According to the first population census conducted for the year 2021, the population of the State of Kuwait reached 4,385,717 people, of whom 1,488,716 are Kuwaitis and 2,897,001 are non-Kuwaitis.
The State of Kuwait implemented a different approach when performing the first population census as it was based on administrative records and jointly carried out by the Central Statistical Administration and the Public Authority for Civil Information. The census revealed that the number of Kuwaiti residents reached 729,638 males and 759,078 females.
It is also worth noting that the State of Kuwait has witnessed major demographic transformations since the mid-twentieth century, which have contributed to shaping its current demographic profile. Population censuses have played a pivotal role in documenting these transformations, as follows:
The first population census was conducted in 1957, when the country's population at that time amounted to approximately 206,473 people, including 92,851 non-Kuwaitis.
In 1961, the second census was conducted under the supervision of the Department of Social Affairs, a step that reflects the State's early interest in monitoring the population situation.
As a result of the State’s interest in statistics, the Statistics and Census Law No. (27) of 1963 was issued, and the Central Administration for Statistics has since then been responsible for the population census, which was carried out regularly every five years until 2011.
In 1990, the population was estimated at 2,141,465 people, of whom non-Kuwaitis constituted 72%. However, the brutal Iraqi invasion and the subsequent mass exodus of expatriates brought about radical changes in the country's demographic structure.
Population estimates for the year 2025 show that the total population of Kuwait has increased to 4,881,254 people, including 1,566,168 Kuwaitis and 3,315,086 non-Kuwaitis.
These historical milestones reflect the development of statistical measurement tools in Kuwait and highlight the importance of censuses in understanding rapid population changes. It also emphasizes the vital role played by the Central Administration of Statistics in supporting strategic planning and decision-making based on accurate and reliable data.
