Kuwait: Residence Permits by Nationality Group of Holder (2010-2017)

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.