Expat boom lifts Kuwait population to 5.31 mln

Kuwait's population has grown to 5.31 million as of the end of June 2026, marking a 1.4 percent increase during the first half of the year, according to the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI).

The figures show a rise from 5.23 million at the close of 2025. This growth was primarily driven by the expatriate community, which saw an 1.87 percent increase, adding 68,780 people to reach a total of 3.74 million. In contrast, the Kuwaiti citizen population experienced more modest growth, increasing by 0.3 percent, or 4,787 individuals, to 1.57 million.

Kuwait's labor market also expanded, with the workforce growing by 1.6 percent, or 53,770 workers, to approximately 3.3 million by the end of June. Expatriate workers accounted for the majority of this increase, rising by 1.87 percent to 2.8 million, while Kuwaiti workers grew by 0.44 percent to nearly 496,000.

Indians constitute the largest expatriate group in Kuwait, numbering around 1.06 million and making up about 20 percent of the total population. Egyptians follow with approximately 670,000 residents, and Bangladeshis are the third-largest community with over 333,000 people. Indians also represent the largest share of the workforce at 28.8 percent, followed by Egyptians at 14.6 percent, and Kuwaitis at 14.2 percent.