Quick facts
Qatar population overview
Qatar is the 43rd most populous of 52 countries and territories in Asia. The United Nations put the population at 3,148,195 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +1.7% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 142 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 30,537 births (9.7 per 1,000 people) and 3,148 deaths (1 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 24,556 people. The infant mortality rate is 5.4 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 36,010 in 1960 to 2,972,215 in 2025 — a change of +8,153.9%, or +7% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 33.4 years; life expectancy at birth is 82.8 years; women have on average 1.7 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 15% of residents are under 15 and 1.7% are 65 or older (2025); 99.4% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Doha. Qatar covers 11,490 km², giving a population density of about 278 people per km². GDP was $215.56B in 2025 — about $72,525 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Qatar population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #136 of 238 → | 3,189,773 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 3,148,195 |
| World rank | #136 of 238 |
| Rank in Asia | #43 of 52 |
| Share of world population | 0.039% |
| Annual growth rate #63 of 238 → | +1.7% |
| Births per year est. | 30,537 |
| Deaths per year est. | 3,148 |
| Net migration per year est. · #13 of 238 → | +24,556 |
| Birth rate #165 of 216 → | 9.7 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #215 of 216 → | 1 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #155 of 238 → | 5.4 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #1 of 238 → | 243.7 males per 100 females |
| Median age #118 of 238 → | 33.4 years |
| Life expectancy #27 of 216 → | 82.8 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #126 of 216 → | 1.7 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #13 of 216 → | 99.4% |
| Surface area 2023 · #161 of 215 → | 11,490 km² |
| Population density #45 of 215 → | 278 per km² |
| Capital | Doha |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #56 of 212 → | $215.56B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #17 of 212 → | $72,525 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Qatar population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 3,189,773 | – | – |
| 2025 | 2,972,215 | +114,393 | +4% |
| 2024 | 2,857,822 | +201,790 | +7.6% |
| 2023 | 2,656,032 | -1,301 | 0% |
| 2022 | 2,657,333 | +152,423 | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 2,504,910 | -289,238 | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 2,794,148 | +449,591 | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 2,344,557 | +727,725 | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 1,616,832 | +791,424 | +14.4% |
| 2005 | 825,408 | +180,419 | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 644,989 | +130,664 | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 514,325 | +74,150 | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 440,175 | +74,235 | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 365,940 | +90,027 | +5.8% |
| 1980 | 275,913 | +82,826 | +7.4% |
| 1975 | 193,087 | +76,737 | +10.7% |
| 1970 | 116,350 | +52,285 | +12.7% |
| 1965 | 64,065 | +28,055 | +12.2% |
| 1960 | 36,010 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Qatar
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doha Capital | 344,939 | 10.8% |
| 2 | Ar Rayyān | 272,465 | 8.5% |
| 3 | Lusail | 198,600 | 6.2% |
| 4 | Az̧ Z̧a‘āyin | 54,339 | 1.7% |
| 5 | Umm Ghuwaylīnah | 39,457 | 1.2% |
| 6 | Umm Şalāl Muḩammad | 29,391 | 0.9% |
| 7 | Mu‘aydhir Rawḑat Rāshid | 27,569 | 0.9% |
| 8 | Al Wakrah | 26,436 | 0.8% |
Doha is the largest city with 344,939 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Qatar cities →
About Qatar
Population over time
- From 36,010 in 1960 to 3,189,773 today — up 8,758%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +2.4% per year.
- World rank: Population #136 of 238 · Population growth rate #63 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 82.5 years (2024), up 24.7 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.7 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #27 of 216 · Fertility rate #126 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 9.5 births vs 1.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 8.5 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #165 of 216 · Death rate #215 of 216.
Age structure
- 15% of the population is under 15 and 1.7% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has shrunk from 3.4% in 1960 — the population is getting younger.
- World rank: Population under 15 #179 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #216 of 216 · Median age #118 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 135.3 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions are at or near their historical peak.
- Per person: 47.33 t in 2024, vs 126.4 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #34 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #2 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 16,343 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), up 10.1% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 0% of final energy in 2021 (-0.2 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #1 of 150 · Renewable energy share #211 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 0% of land area (2023).
- Cover has been essentially stable since 1990 (+0 points).
- World rank: Forest area #213 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 99.4% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 65% in 1960 (+34.4 points).
- Majority-urban for the whole period covered.
- World rank: Urban population #13 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: critical — freshwater withdrawals are 446.4% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 21 m³ in 2022, down 98.5% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #179 of 183 · Water stress #8 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $215.56B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 33.3% since 2015.
- That works out to $72,525 per person.
- World rank: GDP #56 of 212 · GDP per capita #17 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 0.1% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 1.3% in 2024.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #186 of 186 · Inflation rate #148 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 98.1% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 153.6 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #12 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #29 of 210.
Qatar in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Qatar in 2026?
As of October 2026, Qatar has an estimated population of 3,189,773. The United Nations estimated 3,148,195 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +1.7% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Qatar growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +1.7% per year — roughly 142 more people every day. Each year there are about 30,537 births and 3,148 deaths, with net migration of +24,556.
What is the population density of Qatar?
About 278 people per square kilometre: 3,189,773 people living on 11,490 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Qatar?
The median age is 33.4 years, and life expectancy at birth is 82.8 years. 15% of the population is under 15 and 1.7% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Qatar rank by population?
Qatar is the 136th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 43rd in Asia, with 0.039% of the global population.
How has the population of Qatar changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 36,010; by 2025 it had grown to 2,972,215 (+8,153.9%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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MoldovaCite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Qatar Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/qatar/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/qatar/">Qatar Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+1.7%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.