Kuwait: Non-Kuwaiti male population by migration status (2015-2024)

Migration status (Purpose of permit)	Reference number of permits	Type of permit	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
work	17	Government sector	68,372	69,213	69,955	68,481	67,520	62,901	60,159	60,144	59,472	59,124
	18	Private sector	1,184,327	1,259,620	1,323,096	1,405,123	1,414,900	1,259,894	1,129,096	1,275,552	1,342,449	1,417,415
	19	Business	365	351	339	344	334	339	566	736	930	1,381
	20	Domestic work	288,153	312,735	337,009	352,234	353,810	327,645	294,792	347,488	363,388	325,679
residence	22	Dependent	196,654	199,858	200,327	201,393	201,415	197,339	190,198	197,164	192,344	206,704
	23	Study	459	651	632	643	603	513	377	469	529	501
	24	Self-residence	1,149	1,148	1,171	1,187	1,129	1,116	1,128	971	643	616
Total residencies 1 year and more			1,739,479	1,843,576	1,932,529	2,029,405	2,039,711	1,849,747	1,676,316	1,882,524	1,959,755	2,011,420
Temporary	14	Temporary residence	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	58,281	50,520	62,667	37,243	37,624	36,426
Total residencies			n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	2,097,992	1,900,267	1,738,983	1,919,767	1,997,379	2,047,846

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 on December 31st, the given year.
The present figures include permits delivered for all 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.
The number of holders of permit n°14 (temporary residents) is not available before 2019.

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