Genetic disorders in Kuwait

Abstract

Kuwait is situated northeast of Saudi Arabia at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, south of Iraq (Fig. 12.1). The country's total area is 17,820 km2, mainly flat desert with few oases. It is rich in oil, which constitutes the major source of wealth in Kuwait. Following the war to end the Iraqi occupation in 1991, the population has declined from more than two million to only 1.2 million because of the departure of many non-Kuwaiti residents, mainly the Palestinians, who constituted about 22% of the Kuwaiti population before the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. The current population of Kuwait is estimated at 2,985 million. Of the total population, the Kuwaiti Nationals constitute 35%, other Arab nationals 22%, Asians 39%, and 4% are Bedoons, who are mostly Bedouins without determined citizenship.