Manama: The population of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reached 61.2 million by the end of 2024, marking an increase of over 2.1 million people, or 3.6%, compared to 2023, according to the latest data released by the GCC Statistical Centre.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the figures were issued in conjunction with World Population Day on July 11. They indicated a strong population recovery across the GCC following the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, the population has grown by approximately 7.6 million, an increase of 14.2%, reflecting a resumption of population growth after the slowdown experienced in some countries during the pandemic.
The data also showed that GCC residents accounted for 0.7% of the global population. Males made up about 38.5 million of the total population, representing 62.8%, while females totaled around 22.7 million, or 37.2%. The sex ratio in GCC countries stood at 169 males for every 100 females in 2024, compared to the global average of 101 males per 100 females.