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:KWFormation Population Area (km2) Notes Ahmadi GovernorateKW-AH1962959,0095,120 It was named after Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, 10th ruler of Kuwait. Asimah GovernorateKW-KU1962568,567175 It houses most of Kuwait's financial and business centres such as the Kuwait Stock Exchange. Farwaniya GovernorateKW-FA19881,169,312204 It is the most populated governorate. Hawalli GovernorateKW-HA1962939,79285 It is the smallest and most densely populated governorate. Jahra GovernorateKW-JA1979540,91011,230 It is the largest governorate and contains the agricultural area. Mubarak Al-Kabeer GovernorateKW-MU1999254,999104 The newest governorate of Kuwait, founded in 1999 and the least populated governorate in Kuwait.
See also Demographics of Kuwait Areas of Kuwait ISO 3166-2:KW
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