MUSCAT – According to data from the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the population of the GCC countries is projected to reach around 62.8 million in 2025, up from 61.5 million in 2024, reflecting continued demographic growth across the region.
The population increased from 56.6 million in 2022 to 59.1 million in 2023 and 61.5 million in 2024, marking a rise of approximately 6.2 million people between 2022 and 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 3.5 per cent.
The centre said the GCC population accounts for around 0.8 percent of the global population, with projections indicating that the region’s population could reach 83.6 million by 2050, an increase of about 33.6 percent compared with 2025 estimates.
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The data highlighted the region’s young demographic profile, with young people aged between 15 and 34 years accounting for around 23.5 million people in 2024, representing 38.2 percent of the total GCC population.
The working-age population, covering those aged 15 to 64 years, made up 76.7 percent of the total population, while children under 15 accounted for 20.6 percent and those aged 65 and above represented 2.6 percent.
The GCC population recorded a sex ratio of 168 males per 100 females in 2024, while population density stood at approximately 25.5 people per square kilometre, according to the bulletin.
The overall demographic dependency ratio reached 30.4 dependents per 100 working-age people in 2024, including 27 children and 3.4 elderly people per 100 working-age persons. The figures indicate that children currently represent the largest share of dependents, although the elderly dependency ratio is expected to rise gradually in the coming years due to demographic changes.
The statistical centre said the large share of working-age residents, which represents more than three-quarters of the GCC population, provides a strong foundation for economic growth and productivity. It also stressed the importance of investing in youth development and empowerment as a key driver of future progress in GCC countries.
