Jahra Governorate

Jahra Governorate
محافظة الجهراء
Governorate
Kuwait Red Fort in Jahra
Kuwait Red Fort in Jahra
Map of Kuwait with Al-Jahra highlighted
Map of Kuwait with Al-Jahra highlighted
Coordinates (Al-Jahra): 29°20′13″N 47°39′29″E / 29.337°N 47.658°E / 29.337; 47.658
CountryKuwait
Established1979
Areas28
Area
 • Total
12,750 km2 (4,920 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
566,861
 • Density44.46/km2 (115.2/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+03 (AST)
ISO 3166 codeKW-JA

Jahra Governorate (Arabic: محافظة الجهراء Muḥāfaẓat al-Ǧahrāʾ) is one of the six governorates of Kuwait. It was established in 1979 as the fourth governorate of the country. The governorate covers an area of approximately 12,750 km2 (4,920 sq mi) and is the largest governorate by land area. It is subdivided into 28 areas. According to the 2021 census, it had a population of 566,861.

Geography

Jahra Governorate is one of the six governorates of Kuwait. It was the fourth governorate to be established in 1989 after the Capital, Ahmadi, and Hawalli Governorates were established in 1962 when Kuwait was divided into governorates. The governorate occupies the northwestern part of the country and is bordered by the governorates of Asimah (Capital) and Farwaniya to the east, Ahmadi to the southeast. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the west.: 29  It also includes the Bubiyan Island, the largest island in Kuwait, and Warbah Island. It occupies a land area of 12,750 km2 (4,920 sq mi), nearly two times the combined area of all the other governorates, and is the largest governorate by area. Most of the land area is covered by desert.

Red Palace (Red Fort) is located in Jahra. It was built in 1897 by Mubarak Al-Sabah and hosted the Battle of Jahra in 1920. It is sub-divided into 28 areas–West Jahra, Jahra, Qasr, Naeem, Taima, Naseem, South East Jahra, Jahra Industrial, Oyoun, Waha, Saad Al-Abdullah, Amghara, Junk Yard, Al-Qairawan, Al-Sulaibikhat Tombs, Al-Nahda, Sulaibiya, Sulaibiya Industrial 1, Sulaibiya Industrial 2, Sulaibiya Agricultural 1, Sulaibiya Agricultural 2, Kabd, Salmy, Al-Subiya, Al-Jahra Desert, Al-Abdali, Bubiyan, and Warbah.: 33 : 7 

Demographics

According to the 2021 census, Jahra Governorate had a population of 566,861, comprising 320,834 males and 246,027 females. Despite being the largest by area, it is the third least populated governorate in Kuwait. About 430,419 were aged 15 and above, of which 213,768 were married, 174,630 had never married, 13,966 were divorced and 21,715 were widowed.

Kuwaiti citizens numbered 212,160, representing approximately 37.4% of the population, while non-Kuwaiti residents numbered 354,701, accounting for approximately 62.6%. The Kuwaiti population consisted of 103,272 males and 108,888 females, while the non-Kuwaiti population included 217,562 males and 137,139 females. Of the expatriate population, Gulf Cooperation Council countries constituted the largest grouping, with 280,648 people, followed by other Arab countries with 143,001 and other Asian countries with 135,221. The remaining population included 6,698 from sub-Saharan Africa, 530 from Europe, 458 from North America, 196 from South America, and 109 from Oceania.

Economy

Jahra is the primary agricultural region in Kuwait, and most of the agriculture takes place around oases in Al Jahra. Jahra Governorate had 16,636 registered establishments, of which 16,467 were in the private sector. Agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for the largest number of establishments, with 8,310, followed by 4,194 wholesale and retail trade establishments and 1,081 manufacturing industries. Of the population aged 15 years and above, 244,019 were employed. Manufacturing industries was the largest employer with 90,546 people, followed by transportation and storage with 35,288 and education with 23,535.

References

  1. ↑ "Kuwait Governorates". Government of Kuwait. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Governorates of Kuwait". City Population. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  3. ↑ "Topography of Kuwait". Government of Kuwait. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 The Kuwaiti Digest (PDF) (Report). Kuwait Oil Company. April–June 2006. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  5. ↑ "Today in Kuwait's history". Kuwait Times. Archived from the original on 12 February 2026. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  6. ↑ Al Bader, Yousuf B. (2015). Semantic Innovation and Change in Kuwaiti Arabic: A Study of the Polysemy of Verbs (PDF) (Thesis). University of Sheffield. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2026. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Bauer, Martin W.; Sartawi, Mohammad; Sammut, Gordon (27 June 2024). "Worldviews and Attitudes to Science in Kuwait" (PDF). LSE Middle East Centre Kuwait Programme Paper Series. 27. London School of Economics and Political Science: 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2026. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  8. 1 2 Administrative Division of Kuwait (PDF) (Report). Central Statistical Bureau, State of Kuwait. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  9. ↑ "Kuwait islands". Beatona. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Provincial System". Embassy of Kuwait, Washington, D.C. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  11. ↑ "Red Palace: Fort of steadfastness". Kuwait Times. 12 December 2024. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  12. ↑ Kuwait Toponymic Factfile (PDF) (Report). Permanent Committee on Geographical Names, United Kingdom. 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  13. 1 2 Total population in each governorate by gender and age groups (Report). Central Statistical Bureau, State of Kuwait. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  14. ↑ Total population (15 years and more) by governorate, gender, nationality and marital status (Report). Central Statistical Bureau, State of Kuwait. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  15. ↑ Population Distribution by Governorates, Nationality and Gender (Report). Central Statistical Bureau, State of Kuwait. Archived from the original on 2 September 2026. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  16. ↑ "Kuwait: Population by nationality group, sex and administrative region of residence (census 2021)". Gulf Labour Markets and Migration. Archived from the original on 3 July 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  17. ↑ "Al Jahra". Britannica. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  18. ↑ Beaumont, Peter; Mclachlan, Keith Stanley (1985). Agricultural development in the Middle East. Wiley. p. 287. ISBN 978-0-471-90762-6.
  19. ↑ Distribution of operating establishments by governorate and sector (Report). Central Statistical Bureau, State of Kuwait. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  20. ↑ Distribution of establishments by governorate and economic activity (Report). Central Statistical Bureau, State of Kuwait. Retrieved 7 November 2026.
  21. ↑ Employed persons (15 years and over) in each governorate by gender and economic activity main groups (Report). Central Statistical Bureau, State of Kuwait. Retrieved 7 November 2026.