2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024
	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total	Males	Females	Total
Arab countries	4,619	7,782	12,401	2,040	3,591	5,631	3,647	5,896	9,543	5,896	10,939	16,835	5,584	9,945	15,529	6,045	12,494	18,539
Non‐Arab Asian countries	1,184	3,228	4,412	445	1,214	1,659	678	1,524	2,202	1,520	4,226	5,746	620	1,790	2,410	1,137	3,214	4,351
Non‐Arab African countries	17	88	105	19	55	74	16	39	55	17	61	78	20	72	92	28	81	109
Europe	80	204	284	54	112	166	85	141	226	103	172	275	88	165	253	121	239	360
North America	193	236	429	101	131	232	147	159	306	180	233	413	220	239	459	291	370	661
South and Central America	18	31	49	11	22	33	13	27	40	11	36	47	10	28	38	15	26	41
Australia and Pacific	13	12	25	6	14	20	15	27	42	9	13	22	17	19	36	19	25	44
Other	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	6,124	11,581	17,705	2,676	5,139	7,815	4,601	7,813	12,414	7,736	15,680	23,416	6,559	12,258	18,817	7,656	16,449	24,105

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 inflow data: all the non-national residents being granted a residence permit for family reunion,
during 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.

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: 31 July 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

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