Governorates of Kuwait
Top-level administrative divisions
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates (muhafazah).[1] The governorates are further subdivided into areas. Each governorate is headed by a Governor appointed by a ministerial decree for a period of 4 years which can be renewed upon the proposal of the Prime Minister.
CategoryGovernorate
LocationState of Kuwait 
Number6 Governorates (as of 27 November 1999)
PopulationsMubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate - 254,999 (lowest); Farwaniya Governorate - 1,169,312 (highest)
| Governorates of Kuwait | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Category | Governorate |
| Location | State of Kuwait |
| Number | 6 Governorates (as of 27 November 1999) |
| Populations | Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate - 254,999 (lowest); Farwaniya Governorate - 1,169,312 (highest) |
| Areas | Hawalli Governorate - 85 km2 (33 sq mi) (smallest); Jahra Governorate - 11,230 km2 (4,340 sq mi) km² (largest) |
| Government | |
| Subdivisions | |
History
The beginning of the formation of governorates in the State of Kuwait started in 1962 with the Emiri decree No. 6 which divided the Kuwait into three governorates i.e. Asimah Governorate, Hawalli Governorate and Ahmadi Governorate. Later, Jahra Governorate, Farwaniya Governorate and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate were formed in three periods of time: 1979, 1988 and 1999 respectively.
Governorates
| Governorate | ISO 3166-2:KW | Formation | Population | Area (km2) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmadi Governorate | KW-AH | 1962 | 959,009 | 5,120 | It was named after Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, 10th ruler of Kuwait. |
| Asimah Governorate | KW-KU | 1962 | 568,567 | 175 | It houses most of Kuwait's financial and business centres such as the Kuwait Stock Exchange. |
| Farwaniya Governorate | KW-FA | 1988 | 1,169,312 | 204 | It is the most populated governorate. |
| Hawalli Governorate | KW-HA | 1962 | 939,792 | 85 | It is the smallest and most densely populated governorate. |
| Jahra Governorate | KW-JA | 1979 | 540,910 | 11,230 | It is the largest governorate and contains the agricultural area. |
| Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate | KW-MU | 1999 | 254,999 | 104 | The newest governorate of Kuwait, founded in 1999 and the least populated governorate in Kuwait. |
