Governorates of Kuwait

Governorates of Kuwait
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	Government of Kuwait;
Subdivisions	Areas of Kuwait;

Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates (muhafazah). 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.

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.