2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Arab countries	192	14	206	194	14	208	328	21	349	441	22	463	547	24	571	850	32	882
Non‐Arab Asian countries	115	3	118	115	3	118	186	9	195	240	9	249	301	10	311	426	15	441
Non‐Arab African countries	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	0	2
Europe	4	2	6	4	2	6	8	2	10	7	3	10	12	3	15	20	4	24
North America	17	1	18	20	0	20	35	2	37	38	1	39	57	3	60	65	3	68
South and Central America	5	0	5	5	0	5	7	1	8	8	2	10	10	2	12	13	2	15
Australia and Pacific	1	0	1	1	0	1	2	0	2	2	0	2	2	0	2	5	2	7
Other	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	334	20	354	339	19	358	566	35	601	736	37	773	930	42	972	1,381	58	1,439

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.
Data presented in the table are stock data: non-national residents holding a residence permit on December 31st, the given year
(residencies delivered for the first time a given year+residencies renewed that year)

The present figures include permits delivered for the purpose of working as a freelancer in Kuwait.
New rules fpr freelance visas have been announced in February 2026:
https://eiglaw.com/kuwait-announces-new-freelance-residency-permit-allowing-foreign-workers-to-work-independently/

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.

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: 01 July 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, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania

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