Expatriate numbers in Kuwait fall by 8,845 in first half of 2024

• Employed individuals constitute 44% of Kuwait’s population. Indians are the largest group at 24.2%, followed by Kuwaitis at 21.9%. Of the 2,178,008 employed, 24% work in the public sector and 76% in the private sector.

• Kuwaitis make up 78.31% of the government sector, while Indians lead the private sector with a 30.4% contribution rate.

• Among domestic workers ‘servants, drivers, and the like’, Indians make up the highest percentage at 43.8%, followed by Filipinos at 21.1%.

The Public Authority for Civil Information’s latest report shows Kuwait’s population reached 4,918,570 by the end of June 2024, up by 5,299 from 4,913,271 on January 1, 2024, according to Al Rai newspaper.

The statistics showed that the number of Kuwaitis increased to 1,559,925 by the end of June 2024, up from 1,545,781 on January 1, representing a rise of 14,144 in six months.

Conversely, the number of expatriates decreased to 3,358,645 from 3,367,490 on January 1, reflecting a drop of 8,845 over the same period.

Population by nationality

The statistics revealed that Kuwaitis make up 32 percent of the total population, while expatriates account for 68 percent, distributed as follows: 21 percent Indian, 13 percent Egyptian, six percent Bangladeshi, and five percent Filipino. Saudi, Syrian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan nationals each constitute three percent of the population, with other nationalities making up the remaining percentage.

Total workforce

The statistics also revealed that the total number of employed individuals in the public and private sectors was 2,178,008, with 516,397 employed in the public sector, representing 24 percent of the total. In contrast, the private sector had 1,661,611 workers, accounting for 76 percent.

The data indicated that employed individuals make up 44 percent of the total population, with Indians representing the largest group at 24.2 percent, followed by Kuwaitis at 21.9 percent, Egyptians at 21.7 percent, Bangladeshis at 8.5 percent, Nepalis at 3.9 percent, Pakistanis at 3.2 percent, Syrians at three percent, Filipinos at 2.9 percent, Jordanians at 1.4 percent, Saudis at 1.2 percent, and other nationalities at 8.2 percent.

The figures also revealed that Kuwaitis contribute the largest percentage to the government sector at 78.31 percent. Other contributions include Egyptians at 7.21 percent, Indians at 4.36 percent, Saudis at 2.09 percent, Bangladeshis at 1.58 percent, Pakistanis at 1.08 percent, Syrians at one percent, Jordanians at 0.71 percent, and other nationalities making up the remaining 3.10 percent.

In the private sector, the statistics revealed that Indians have the highest contribution rate at 30.4 percent, followed by Egyptians at 26.6 percent. Bangladeshis account for 10.6 percent, Nepalis 5.1 percent, Kuwaitis 4.3 percent, and Pakistanis 3.8 percent. Syrians and Filipinos each make up 3.6 percent, Jordanians 1.6 percent, and Saudis 0.9 percent. The remaining 9.9 percent is distributed among other nationalities.

Domestic workers

Among domestic workers (servants, drivers, and the like), the statistics showed that Indians make up the highest percentage at 43.8 percent, followed by Filipinos at 21.1 percent, Sri Lankans at 15.4 percent, Bangladeshis at 11.1 percent, and Nepalese at 4.5 percent. Ethiopians account for 1.2 percent, Beninese 0.9 percent, Malians 0.3 percent, and Indonesians and Madagascan nationals each constitute 0.2 percent.

Total number of employees

In terms of the total number of workers in the country by nationality, Indians lead with 30 percent, followed by Kuwaitis and Egyptians, each with 16 percent. Bengalis are in third place with nine percent, Filipinos fourth with eight percent, and Sri Lankans fifth with five percent.

Nepalese are sixth with four percent, Syrians and Pakistanis are seventh with two percent each, Jordanians are eighth with one percent, while the remaining seven percent is distributed among other nationalities.

Top professions among citizens

The statistics revealed the following ranking of the most prominent professions among Kuwaitis:

1. Government executive, army soldier (including soldier, corporal, sergeant), office worker, secretary (including secretary clerk), manager, religious education teacher, general accountant, accountant, kindergarten teacher and Arabic language teacher.

Most common professions among non-Kuwaitis

The statistics indicated the following ranking of the most common professions among non-Kuwaitis: Home servant, private car driver, market vendor, general laborer, bed courier, passports correspondent and representative, light truck driver, residential building and facility cleaner, waiter (or caller), warehouse loader and storage worker.

Most popular male names

The statistics reveal the following ranking of the most popular male names in the country: Mohammed, Abdullah, Ahmed, Ali, Khaled, Abdulaziz, Fahd, Joseph, Abdul Rahman and Nasser.

Most popular female names

The statistics indicate that the most popular female names in the country are: Fatima, Maryam, Sarah, Nora, Munira, Dalal, Sheikha, Reem, Aisha, Dana.