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Population in Qatar compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Qatar was 2,857,822 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Qatar's population is 2,999,260 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 12.2 times bigger than Qatar's.
  • Qatar is ranked the 136th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.48% of the world: 0.04% for Qatar vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Qatar has had an average growth rate of +3.86% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Qatar has increased from 973K people to 3M (208.3% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Qatar vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Qatar
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Qatar Saudi Arabia
2100 6,864,512 74,230,118
2099 6,795,697 73,760,045
2098 6,726,889 73,287,526
2097 6,658,115 72,813,125
2096 6,589,399 72,336,039
2095 6,520,903 71,858,206
2094 6,452,670 71,379,928
2093 6,384,792 70,900,460
2092 6,317,235 70,420,464
2091 6,249,912 69,940,749
2090 6,182,993 69,462,214
2089 6,116,439 68,985,976
2088 6,050,282 68,510,277
2087 5,984,646 68,035,545
2086 5,919,506 67,562,521
2085 5,854,810 67,091,615
2084 5,790,733 66,621,667
2083 5,727,107 66,152,653
2082 5,663,726 65,684,321
2081 5,600,872 65,216,102
2080 5,538,952 64,749,128
2079 5,477,309 64,282,393
2078 5,416,092 63,815,918
2077 5,355,430 63,348,712
2076 5,295,298 62,880,120
2075 5,235,611 62,409,793
2074 5,176,349 61,937,628
2073 5,117,758 61,462,662
2072 5,059,696 60,984,202
2071 5,002,249 60,502,791
2070 4,945,273 60,018,216
2069 4,888,911 59,529,456
2068 4,833,090 59,036,086
2067 4,777,814 58,539,487
2066 4,723,056 58,039,687
2065 4,668,810 57,537,106
2064 4,614,957 57,032,172
2063 4,561,622 56,524,331
2062 4,509,442 56,014,549
2061 4,457,910 55,501,467
2060 4,406,963 54,986,901
2059 4,356,604 54,469,809
2058 4,306,842 53,950,469
2057 4,257,533 53,430,639
2056 4,208,980 52,909,061
2055 4,160,635 52,386,571
2054 4,113,078 51,862,312
2053 4,065,870 51,336,335
2052 4,019,393 50,809,100
2051 3,973,445 50,280,719
2050 3,927,949 49,751,739
2049 3,882,963 49,221,828
2048 3,838,380 48,690,143
2047 3,794,282 48,157,605
2046 3,750,671 47,623,246
2045 3,707,573 47,087,215
2044 3,665,008 46,550,306
2043 3,623,031 46,013,232
2042 3,581,673 45,475,200
2041 3,540,989 44,936,131
2040 3,500,991 44,396,093
2039 3,461,758 43,856,006
2038 3,423,310 43,314,707
2037 3,385,696 42,773,375
2036 3,348,948 42,231,639
2035 3,313,100 41,690,245
2034 3,278,067 41,150,029
2033 3,243,892 40,611,021
2032 3,210,644 40,073,144
2031 3,178,257 39,535,357
2030 3,146,733 38,998,581
2029 3,112,748 38,417,447
2028 3,075,676 37,810,902
2027 3,035,492 37,189,969
2026 2,985,826 36,566,201
2025 2,926,071 35,932,673
2024 2,857,822 35,300,280
2023 2,656,032 33,702,731
2022 2,657,333 32,175,224
2021 2,504,910 30,784,383
2020 2,794,148 31,552,510
2019 2,638,657 30,063,799
2018 2,580,734 30,196,281
2017 2,545,820 30,977,355
2016 2,477,113 30,954,198
2015 2,344,557 29,816,382
2014 2,151,745 28,309,273
2013 1,916,426 27,624,004
2012 1,722,438 26,168,861
2011 1,624,761 25,091,867
2010 1,616,832 23,978,487
2009 1,608,903 24,217,654
2008 1,426,938 23,287,877
2007 1,208,595 22,368,313
2006 972,831 21,459,144
2005 825,408 20,559,890
2004 773,332 19,669,480
2003 744,682 18,786,767
2002 711,205 17,910,910
2001 677,925 17,041,397
2000 644,989 16,177,722
1999 612,500 15,472,075
1998 580,540 14,922,185
1997 550,500 14,374,943
1996 529,019 13,831,009
1995 514,325 13,289,245
1994 499,459 12,750,040
1993 484,545 12,215,862
1992 469,657 11,686,676
1991 454,853 11,160,744
1990 440,175 10,640,691
1989 425,646 10,128,394
1988 411,264 9,629,165
1987 397,005 9,130,194
1986 382,422 8,628,639
1985 365,940 8,151,779
1984 347,878 7,697,307
1983 329,709 7,252,941
1982 311,537 6,824,486
1981 293,553 6,420,551
