Expatriates Make Up 68.3% Of Kuwait's Population: Latest PACI Data

Seven in Ten People in Kuwait are Expatriates

The latest demographic statistics from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) reveal that Kuwait's population reached 4,918,570 by the end of June 2024. This marks an increase of 5,299 individuals from 4,913,271 at the beginning of the year.

Demographic Breakdown

The number of Kuwaiti nationals rose to 1,559,925 by the end of June, up from 1,545,781 on January 1, representing an increase of 14,144 individuals over six months. Kuwaitis now constitute 31.7% of the total population.

Conversely, the expatriate population decreased to 3,358,645 from 3,367,490 on January 1, reflecting a reduction of 8,845 individuals. As a result, expatriates now account for 68.3% of Kuwait's demographic makeup.

Population Composition by Nationality

The statistics further break down the population by nationality:

Kuwaitis: 32%

Indians: 21%

Egyptians: 13%

Bangladeshis: 6%

Filipinos: 5%

Nepalese, Saudis, Sri Lankans, and Syrians: 3% each

Other nationalities: 11%

Workforce Distribution

PACI's data also sheds light on the workforce distribution across Kuwait. The total number of employed individuals in both the public and private sectors stands at 2,178,008. Of these, 516,397 are employed in the public sector, making up 24% of the total workforce, while 1,661,611 individuals, or 76%, work in the private sector.

Workforce by Nationality:

Indians: 24.2%

Kuwaitis: 21.9%

Egyptians: 21.7%

Bangladeshis: 8.5%

Nepalese: 3.9%

Pakistanis: 3.2%

Syrians: 3%

Filipinos: 2.9%

Jordanians: 1.4%

Saudis: 1.2%

Other nationalities: 8.2%

Sector-Specific Employment

In the public sector, Kuwaitis constitute the majority at 78.31%. Other nationalities in the government sector include:

Egyptians: 7.21%

Indians: 4.36%

Saudis: 2.09%

Bangladeshis: 1.58%

Pakistanis: 1.08%

Syrians: 1%

Jordanians: 0.71%

Other nationalities: 3.1%

In the private sector, Indians lead with a contribution rate of 30.4%, followed by:

Egyptians: 26.6%

Bangladeshis: 10.6%

Nepalese: 5.1%

Kuwaitis: 4.3%

Pakistanis: 3.8%

Syrians and Filipinos: 3.6% each

Jordanians: 1.6%

Saudis: 0.9%

Other nationalities: 9.9%

Household Workers

Among household workers, Indians again make up the largest percentage at 43.8%, followed by:

Filipinos: 21.1%

Sri Lankans: 15.4%

Bangladeshis: 11.1%

Nepalese: 4.5%

Ethiopians: 1.2%

Beninese: 0.9%

Malians: 0.5%

Indonesians and Malagasy: 0.2%

Conclusion

The PACI data highlights the significant presence of expatriates in Kuwait, who make up nearly 70% of the population. The demographic and workforce composition underscores the diverse and multicultural nature of Kuwait, with expatriates playing a critical role in the country's economy.