MigrantoImmigrants in Kuwait
3.2M foreigners live in Kuwait — 65% of the country's population
Immigrants in Kuwait by country
The 3 largest groups make up 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
75% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Kuwait in numbers
Immigration drives population growth
67% of the population growth of Kuwait since 1990 came from immigrants.
1 in 2 residents of Kuwait was born abroad
3.2M of 4.9M residents were born abroad — 65.1% of the population.
Indians are the largest group by a wide margin
39% of all immigrants were born in India, while the next group accounts for just 14%.
Immigrant population in Kuwait over time
Foreigners living in Kuwait, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1030302 |
| 1995 | 906425 |
| 2000 | 1075971 |
| 2005 | 1287389 |
| 2010 | 1765700 |
| 2015 | 2506487 |
| 2020 | 2909626 |
| 2024 | 3190398 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Kuwait, by year
| Year | Indians | Egyptians | Bangladeshis | Pakistanis | Filipinos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Kuwait
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Kuwait
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Kuwait?
Around 3.2M immigrants live in Kuwait — the world's #20 largest immigrant population.
What percentage 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.
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 immigrants.
How many Indians live in Kuwait?
Around 1.2M Indians live in Kuwait — about 39% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Kuwait growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Kuwait has grown from 2.5M to 3.2M, about 27%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Kuwait come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Kuwait. Their children born in Kuwait are not included.
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Living in Kuwait
See the full country overview