1980 275,913 6,047,997
1979 258,670 5,703,698
1978 241,808 5,381,902
1977 225,285 5,083,048
1976 209,052 4,807,933
1975 193,087 4,556,287
1974 177,362 4,323,632
1973 161,841 4,106,344
1972 146,506 3,905,722
1971 131,346 3,724,031
1970 116,350 3,562,470
1969 103,025 3,417,114
1968 91,749 3,282,711
1967 81,439 3,157,242
1966 72,192 3,039,887
1965 64,065 2,928,771
1964 56,867 2,821,968
1963 50,380 2,719,341
1962 44,630 2,620,910
1961 39,680 2,526,347
1960 36,010 2,435,403

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/qatar/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Qatar increased by 1,504,282 people (a 154.6% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Qatar gained 522,147 people (a 21.1% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Qatar was ranked 156th most populous country in 2006 and is 136th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Qatar's population will grow by 31% to 3,927,949 people with a rank change from 136th to 134th. The population of Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Qatar is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 6.86M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Qatar
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Qatar Saudi Arabia
2100 1.01% 0.64%
2099 1.02% 0.64%
2098 1.03% 0.65%
2097 1.04% 0.66%
2096 1.05% 0.66%
2095 1.06% 0.67%
2094 1.06% 0.68%
2093 1.07% 0.68%
2092 1.08% 0.69%
2091 1.08% 0.69%
2090 1.09% 0.69%
2089 1.09% 0.69%
2088 1.1% 0.7%
2087 1.1% 0.7%
2086 1.11% 0.7%
2085 1.11% 0.71%
2084 1.11% 0.71%
2083 1.12% 0.71%
2082 1.12% 0.72%
2081 1.12% 0.72%
2080 1.13% 0.73%
2079 1.13% 0.73%
2078 1.13% 0.74%
2077 1.14% 0.75%
2076 1.14% 0.75%
2075 1.14% 0.76%
2074 1.14% 0.77%
2073 1.15% 0.78%
2072 1.15% 0.8%
2071 1.15% 0.81%
2070 1.15% 0.82%
2069 1.15% 0.84%
2068 1.16% 0.85%
2067 1.16% 0.86%
2066 1.16% 0.87%
2065 1.17% 0.89%
2064 1.17% 0.9%
2063 1.16% 0.91%
2062 1.16% 0.92%
2061 1.16% 0.94%
2060 1.16% 0.95%
2059 1.16% 0.96%
2058 1.16% 0.97%
2057 1.15% 0.99%
2056 1.16% 1%
2055 1.16% 1.01%
2054 1.16% 1.02%
2053 1.16% 1.04%
2052 1.16% 1.05%
2051 1.16% 1.06%
2050 1.16% 1.08%
2049 1.16% 1.09%
2048 1.16% 1.11%
2047 1.16% 1.12%
2046 1.16% 1.14%
2045 1.16% 1.15%
2044 1.16% 1.17%
2043 1.15% 1.18%
2042 1.15% 1.2%
2041 1.14% 1.22%
2040 1.13% 1.23%
2039 1.12% 1.25%
2038 1.11% 1.27%
2037 1.1% 1.28%
2036 1.08% 1.3%
2035 1.07% 1.31%
2034 1.05% 1.33%
2033 1.04% 1.34%
2032 1.02% 1.36%
2031 1% 1.38%
2030 1.09% 1.51%
2029 1.21% 1.6%
2028 1.32% 1.67%
2027 1.66% 1.71%
2026 2.04% 1.76%
2025 2.39% 1.79%
2024 7.6% 4.74%
2023 -0.05% 4.75%
2022 6.08% 4.52%
2021 -10.4% -2.43%
2020 5.89% 4.95%
2019 2.24% -0.44%
2018 1.37% -2.52%
2017 2.77% 0.07%
2016 5.65% 3.82%
2015 8.96% 5.32%
2014 12.3% 2.48%
2013 11.3% 5.56%
2012 6.01% 4.29%
2011 0.49% 4.64%
2010 0.49% -0.99%
2009 12.8% 3.99%
2008 18.1% 4.11%
2007 24.2% 4.24%
2006 17.9% 4.37%
2005 6.73% 4.53%
2004 3.85% 4.7%
2003 4.71% 4.89%
2002 4.91% 5.1%
2001 5.11% 5.34%
2000 5.3% 4.56%
1999 5.51% 3.69%
1998 5.46% 3.81%
1997 4.06% 3.93%
1996 2.86% 4.08%
1995 2.98% 4.23%
1994 3.08% 4.37%
1993 3.17% 4.53%
1992 3.25% 4.71%
1991 3.33% 4.89%
1990 3.41% 5.06%
1989 3.5% 5.18%
1988 3.59% 5.47%
1987 3.81% 5.81%
1986 4.5% 5.85%
1985 5.19% 5.9%
1984 5.51% 6.13%
1983 5.83% 6.28%
1982 6.13% 6.29%
1981 6.39% 6.16%
1980 6.67% 6.04%
1979 6.97% 5.98%
1978 7.33% 5.88%
1977 7.77% 5.72%
1976 8.27% 5.52%
1975 8.87% 5.38%
1974 9.59% 5.29%
1973 10.5% 5.14%
1972 11.5% 4.88%
1971 12.9% 4.54%
1970 12.9% 4.25%
1969 12.3% 4.09%
1968 12.7% 3.97%
1967 12.8% 3.86%
1966 12.7% 3.79%
1965 12.7% 3.78%
1964 12.9% 3.77%
1963 12.9% 3.76%
1962 12.5% 3.74%
1961 10.2% 3.73%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/qatar/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Qatar grew by 7.6%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Qatar Saudi Arabia
Current population
2999260
36734925
