Kuwait could soon implement a roadmap to reduce the number of expatriates by at least 1.5 million over the next seven years in a bid to achieve a demographic balance between Kuwaitis and expatriates.

 The Fatwa and legislative department, the government’s legal body, has asked opinions from government agencies on the possibility of setting up a national committee for the organization and management of the demographic structure, reported Kuwait Times.

The committee, which was proposed by MPs, will enjoy extensive powers to propose and implement plans to make Kuwaitis 50 per cent of the population, with expatriates not exceeding that number.

The number of expatriates now is just over 3.244 million and Kuwaitis around 1.4 million, based on figures published by the Public Authority for Civil Authority (PACI).

Based on current population growth rates for Kuwaitis, they are expected to reach 1.7 million after seven years, the target of the proposed plan.

This would mean that the number of expatriates must be equal to Kuwaitis, or 1.7 million.

If this equation is to materialize, the number of expats must be reduced by a minimum of 1.5 million without even considering natural growth and any future recruitment.

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