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Kuwait — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Kuwait is 630,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Kuwait is 24.82 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Kuwait ranked at No. 711

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Kuwait ranked at No. 182

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Kuwait are reported to have 30,0003 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Kuwait are reported to have 8,3584 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Kuwait, annual homicides by any means total

2002: 235
2001: 39
1996: 166

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Kuwait, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2004: 1.407
2003: 1.10
2002: 1.04
2001: 1.715
1996: 0.946
1995: 1.018

Number of Gun Homicides

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Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

In Kuwait, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is

1995: 0.369

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Number of Suicides (any method)

In Kuwait, annual suicides by any means total

1999: 4710

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Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Kuwait, the annual rate of suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

1999: 1.8610
1995: 1.6611

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Number of Gun Suicides

In Kuwait, annual firearm suicides total

1999: 010

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Rate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Kuwait, the annual rate of firearm suicide per 100,000 population is

1999: 0.0010
1995: 0.0612

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Number of Unintentional Gun Deaths

In Kuwait, annual unintentional shooting deaths total

2000: 010

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Rate of Unintentional Gun Death per 100,000 People

ChartIn Kuwait, the annual rate of unintentional shooting death per 100,000 population is

2000: 0.0010
1995: 0.0013

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Gun Deaths from Undetermined Cause

In Kuwait, annual shooting deaths in which the cause remains undecided total

2000: 010

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Rate of Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 People

ChartIn Kuwait, the annual rate of unknown-cause shooting deaths per 100,000 population is

2000: 0.0010
1995: 0.8314

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Kuwait is reported to be US$3,636,65715 (2009)

Import Control

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Kuwait is reported to be US$18,608,71815 (2009)

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

League of Arab States

As a member of the League of Arab States, Kuwait adopted the Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material in January 200216

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Kuwait abstained from endorsing17 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has been signed and ratified18 by Kuwait

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Kuwait committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects19

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Kuwait has yet to submit a national report20 21 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Kuwait, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated21

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Kuwait, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated21

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Kuwait submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent21

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated21 by Kuwait to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Kuwait has not declared1 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Kuwait has been a Member State of the United Nations since 196322

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list23 Kuwait as a Participating State
Last Updated on 29 January 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

5.

UNODC.2005.‘Recorded Homicide and Firearm Homicide in 53 Countries, Completed or Attempted.’ Eighth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2001-2002).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,15 April. (Q1077)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2001.‘Kuwait: Total Recorded Intentional Homicides (Completed) and Total Recorded Intentional Homicides Committed With a Firearm.’ Sixth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, covering the period 1995-1997.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,27 June. (Q5807)Full Citation

7.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘Middle East and North Africa, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3813)Full Citation

8.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1301)Full Citation

9.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1297)Full Citation

10.

Jackson, Thomas.2005.‘Global Gun Deaths.’ NISAT Firearm Mortality Database 2005.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 January. (Q12)Full Citation

11.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1302)Full Citation

12.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1298)Full Citation

13.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1299)Full Citation

14.

Krug, E G, K E Powell and L L Dahlberg.1998.‘Firearm-Related Deaths in the United States and 35 Other High- and Upper-Middle-Income Countries.’ International Journal of Epidemiology.Atlanta:National Centre for Injury Prevention & Control, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention / CDC,16 April. (Q1300)Full Citation

15.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

16.

League of Arab States / UNODA.2002.‘Arab Model Law on Weapons, Ammunitions, Explosives and Hazardous Material.’ United Nations Programme of Action Implementation Support System: Regional Organisations.New York:Council of the League of Arab States / United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs,1 January. (Q3215)Full Citation

17.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

18.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

19.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

20.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

21.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

22.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

23.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation