Qatar: Population by nationality (Qatari/ non-Qatari) at dates/ years of census (1970-2015)
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 |
mid-2015 | 306,948 | 2,142,560 | 2,449,508 |
Source: GLMM calculations on the basis of QSA/ MDPS data
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 and April 20th, 2015.
Implementation method: de facto, as well as de jure methods.
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,
or on a visit abroad for less than two months, as well as individuals with no personal housing within Qatar staying
with a household for more than two months, are counted in their usual/ present residence during census night.
– Populations in transit or visiting Qatar as tourists, as well as residents of public housing or visitors staying in a household
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: No population data disagregated by nationality was published, based on census results.
We estimated the total population of Qatar by nationality and sex, using:
1. 2015 Labour Force Survey (Q2): Figures of population aged 15 and above, by nationality (period of reference: mid-2015)
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.
2. MDPS. Women and Men in the State of Qatar- A Statistical Profile, Doha: MDPS, 2016.
Figures of population aged 0-14 by nationality (national/ non-national) and sex (period of reference: mid-2015).
The figures were estimated on the basis of the percentage distribution of population by broad age groups,
sex and nationality for mid-2015 (Table 1/3, p. 18).
2. Institution which provides data
Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS)
(http://www.mdps.gov.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 MDPS, in PDF format.
https://www.mdps.gov.qa/en/statistics1/pages/topicslisting.aspx?parent=General&child=Census
https://www.mdps.gov.qa/en/statistics1/StatisticsSite/Census/Pages/default.aspx
Labour Force Survey Q2-2015 :
https://www.mdps.gov.qa/en/statistics/Statistical%20Releases/Social/LaborForce/2015/Q2/LF-Q2-2015-AE-MDPS.pdf
MDPS. Women and Men in the State of Qatar- A Statistical Profile, Doha: MDPS, 2016.
https://www.mdps.gov.qa/en/statistics1/pages/topicslisting.aspx?parent=Social&child=GenrealSocialStatistics.
Last date of access: December 2017.