Al-Shal: 0.3% growth in Kuwaiti population in the first half of 2026
The weekly report by Al-Shal Consulting analyzed the latest detailed data released by the Public Authority for Civil Information regarding population and employment statistics as of the end of June 2026. It showed that Kuwait’s total population reached approximately 5.311 million at the end of last June, recording a half-year growth of about 1.4%, or an absolute increase of roughly 73,600 people compared to the end of 2025, when the population stood at 5.237 million. The total population had previously risen by 5.0% during 2025 and by approximately 2.6% during 2024.
According to Al-Shal’s details, the number of Kuwaiti citizens increased by about 4,800 during the first half of 2026, representing a growth rate of 0.3%, bringing their total to approximately 1.568 million. This followed a negative growth of about -0.3% in 2025, contrasting with a positive growth rate of around 2.1% recorded between 2016 and 2024. Consequently, the proportion of Kuwaitis within the total population declined from approximately 30.4% at the end of the first half of 2025 to about 29.5%.
The number of male Kuwaitis, at approximately 785,500, slightly exceeded that of females, at around 782,200. The non-Kuwaiti population rose by about 68,800, reflecting a growth rate of nearly 1.9%, to reach approximately 3.743 million, with a compound annual growth rate of about 2.1% during the period from 2016 to June 2026.
The total number of workers in Kuwait reached approximately 3.301 million, accounting for about 62.2% of the total population. Meanwhile, the employment rate among Kuwaitis stood at approximately 31.6% of the total Kuwaiti population. Notably, the proportion of non-Kuwaiti workers within the total non-Kuwaiti population reached about 75.0%.
Comparing these figures with the end of June 2025, the share of Kuwaiti workers among the total workforce in Kuwait declined from approximately 15.6% to 15.0% in June 2026. This marks a continued gradual decrease since 2021, when it peaked at around 18.1% over the past 25 years. The female employment rate among Kuwaiti workers fell to approximately 48.9% at the end of the first half of the year, down from 49.3% at the end of June 2025. The proportion of female workers within the total workforce in Kuwait stood at approximately 30.7%.
The number of Kuwaiti workers increased by about 4,600 to reach approximately 495,700, up from around 491,100 at the end of June 2025. Of these, approximately 397,200 were employed in the government sector, representing 80.1% of the total Kuwaiti workforce.
Open unemployment among Kuwaitis rose slightly to approximately 31,800, accounting for 6.4% of the total Kuwaiti workforce at the end of June 2026, compared to 30,700 (or 6.2%) at the end of June 2025.
The total number of workers (Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti) in the government sector reached approximately 531,600, representing roughly 16.1% of the total population. Kuwaitis constituted about 74.7% of the workforce in the government sector.
