GCC population set to reach 83.6m by 2050 as region ages rapidly

The total population of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC ) countries is projected to reach approximately 83.6m by 2050, according to population projections from the United Nations.

Population growth across the GCC is expected to continue over the next quarter-century, with the region facing a simultaneous expansion in overall population and a sharp rise in the number of older residents.

According to a new report issued by the Gulf Statistical Centre, the number of older persons in region will more than double over the same period, exceeding 5.5m by 2050.

This demographic shift highlights the growing importance of long-term policy planning in areas including urban development, healthcare systems, labour markets, and social protection frameworks to support sustainable development across the region.

According to the report, the total population of GCC countries reached around 61.5m by the end of 2024.

This represents an increase of 8.5m compared to 2019, with an average annual growth rate of 2.8 per cent — nearly three times the global average.

The findings underline the pace at which demographic dynamics are evolving across the Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Rapid GCC population growth

In terms of age structure, the working-age population group, defined as those aged 15 to 64 years, accounted for the largest share of the population at 76.7 per cent.

Children aged 0 to 14 years represented 20.6 per cent, while older persons aged 65 years and above accounted for around 2.6 per cent.

This structure reflects the region’s relatively youthful demographic profile and strong labour force base. The report noted a total dependency ratio of nearly 30 children and elderly persons per 100 working-age individuals.

The report also highlighted a significant gender imbalance across GCC populations. Males accounted for 62.7 per cent of the population, compared to 37.3 per cent for females, resulting in a sex ratio of 168 males per 100 females.

This imbalance is largely attributed to the demographic structure associated with expatriate labour across the region.