Domestic workers make up nearly a quarter of Kuwait’s expatriate workforce

Domestic workers in Kuwait accounted for approximately 24.9% of the total expatriate labor force by the end of 2024, with their number reaching around 736,000, according to data from the Central Statistical Administration. This reflects a 6.4% decrease compared to 2023, when the number stood at about 786,000.

A recent weekly report by Al-Shall Consulting Company noted that of the total domestic workforce, around 410,000 were female and 326,000 males.

Among female domestic workers, the Philippines had the highest representation at 137,000, down from 183,000 in 2023. On the male side, Indian nationals led the group with approximately 212,000 workers, a decline from 249,000 the previous year. The report did not provide a clear explanation for the significant year-on-year decline in numbers, according to Al-Jarida daily.

India remains the top contributor to Kuwait’s domestic labor force, making up about 42.1% of all domestic workers, followed by the Philippines at 18.7%.

Combined, four nationalities — India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh — account for around 90.4% of domestic workers in the country.

Among the other six nationalities, Nepal leads with a 6.8% share, while Sudan has the lowest at 0.2%. Four African nations—Benin (1.1%), Ethiopia (0.8%), Mali (0.4%), and Sudan—are also among the top ten source countries for domestic workers.

When including all categories of expatriate workers by nationality, Indian nationals form the largest group in Kuwait with a total of about 884,000 workers, despite a decline of roughly 41,000 domestic male workers since 2023.

Indians make up 30% of Kuwait’s total labor force, Egyptians hold the second-largest share with approximately 16.2%.

Kuwaiti nationals are the third-largest group, with 450,000 workers according to the Central Statistical Administration, slightly down from 454,000 in 2023.

However, data from the Public Authority for Civil Information places the number higher at 505,000 by the end of December 2024—possibly including military personnel or unemployed individuals.
Bangladesh ranks fourth, with a workforce of approximately 276,000, up from 263,000 in 2023, accounting for 9.4% of the total workforce and 11% of the expatriate population.

The Philippines, meanwhile, now ranks fifth with about 200,000 workers, down from 249,000, representing 6.8% of the total workforce and 8% of expatriate workers.