Urban population in Qatar
Qatar: Urban population was 2.95 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Qatar, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Qatar stood at 2.95 million. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.0% on the previous year and up 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Qatar peaked at 2.95 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 23,407, in 1960.
That places Qatar 125th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Qatar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 23,407 | — |
| 1961 | 26,471 | +13.1% |
| 1962 | 30,473 | +15.1% |
| 1963 | 35,123 | +15.3% |
| 1964 | 40,392 | +15.0% |
| 1965 | 46,277 | +14.6% |
| 1966 | 52,945 | +14.4% |
| 1967 | 60,556 | +14.4% |
| 1968 | 69,087 | +14.1% |
| 1969 | 78,481 | +13.6% |
| 1970 | 89,590 | +14.2% |
| 1971 | 102,109 | +14.0% |
| 1972 | 114,830 | +12.5% |
| 1973 | 127,762 | +11.3% |
| 1974 | 140,927 | +10.3% |
| 1975 | 154,373 | +9.5% |
| 1976 | 168,174 | +8.9% |
| 1977 | 182,420 | +8.5% |
| 1978 | 197,210 | +8.1% |
| 1979 | 212,687 | +7.8% |
| 1980 | 229,008 | +7.7% |
| 1981 | 246,730 | +7.7% |
| 1982 | 266,062 | +7.8% |
| 1983 | 286,474 | +7.7% |
| 1984 | 307,275 | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 327,716 | +6.7% |
| 1986 | 345,798 | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 361,722 | +4.6% |
| 1988 | 377,391 | +4.3% |
| 1989 | 393,156 | +4.2% |
| 1990 | 409,027 | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 424,997 | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 441,034 | +3.8% |
| 1993 | 457,090 | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 473,101 | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 488,988 | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 504,623 | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 526,643 | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 556,775 | +5.7% |
| 1999 | 588,681 | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 621,087 | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 653,977 | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 687,326 | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 721,084 | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 750,498 | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 803,136 | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 949,315 | +18.2% |
| 2007 | 1.18 million | +24.6% |
| 2008 | 1.40 million | +18.4% |
| 2009 | 1.58 million | +13.0% |
| 2010 | 1.59 million | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 1.60 million | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.70 million | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 1.89 million | +11.4% |
| 2014 | 2.13 million | +12.4% |
| 2015 | 2.32 million | +9.0% |
| 2016 | 2.45 million | +5.7% |
| 2017 | 2.52 million | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.56 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 2.62 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 2.77 million | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 2.48 million | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 2.64 million | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 2.64 million | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.84 million | +7.6% |
| 2025 | 2.95 million | +4.0% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 2.95 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.24 million, 1.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 2.95 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.90 million, 30% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 46,321 | 23,407 | 78,481 | 10 |
| 1970s | 149,008 | 89,590 | 212,687 | 10 |
| 1980s | 314,133 | 229,008 | 393,156 | 10 |
| 1990s | 487,096 | 409,027 | 588,681 | 10 |
| 2000s | 935,183 | 621,087 | 1.58 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.14 million | 1.59 million | 2.62 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.72 million | 2.48 million | 2.95 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
- 122 Laos 3.17 million compare
- 123 Panama 3.02 million compare
- 124 Puerto Rico 3.00 million compare
- 126 Slovakia 2.88 million compare
- 127 Tajikistan 2.82 million compare
- 128 South Sudan 2.64 million 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 urban population in Qatar?
- Urban population in Qatar was 2.95 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 2.95 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was 23,407 in 1960.
- How does Qatar rank for urban population?
- Qatar ranks 125th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Qatar data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.