Population growth in Qatar
Qatar: Population growth was 3.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Qatar, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Qatar is 3.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 46.4% on the previous year and down 54.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Qatar peaked at 21.7% in 2007 and was at its lowest, -10.9%, in 2021.
Qatar ranks 4th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth in Qatar, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 9.7% | — |
| 1962 | 11.8% | +21.1% |
| 1963 | 12.1% | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 12.1% | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 11.9% | -1.6% |
| 1966 | 11.9% | +0.2% |
| 1967 | 12.1% | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 11.9% | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 11.6% | -2.8% |
| 1970 | 12.2% | +4.9% |
| 1971 | 12.1% | -0.3% |
| 1972 | 10.9% | -9.9% |
| 1973 | 10.0% | -8.9% |
| 1974 | 9.2% | -8.0% |
| 1975 | 8.5% | -7.2% |
| 1976 | 7.9% | -6.5% |
| 1977 | 7.5% | -5.9% |
| 1978 | 7.1% | -5.4% |
| 1979 | 6.7% | -4.8% |
| 1980 | 6.5% | -4.3% |
| 1981 | 6.2% | -4.0% |
| 1982 | 5.9% | -4.1% |
| 1983 | 5.7% | -4.7% |
| 1984 | 5.4% | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 5.1% | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 4.4% | -13.0% |
| 1987 | 3.7% | -15.1% |
| 1988 | 3.5% | -5.7% |
| 1989 | 3.4% | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 3.4% | -2.4% |
| 1991 | 3.3% | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 3.2% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 3.1% | -2.6% |
| 1994 | 3.0% | -2.9% |
| 1995 | 2.9% | -3.3% |
| 1996 | 2.8% | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 4.0% | +41.3% |
| 1998 | 5.3% | +33.5% |
| 1999 | 5.4% | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 5.2% | -3.6% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 4.8% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 3.8% | -17.9% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | +72.6% |
| 2006 | 16.4% | +152.2% |
| 2007 | 21.7% | +32.1% |
| 2008 | 16.6% | -23.5% |
| 2009 | 12.0% | -27.7% |
| 2010 | 0.5% | -95.9% |
| 2011 | 0.5% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | +1093.4% |
| 2013 | 10.7% | +82.8% |
| 2014 | 11.6% | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | -25.9% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -35.9% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | -50.3% |
| 2018 | 1.4% | -50.2% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | +63.0% |
| 2020 | 5.7% | +158.0% |
| 2021 | -10.9% | -290.8% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | -154.1% |
| 2023 | -0.0% | -100.8% |
| 2024 | 7.3% | -15053.1% |
| 2025 | 3.9% | -46.4% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 3.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 8.8× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 3.9% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.6%, 2.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth in Qatar changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +15053.1% | -0.0% | 7.3% |
| 2012 | +1093.4% | 0.5% | 5.8% |
| 2021 | -290.8% | 5.7% | -10.9% |
| 2020 | +158.0% | 2.2% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | +154.1% | -10.9% | 5.9% |
| 2006 | +152.2% | 6.5% | 16.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 11.7% | 9.7% | 12.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 9.2% | 6.7% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.0% | 3.4% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.6% | 2.8% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.7% | 3.8% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 0.5% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | -10.9% | 7.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
- 1 United Arab Emirates 4.7% compare
- 2 Saudi Arabia 4.6% compare
- 3 Oman 4.0% compare
- 5 Syria 3.8% compare
- 6 Chad 3.4% compare
- 7 Central African Republic 3.4% compare
More climate change data for Qatar
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 639,640 kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 127.6 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 53.42 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 74.17 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.2016 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.65 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 3.98 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3.98 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 0.0084 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.015 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Qatar?
- Population growth in Qatar was 3.9% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 21.7% in 2007.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.9% in 2021.
- How does Qatar rank for population growth?
- Qatar ranks 4th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 54.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Qatar data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.