2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Arab countries	264,923	265,660	287,920	260,345	251,164	265,443	265,630	292,334
Non‐Arab Asian countries	524,479	537,377	561,491	531,552	481,261	609,571	633,051	633,078
Non‐Arab African countries	38,463	43,914	33,911	25,710	18,339	18,714	19,599	23,451
Europe	5,922	6,043	6,477	5,336	5,098	5,344	5,204	5,442
North America	7,372	7,492	8,234	7,028	6,721	6,995	6,804	6,978
South and Central America	662	747	853	755	702	798	801	881
Australia and Pacific	603	616	631	558	521	509	472	509
Other	2	1	0	1	2	1	0	1
Total	842,426	861,850	899,517	831,285	763,808	907,375	931,561	962,674

Source: Central Statistical Bureau, Migration Statistics Bulletin, given years.

ANNEXED NOTE

1. Definitions

Data taken from Ministry of Interior’s (Directorate of Migration’s) annual records of residency permits granted to foreign residents by type/ purpose of permit, sex and regional origin of holder.
The data presented in the table are stock data: all the non-national residents holding a residence permit valid and/or effective until the issuance of the Bulletin, on December 31st of the given year,
EXCEPT the numbers of holders of permit n°14 (temporary residents), which are not available before 2019 and were not included in this table. 
The present figures include permits delivered for all other purposes of stay in Kuwait:

1- Labour in all sectors: governmental sector (n°17); private sector (n°18); business (freelance) (n°19) and domestic sector (n°20)
2- Residence: as family dependent (permit n°22); studies (n°23) and self-residence (n°24).

Residency procedures do not apply to GCC nationals and to Bidouns (stateless residents of Kuwait).
The table thus excludes the Bidouns, the non-Kuwaiti GCC citizens and those in irregular situation.

Dependent permit: spouse, children or elderly dependent relatives can join visa holder (sponsor) in Kuwait,
if the expatriate has obtained a residency and meets the salary requirements.
A working wife cannot sponsor her husband as a dependent. Sons over the age of 21 years cannot be sponsored as dependents,
though adult daughters and parents may be permitted. Dependent family members are not allowed to work on a Dependent Visa.
Every foreign resident including new born babies must hold a residency permit.
Self residence permit: Expatriates may sponsor themselves under article 24 of the regulations and obtain a residence for two
to five years under several conditions, among which: being aged 60 and more, having worked no less than 25 years in Kuwait,
owning a capital of 10,000 KD at least; holding a certificate of good conduct, effectively reside in Kuwait, etc.
This form of residence can be renewed upon expiry. Self-sponsored expatriates may sponsor their wives and children.
Permits 17, 18, 19 and 20 are only granted after Ministry of Labour issues a work permit.

2. Institution which provides data 

Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), Ministry of Planning.

3. Period of data coverage

December 31st, given years.

4. Data availability 

The present data is taken from the “Migration Statistics” reports, published annually by the CSB.

The report (in Arabic and English, PDF format with Excel tables) is available on CSB’s website
(Population Statistics, then Migration Statistics)
https://www.csb.gov.kw/Pages/Statistics_en?ID=56&ParentCatID=1
https://www.csb.gov.kw/Pages/Statistics?ID=56&ParentCatID=1

Date of access: 29 May 2026.

GLMM and GRC cannot guarantee that the link to access the source will not change;
that the information will not be removed from the website it was obtained from;
that no geo-blockages will be imposed; or that the information will not be available for any another reason.

Keywords: Kuwait, Foreign Population, Employment, Legal Document, Residence Conditions, Family Reunification

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