By the Year 2024, GCC Population Reaches 61.2 Million According to GCC-Stat
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, which includes countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, has experienced a significant population boom over the past few years. By the end of 2024, the region's population reached 61.2 million, marking an increase of over 2.1 million people from the previous year.
This surge in population growth can be attributed to the region's economic recovery, which has been a major factor in the region's population growth since 2021. The GCC countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have accelerated economic diversification away from oil toward non-oil sectors like technology, finance, and services. This shift has created a plethora of job opportunities, attracting both local and foreign talent to the region.
The continued influx of foreign workers is a significant factor in the population growth of the GCC region. Ongoing inter-regional migration and the attraction of foreign nationals for jobs and business opportunities have boosted the region's population. Labor remains a key driver as GCC economies expand and develop.
Large-scale initiatives such as Saudi Arabia's $100 billion Project Transcendence, aimed at promoting AI adoption and local tech startup growth, have also enhanced employment and economic prospects. These initiatives indirectly support population growth through migration and natural increase.
The economic recovery and foreign worker influx are interconnected factors influencing population growth in the GCC region. Government policy initiatives to foster innovation and create jobs, such as Oman's introduction of a personal income tax from 2028, aim to diversify revenues while maintaining social spending and economic stability. These policies can contribute to sustainable population growth by improving living standards and services.
The population of the GCC region is predominantly male, with males making up 62.8% of the population. Approximately 38.5 million people in the region are males, while approximately 22.7 million are females. The region's sex ratio is 169 males for every 100 females, which is substantially higher than the global average of 101.
The GCC region now accounts for 0.7% of the world's population. Despite this relatively small percentage, the region's population growth reflects a strong rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic. The continued economic recovery in the GCC region is expected to further influence population growth.
In conclusion, the GCC region's population growth is primarily driven by strong economic diversification and growth, increased foreign labor migration and expatriate population, government policy initiatives to foster innovation and create jobs, and social and fiscal reforms supporting broader population retention and growth. These factors have contributed to a significant increase in the region's population, making it a dynamic and vibrant part of the global community.
Politics and general news discussions in the GCC region may focus on the impacts of the region's significant population growth, which has been primarily driven by strong economic diversification and growth, increased foreign labor migration, government policy initiatives to foster innovation and create jobs, and social and fiscal reforms supporting broader population retention and growth. This dynamic population growth, expected to continue due to the ongoing economic recovery, makes the GCC region an interesting subject for in-depth analysis and examinations of its potential implications.
