Kuwait: Residency permit holders by group of countries of origin (2011-2024)

	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Arab countries	722,575	750,426	802,213	837,363	877,959	898,660	916,169	952,261	978,375	931,092	881,211	943,530	942,594	987,151
Non‐Arab Asian countries	1,338,340	1,391,040	1,458,161	1,525,083	1,620,129	1,714,717	1,775,919	1,849,050	1,871,676	1,682,815	1,502,222	1,784,170	1,882,810	1,909,334
Non‐Arab African countries	73,403	83,144	93,004	73,300	61,070	49,634	47,254	53,778	44,639	35,092	26,866	30,705	35,110	45,672
Europe	10,216	10,554	10,921	11,443	12,081	12,482	13,565	13,726	13,300	11,748	10,854	11,398	11,183	11,609
North America	19,191	19,311	18,244	18,297	18,403	18,860	19,079	19,223	18,718	17,270	16,173	17,096	16,600	17,088
South and Central America	1,121	1,131	1,109	1,104	1,179	1,343	1,499	1,746	1,861	1,692	1,590	1,844	1,910	2,040
Australia and Pacific	1,416	1,408	1,426	1,419	1,452	1,495	1,467	1,469	1,419	1,322	1,206	1,155	1,109	1,199
Other	13	13	11	9	3	4	3	2	1	1	2	1	0	1
Total	2,166,275	2,257,027	2,385,089	2,468,018	2,592,276	2,697,195	2,774,955	2,891,255	2,929,989	2,681,032	2,440,124	2,789,899	2,891,316	2,974,094

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 valid and/or effective until the issuance of the Bulletin,
on December 31st of the given year,
EXCEPT the numbers of holders of permit n°14 (temporary residents), which are not available before 2019 and were not included in this table.
The present figures include permits delivered for all other 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.

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