GCC: Total population and percentage of nationals and non-nationals in GCC countries (national statistics, mid-2020)
| Country | Total population | Nationals | Foreign nationals | % nationals | % non-nationals |
| Bahrain | 1,472,204 | 713,263 | 758,941 | 48.4 | 51.6 |
| Kuwait | 4,816,592 | 1,442,005 | 3,374,587 | 29.9 | 70.1 |
| Oman | 4,578,016 | 2,719,500 | 1,858,516 | 59.4 | 40.6 |
| Qatar | 2,833,679 | 338,000* | 2,495,679* | 11.8** | 88.2** |
| Saudi Arabia | 35,013,414 | 21,430,128 | 13,583,286 | 61.2 | 38.8 |
| UAE | 9,282,410 | 1,215,996* | 8,066,414* | 13.1** | 86.9** |
| Total | 57,996,315 | 27,858,892* | 30,137,423* | 48.0** | 52.0** |
| Source: National institutes of statistics and GLMM’s estimates based on data published by National Statistical Institutes (see below)
* GLMM’s estimate, based on data published by National Statistical Institutes (see below). ** Ratio is calculated on the basis of population estimates (see below). |
|||||
1- Definitions:
Non-nationals are:
1- persons bearing nationality of a foreign State other than the GCC State of residence, or bearing no proof of nationality from any given state (stateless persons and holders of refugee status and travel document in a third country);
2- Holders of residence permit residing in the given GCC country at date of census, as per definition of residence used in each of the countries.
Figures by nationality for Qatar and the UAE are GLMM’s estimates.
2- Sources of data:
(1) Bahrain Open Data Portal, “Documents” section, Population 2020, https://www.data.gov.bh/en/ResourceCenter
Source: administrative records (Central Population Register).
(2) Statistics Service System, Kuwait Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI). Population, June 2020.
https://www.paci.gov.kw/ (inaccessible from outside Kuwait as of 4 October 2022).
(3) National Centre for Statistical Information (NCSI). Monthly Statistical Bulletin, July 2020.
https://www.ncsi.gov.om/Elibrary/Pages/LibraryContentView.aspx
(4) Total figures of Qataris and non-Qataris residing in Qatar are not readily available in any published source.
The present figures are GLMM’s estimates, using:
- Qatar Planning and Statistics Authority, Population and Social Statistics 2020
https://www.psa.gov.qa/en/statistics/Statistical%20Releases/Population/Population/2020/Population_social_1_2020_AE.xls, which gave the total population by sex for mid-2020.
- Qatar Planning and Statistics Authority. Woman and Man in the State of Qatar-A Statistical Profile, 2020, https://www.psa.gov.qa/en/statistics/Statistical%20Releases/Social/GenrealSocialStatistics/MenWomenProfile/2020/Woman_Man_2020_EN.pdf (last available data on total national and foreign populations’ age structure, as of September 2022), which gave the percentage distribution of population by broad age group for mid-2019, by sex and nationality
- The Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2020
https://www.psa.gov.qa/en/statistics/Statistical%20Releases/Social/LaborForce/2020/LF_Q2_2020_AE.xlsx, which gave the numbers of Qataris and foreigners aged 15 and above for mid-2020 (Q2 2020).
These were used to estimate the number of residents aged below 15 years, by nationality.
(5) Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority. Annual Statistics 2020, table 37. Population estimates by the General Authority for Statistics (GAStat), based on the results of the Population Censuses (1974, 1992, 2004, 2010), on the Demographic Research Bulletin 2016 (2013-2017), and on administrative records: vital statistics records (births and deaths records) and im/emigration records (General Authority for Statistics).
https://www.sama.gov.sa/en-US/EconomicReports/pages/yearlystatistics.aspx.
(6) Figures of UAE population disaggregated by nationality are unavailable in published sources.
The table’s figures of Emirati and non-Emirati populations are GLMM’s estimates, based on 2019’s distribution of resident population by nationality, using:
- Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center (FCSC). Figures of total (non-disaggregated) population for mid-years 2010 to 2020 (https://fcsc.gov.ae/en-us/Pages/Statistics/Statistics-by-Subject.aspx#/%3Fyear=&folder=Demography%20and%20Social/Population/Population&subject=Demography%20and%20Social).
UAE population figures include residents (one year and more, holding a UAE ID card), and seasonal workers, present for less than one year (see methodology in:
- Post-census 2005 disaggregated estimates of Emirati and non-Emirati populations, published for 2006-2009 (end of year) and 2010 (mid-year) http://original.fcsa.gov.ae/EnglishHome/ReportDetailsEnglish/tabid/121/Default.aspx?ItemId=1914&PTID=104&MenuId=1 (publication no longer available as of September 2022)
- Disaggregated figures of births and deaths (end of year figures), for the years 2009 to 2019
The size of the Emirati population was then estimated for the period (mid-2010-mid-2019), using Emirati populations’ natural increase only (births-deaths), recalculated for the reference period of the middle of each year. These estimates of the Emirati population, therefore, do not take into account Emirati citizens’ net migration, and possible naturalisations. These are assumed to be only a few.
Estimates of the Emirati population for 2020 were calculated, using the ratio between nationals and non-nationals for 2019 (2020 vital statistics not available as of September 2022).
Estimates of non-Emirati residents were obtained by subtracting estimates of Emirati citizens from figures of total population.
Last date of access: 4 October 2022.
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.