Census	Qataris	Non-Qataris	Total
1970	45,039	66,094	111,133
1986	99,754	273,638	373,392
1997	151,673	384,801	536,474
2004	192,586	605,475	798,061
2010	243,073	1,456,362	1,699,435
2015	301,342*	2,103,434*	2,404,776
2020	340,349*	2,505,769*	2,846,118

Source: MDPS/ PSA/ NPC and GLMM calculations on the basis of MDPS/ QSA/ NPC data

* GLMM’s estimate, based on data published by the MDPS/ QSA/ NPC (see below).

ANNEXED NOTE

1. Technical Notes and Definitions

Reference periods for each census:
1970: unknown; the nights of: March 16th, 1986; March 1st, 1997; March 16th, 2004, April 21st, 2010; April 20th, 2015;
December 2020.

Implementation method: de facto, as well as de jure methods (1986-2015)
Census 2020 was based on administrative records, supplemented by an online self-enumeration platform,
completed with field enumeration.
Population of reference: all individuals (nationals and non-nationals), present within the country’s
borders during night of reference.
– Populations away from usual residence in Qatar for reasons of duty,
for less than two months after night of reference were excluded.

Prior to census 2010, only a sample of foreign residents was covered in censuses.

2015: Estimates of total population broken down by nationality (Qataris and non-Qataris) are not readily available in any census publication
The present figures are GLMM’s estimates, using:
a. 2015 Labour Force Survey (Q2): provides estimates of the population aged 15 and above, by nationality (Qataris/ non-Qataris) and sex
Sampling frame of LFS 2015: Population Census 2010.
Sample size: 44,756 persons, in 6,953 households: 1- Qatari households; 2- Non-Qatari regular (non-collective) and collective households;
Reference period for the labour force data: the week prior to data collection day.
Population of reference: all Qatari and non-Qatari households present in Qatar on the night of survey,
living in normal and collective households.

b. MDPS. Women and Men in the State of Qatar- A Statistical Profile, Doha: MDPS, 2016.
Provides the distribution of population by broad age group, nationality and sex (period of reference: mid-2015).
(Table 1/3, p. 18).

c. Census 2015: provides the estimates of the total population by sex.

d. The numbers of Qataris by sex were calculated using sources a. and b.

e. The numbers of non-Qataris were calculated using source c. (census total population estimates) and results d. (estimates of Qataris by sex).

2020: Estimates of total population broken down by nationality (Qataris and non-Qataris) are not readily available in any
‘census publication.
‘The present figures are GLMM’s estimates, using:
a. 2020 Labour Force Survey (Q4): provides estimates of the population aged 15 and above, by nationality (Qatari/ non-Qatari) and sex
Sampling frame of LFS 2020: Population Census 2015.
Sample size: 9,200 households for the whole year, divided by quarter: 1- Qatari households; 2- Non-Qatari regular (non-collective) and collective households;
Reference period for the labour force data: the week prior to data collection day.
Population of reference: all Qatari and non-Qatari households present in Qatar on the night of survey,
living in normal and collective households.

b. Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA). Woman and Man in the State of Qatar- A Statistical Portrait, Doha: PSA, 2020.
Provides the distribution of population by broad age group, nationality and sex (period of reference: mid-2019).
(Table 1/3, p. 8).

c. Census 2020: provides the estimates of the total population by sex.

d. The numbers of Qataris by sex were calculated using sources a. and b.

e. The numbers of non-Qataris were calculated using source c. (census total population estimates) and results d.(estimates of Qataris by sex).

2. Institution which provides data 

Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS)
Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA)
Currently: Qatar National Planning Council (NPC)
https://www.npc.qa/en/Pages/default.aspx

3. Data availability 

Released parts of censuses (1986; 1997; 2004; 2010, 2015), as well as some analytical volumes,
are available on the website of the NPC, in PDF format.
https://www.npc.qa/en/statistics/Pages/census/default.aspx
Census 2020′ website:
https://www.npc.qa/en/statistics/census2020/Pages/results/default.aspx
https://www.npc.qa/ar/statistics/census2020/Pages/results/default.aspx
Main results of the General Census of Population, Housing and Establishments 2020
https://www.npc.qa/en/statistics/Pages/census/default.aspx#
https://www.npc.qa/ar/statistics/Pages/census/default.aspx#

Labour Force Surveys (quarterly and annual results):
https://www.npc.qa/en/statistics/pages/subjectdetails.aspx#

MDPS. Woman and Man in the State of Qatar- A Statistical Profile, Doha: MDPS, 2016.
https://www.npc.qa/en/statistics/Statistical%20Releases/Social/General%20Social%20Statistics/MenWomenProfile/Woman_Man_2016_En.pdf
PSA. Woman and Man in the State of Qatar- A Statistical Portrait, Doha: PSA, 2020.
https://www.npc.qa/en/statistics/Statistical%20Releases/Social/General%20Social%20Statistics/MenWomenProfile/Woman_Man_2020_EN.pdf

Keywords: Qatar, National Population, Foreign Population

Last date of access: June 2025.
GLMM and GRC cannot guarantee that the link to access the source will not change;
that the information will not be removed from the website it was obtained from;
that no geo-blockages will be imposed; or that the information will not be available for any another reason.

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