Manama: The population of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states has seen a steady rise from 56.6 million in 2022 to 59.1 million in 2023, and further to 61.5 million in 2024. It is projected to reach approximately 62.8 million by 2025.
According to Bahrain News Agency, this increase of 6.2 million people over the 2022-2025 period corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 3.5%, as reported by the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat) in its Weekly Bulletin 338. The release of this bulletin coincided with World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, with this year's theme being "Empowering Young People to Realise Their Hopes and Future Aspirations."
The bulletin provides insights into key population indicators across the GCC states, emphasizing ongoing population growth and a youthful demographic structure that presents opportunities for sustainable development. The GCC states currently account for about 0.8% of the global population.
Population projections suggest that the region's population will continue to expand, potentially reaching 83.6 million by 2050, marking a 33.61% increase compared to 2025. The data highlights that in 2024, the GCC's population included 23.5 million young individuals aged 15-34, making up 38.2% of the total population.
The working-age population, defined as those aged 15-64, comprised 76.7% of the population, while children under 15 accounted for 20.6%. Older persons aged 65 and above represented just 2.6%, underscoring the youthful nature of the GCC's demographic structure.
The sex ratio in the GCC states was reported at 168 males for every 100 females in 2024, and the population density was approximately 25.5 people per square kilometre. The demographic dependency ratio was 30.4 dependents for every 100 working-age individuals, with child dependents forming a larger portion of this burden compared to older dependents.
The bulletin indicates that the high proportion of working-age individuals, who constitute more than three-quarters of the population, is crucial for fostering economic growth and enhancing productivity. It also stresses the importance of investing in and empowering the youth, who are seen as key drivers of development in the GCC states.