2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Arab countries	696,730	722,575	750,426	802,213	837,363	877,959	898,660	916,169
Non-Arab Asian countries	1,307,218	1,338,340	1,391,040	1,458,161	1,525,083	1,620,129	1,714,717	1,775,919
Non-Arab African countries	48,486	73,403	83,144	93,004	73,300	61,070	49,634	47,254
Europe	9,870	10,216	10,554	10,921	11,443	12,081	12,482	13,565
North America	19,296	19,191	19,311	18,244	18,297	18,403	18,860	19,079
Central and South America	1,082	1,121	1,131	1,109	1,104	1,179	1,343	1,499
Australia and Oceania	1,448	1,416	1,408	1,426	1,419	1,452	1,495	1,467
Other	14	13	13	11	9	3	4	3
Total	2,084,144	2,166,275	2,257,027	2,385,089	2,468,018	2,592,276	2,697,195	2,774,955

Source: Ministry of Interior
 
 
ANNEXED NOTE
 
1. Definitions

Ministry of Interior’s (Directorate of Migration’s) records of residency permits granted to foreign residents by type/ purpose of permit,
sex and regional origin of holder, for the years 2010 to 2017.
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 (n°17); private sector (n°18); business (n°19) and domestic  (n°20) sectors
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 present figures do not include the holders of permit n°14 (temporary residents). 
 
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?ID=56&ParentCatID=+1
https://www.csb.gov.kw/Pages/Statistics_en?ID=56&ParentCatID=+1

Date of access: January 2019.

 

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