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  • Title: The demography of the population of Kuwait.
    Author: Hill AG.
    Journal: Popul Bull U N Econ Comm West Asia; 1977 Jul; (13):42-55. PubMed ID: 12279436.
    Abstract:
    This discussion, which presents a description of the current demographic situation in Kuwait and recent trends for both Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, is an initial step in an attempt to understand some of the social and demographic consequences of various styles and speeds of economic growth. Since 1957 Kuwait's population has grown very rapidly. The period of fast growth began in the early 1950s following the initiation of work in the 1st Development Plan. After the enactment of the 1948 nationality laws, the longtime residents of Kuwait and their descendants (Kuwaitis) were distinguished from the subsequent arrivals (non-Kuwaitis) for a variety of reasons, including preferential treatment of Kuwaitis in housing, employments and terms of employment, social welfare benefits, and in other areas. The distinction between Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, particularly those immigrants from the desert and other Gulf countries, has never been clearcut. The new Kuwaitis added to the population during each intercensal interval have broadly the same demographic characteristics as those of the original Kuwaiti population. Despite the still rapid growth rates for the population of Kuwait, the growth rates of both components of the population have been dropping steadily since 1957-61. The process of recruiting new Kuwaitis from the desert cannot continue indefinitely. In addition, demands for large volumes of unskilled immigrant labor have been falling as the peak period of construction activity has passed. In the mid 1970s the population enjoyed a high standard of health. The levels on infant mortality, low by comparison with other Arab countries, and high life expectancies have been realized through very high per capita expenditures on health for 20 or more years. Infant mortality rates are still high (34-35/1000) relative to European levels. The total fertility rate in 1957 was 7.3; it was 7.2 in 1975. The crude birthrate was 44/1000 in 1957 and 51/1000 in 1975. Although there are sufficient differentials in the fertility measures by education to indicate that some changes may be underway for certain subdivisions of the population, it appears that fertility as a whole is changing very slowly. In the 1970s the natural increase of resident aliens in Kuwait is contributing more to the growth rate of the non-Kuwaiti population than is immigration. It appears that Kuwait's heyday as an importer of population is probably over. Review of Kuwait's recent demographic history leads to 2 possible conclusions: development simply has not occurred in Kuwait, a conclusion which runs contrary to the commonly held view that the physical changes which have occurred over the last 30 years are great and must have had some bearing on social attitudes and behavior; and development, defined in the broadest social terms, is unconnected with demographic change in the case of Kuwait, making Kuwait an exception to a widely applicable tenet.
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