2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Arab countries	3,590	3,383	3,362	3,763	3,645	3,291
Non‐Arab Asian countries	694,698	639,276	570,857	732,319	765,077	712,890
Non‐Arab African countries	33,080	24,681	17,138	17,073	17,354	19,551
Europe	3	4	6	4	3	3
North America	0	0	0	0	0	0
South and Central America	4	4	4	5	6	4
Australia and Pacific	1	2	1	1	1	1
Other	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	731,376	667,350	591,368	753,165	786,086	735,740

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 present figures include permits delivered for the purpose of working in the domestic sector in Kuwait (as cleaner, driver, cook, domestic gardener, shepherd, nannie, etc.).
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.

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: 15 June 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, Domestic Workers, Legal Document, Residence Conditions, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania

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