MigrantoImmigrants in Kuwait
3.2M foreign-born residents — the #20 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 65% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| India | 1231094 |
| Egypt | 449863 |
| Bangladesh | 406077 |
| Pakistan | 362255 |
| Philippines | 210397 |
| Indonesia | 115347 |
| Yemen | 75513 |
| Jordan | 58434 |
| Sudan | 52783 |
| Sri Lanka | 42384 |
| UAE | 28593 |
| Nepal | 26292 |
| Syria | 24742 |
| Palestine | 16524 |
| Turkey | 14256 |
| Lebanon | 13369 |
| United Kingdom | 10889 |
| France | 5575 |
| USA | 5521 |
| Eritrea | 5478 |
| Nigeria | 5147 |
| Thailand | 4352 |
| Ethiopia | 4166 |
| Somalia | 3671 |
| Morocco | 3240 |
| Afghanistan | 3094 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2406 |
| Tunisia | 2068 |
| South Sudan | 1999 |
| Chad | 1511 |
| Bahrain | 1503 |
| Netherlands | 1135 |
| Qatar | 720 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 75%
2.4M
529.9K
236.1K
17.6K
5.5K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Kuwait.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
67% of the population growth of Kuwait since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 2 residents of Kuwait is foreign-born — 3.2M out of 4.9M, representing 65.1% of the population.
India is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
India accounts for 39% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 14%.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1030302 |
| 1995 | 906425 |
| 2000 | 1075971 |
| 2005 | 1287389 |
| 2010 | 1765700 |
| 2015 | 2506487 |
| 2020 | 2909626 |
| 2024 | 3190398 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | India | Egypt | Bangladesh | Pakistan | Philippines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 368811 | 133572 | 124630 | 127721 | 48371 |
| 1995 | 337135 | 108538 | 111619 | 114542 | 45914 |
| 2000 | 414688 | 118556 | 134755 | 138456 | 58347 |
| 2005 | 493361 | 130001 | 177722 | 164874 | 77508 |
| 2010 | 674272 | 168295 | 257660 | 225460 | 112797 |
| 2015 | 967163 | 353426 | 319026 | 284598 | 165295 |
| 2020 | 1122750 | 410273 | 370340 | 330375 | 191881 |
| 2024 | 1231094 | 449863 | 406077 | 362255 | 210397 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Kuwait as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Kuwait
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Kuwait?
Around 3.2M foreign-born residents live in Kuwait, making it the #20-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Kuwait come from?
Most immigrants in Kuwait come from India, Egypt and Bangladesh — these three countries account for about 65% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Kuwait are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 65% of the population of Kuwait — that's 3.2M out of a total population of 4.9M.
How has immigration to Kuwait changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Kuwait has grown from 2.5M to 3.2M people, a growth of about 27%.
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