛中部的游牧部落安尼泽人建立了科威特，1756年沙巴赫王朝的阿布德.拉希姆成为舍赫（sheikh，首领），是此後持续统治科威特的家族第一人。1899年为了遏制德国和俄图曼帝国的势力扩张，科威特同意让英国控制它的外交事务。1914年与俄图曼人爆发战争後，英国将科威特建立为保护国。1961年科威特脱离英国，取得完全独立，但伊拉克宣称拥有科威特的主权。英国於是派兵保护科威特，後来阿拉伯国家联盟承认科威特的独立地位，伊拉克才放弃它的领土要求。1980年代的两伊战争期间，科威特大量贷款给伊拉克。後来在谈判如何偿还战争债务时关系破裂，1990年伊拉克军队入侵并占领科威特。美国乃领导一个军事联盟在次年把伊拉克军队赶出科威特（即波斯湾战争）。科威特1,300多座的油井约有近半数遭破坏，重建之路遍布荆棘。
English version：
Kuwait
Country, northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. Area: 6,880 sq mi (17,818 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 1,809,000. Capital: Kuwait city. Its population is overwhelmingly Arab. Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English. Religion: Islam (official). Currency: dinar. Except for Al-Jahrah Oasis, at the western end of Kuwait Bay, and a few fertile patches in the southeastern and coastal areas, it is largely desert; annual precipitation totals 1-7 in (25-180 mm). One-twelfth of the country serves as pastureland for livestock, including sheep and goats. Kuwait has almost no agricultural soil; its extensive petroleum and natural-gas deposits are the basis of its economy. Its estimated reserves of petroleum represent 10% of global reserves, ranking Kuwait third only to Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It is a constitutional monarchy with one legislative body; the head of state and government is the emir, assisted by the prime minister. Faylakah island, in Kuwait Bay, had a civilization dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. It flourished until 1200 BC, when it disappeared from the historical record. Greek colonists again settled the island in the 4th century BC. The nomadic Anizah tribe of central Arabia founded Kuwait city in 1710, and Abd Rahim of the Sabah dynasty became sheikh in 1756, the first of a family that continues to rule Kuwait. In 1899, to thwart German and Ottoman influences, Kuwait agreed to give Britain control of its foreign affairs. Following the outbreak of war with the Ottomans in 1914, Britain established a protectorate there. In 1961, after Kuwait gained full independence from Britain, Iraq laid claim to Kuwait. British troops were sent to defend Kuwait; the Arab League recognized its independence, and Iraq dropped its claim. During the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s, Kuwait made large loans to Iraq. After talks on the repayment of war debts broke down, Iraqi forces invaded and occupied Kuwait in 1990. A U.S.-led military coalition drove the Iraqi army out of Kuwait in 1991 (see Persian Gulf War). The destruction of nearly half of Kuwait's 1,300 oil wells complicated reconstruction efforts.