Population rank 136/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.04% 0.44%
One net population change
2.6 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
20 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
3.55 hours
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +553 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +201,790 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +7.6% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 1/197 4/197
One migration net change every
14.5 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change +36,288 +119,738
Net migration rank 26/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 2,337,000 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 31/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 76.7% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 1/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Qatar
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Qatar Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 36,288 - 119,738
2024 - 46,105 - 122,170
2023 23,845 39,995 474,366 325,691
2022 24,360 80,004 406,920 977,072
2021 21,297 24,501 409,032 -106,287
2020 25,128 -50,433 447,036 -74,725
2019 24,112 10,557 474,407 191,582
2018 23,340 12,465 528,767 -988,751
2017 23,244 46,719 546,751 -920,812
2016 22,416 119,725 537,829 -26,997
2015 22,568 177,467 511,023 465,292
2014 21,699 194,712 493,431 469,144
2013 19,669 133,520 475,299 485,794
2012 17,681 77,091 465,649 479,206
2011 16,543 77,228 443,675 491,253
2010 16,225 90,620 418,641 504,955
2009 15,595 123,217 438,557 496,229
2008 14,062 165,572 433,457 491,337
2007 11,351 245,703 425,199 489,136
2006 10,225 204,236 399,333 504,661
2005 11,392 68,993 375,938 518,565
2004 11,242 12,531 362,843 523,472
2003 11,291 22,234 364,520 514,606
2002 11,062 22,356 372,099 500,508
2001 10,683 22,456 382,153 484,252
2000 9,974 22,769 392,407 468,515
1999 9,431 22,815 390,112 160,263
1998 9,055 22,618 389,499 159,898
1997 8,846 19,547 385,033 160,066
1996 9,049 5,517 382,248 160,532
1995 9,186 5,634 380,231 160,512
1994 9,257 5,660 377,351 160,306
1993 9,250 5,670 372,621 158,074
1992 9,189 5,670 366,763 160,908
1991 9,182 5,562 361,329 162,857
1990 9,388 5,216 355,495 160,416
1989 9,407 5,045 349,399 159,273
1988 9,198 5,118 342,865 146,918
1987 8,806 5,405 333,088 175,075
1986 8,439 6,512 322,340 172,606
1985 8,212 9,797 310,558 148,208
1984 7,997 10,113 296,615 153,562
1983 7,765 10,462 280,616 157,930
1982 7,489 10,634 264,831 153,528
1981 7,202 10,644 249,156 140,355
1980 6,894 10,540 234,372 121,220
1979 6,579 10,466 220,186 112,826
1978 6,246 10,434 205,331 105,263
1977 5,925 10,445 191,103 96,015
1976 5,598 10,494 178,024 85,083
1975 5,289 10,549 166,223 73,960
1974 5,015 10,603 155,478 69,653
1973 4,780 10,641 145,450 63,995
1972 4,581 10,663 136,360 55,439
1971 4,433 10,644 127,600 43,989
1970 4,346 10,579 120,440 31,097
1969 3,941 7,790 113,859 25,312
1968 3,547 7,266 108,281 21,366
1967 3,167 6,637 103,343 17,947
1966 2,811 5,880 98,361 15,054
1965 2,472 5,083 93,820 15,000
1964 2,150 4,686 89,776 15,000
1963 1,854 4,283 85,480 15,000
1962 1,589 3,773 81,393 15,000
1961 1,357 3,186 77,743 15,000
1960 1,220 1,586 74,143 15,000

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/qatar/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 26.1% of the population change in Qatar is from natural causes (a gain of 232,009 people) and 73.9% is from migration (a gain of 655,712 people). In Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 2,337,000 residents or 76.7% of the population were not native-born in Qatar, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Qatar
City Population
Doha 1.19M
Al Khor 31.5K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/qatar/saudi-arabia | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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