Salmiya: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Salmiya: Among people aged 15 and over in Hawalli Governorate (the governorate containing Salmiya), 0.7% of the labour force was unemployed in the 2021 census (3,533 of 542,609 people, counting domestic workers as employed), against 0.9% across Kuwait. The Central Statistical Bureau publishes this by governorate only. That is joint 4th highest of 8 areas covered on this site.
- Health in Salmiya: The 2021 census counted 10,193 people with disabilities in Hawalli Governorate, which contains Salmiya: 11.0 per 1,000 residents, against 12.6 per 1,000 across Kuwait (55,232 people). That is joint 4th highest of 8 areas covered on this site.
- Education in Salmiya: Among residents aged 10 and over in Hawalli Governorate (the governorate containing Salmiya) whose education was stated, 20.4% held a university degree or higher at the 2021 census, against 12.9% across Kuwait. That is joint highest of 8 areas covered on this site.
What is the population of Salmiya?
Salmiya (an area of Hawalli Governorate) had 282,541 residents in the Kuwait Census 2021, according to the Central Statistical Bureau: 7,943 Kuwaitis and 274,598 non-Kuwaitis. That is 6.4% of the 4,385,717 people counted in Kuwait. That is the highest of 8 areas covered on this site.
Source: Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait) · saved copyHow many foreigners live in Salmiya?
In Salmiya, 97.2% of residents were non-Kuwaiti in the 2021 census, against 66.1% across Kuwait. That is 4th least non-Kuwaiti of 8 areas covered on this site.
Source: Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait) · saved copyHow many men and women live in Salmiya?
The 2021 census counted 146 men for every 100 women in Salmiya (167,763 men and 114,778 women), against 156 across Kuwait. That is 2nd least male of 8 areas covered on this site.
Source: Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait) · saved copyHow many people live in Hawalli Governorate?
Hawalli Governorate, which contains Salmiya, had 926,170 people in the 2021 census (21.1% of Kuwait). Salmiya makes up 31% of the governorate.
Source: Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait) · saved copyWho runs Salmiya?
In Kuwait, cities and towns are run by kuwait municipality: Municipal Council: under the 2016 Municipality Law, 10 members elected and 6 appointed; Director-General appointed. Urban planning, building permits, cleanliness, markets and food safety across the whole country.
How local power works in Kuwait
Cities of a similar size in Kuwait
- Jaleeb Al-Shuykh 271,168
- Farwanyiah 250,676
- Hawalli 205,895
- Kheetan 173,538
- Mahbulah 142,145
- Saad Al Abdullah 114,897
- Mangaf 112,548
Up a level: all cities in Kuwait · Kuwait · government and power
Sources
- Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait): Kuwait Census 2021: Table 52, Population habitually residing (area) by nationality and gender, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a2d8e2249bc4…)
- Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait): Kuwait Census 2021: Table 42, Total population with disabilities in each governorate by gender and age groups, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dd2abc0ea711…)
- Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait): Kuwait Census 2021: Table 10, Total population (10 years and more) in each governorate by gender and educational level, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3be5dc51f027…)
- Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait): Kuwait Census 2021: Table 1, Total population by governorate, nationality and gender, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 368bbce7a099…)
- Central Statistical Bureau (Kuwait): Kuwait Census 2021: Table 26, Total population (15 years and more) in each governorate by gender and work status, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7ff00ad934e5…)
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