KUWAIT: The interior ministry's residency affairs department stated that the total number of expatriates holding valid residency visas in Kuwait is 2,670,000, including 901,000 Indians (an increase of 100,000 in six months), followed by 587,000 Egyptians. The number of Syrians has been stable for six months at 145,000.

Statistics also showed that Bangladeshis number 202,000 (an increase of 60,000 in six months), 243,000 residents from the Philippines, 39,000 Iranians and 60,000 Nepalese. The statistics also showed that 665,000 people held article 20 visas for domestic work, 108,000 held article 17 visas for government jobs and 1,350,000 residents working for the private sector held article 18 visas.

A report in Al-Shahed daily earlier this month said official figures indicate seven nationalities make up more than 90 percent of the foreigners living in Kuwait. Foreigners also make up around two-thirds of the total population of the state and several officials have been calling for reducing the number of expatriates to help reestablish the demographic balance of the country.

By A Saleh