Over 23.5 million young people constitute 38.2% of GCC population

Muscat:  The total number of young people aged 15 to 34 years in the GCC countries reached approximately 23.5 million in 2024, representing 38.2 percent of the region’s total population. This group comprised 15.1 million males (64.5 percent) and 8.4 million females (35.5 percent).
Young people in the GCC continue to consolidate their role as key partners in the region's sustainable development journey, given the growing demographic, economic, and social significance of this group.
The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) noted that GCC countries are undergoing demographic shifts aligned with global trends. The proportion of youth in the total population of the region decreased from 38.9 percent in 2010 to 38.2 percent in 2024. Globally, this ratio also declined over the same period, from 32.8 percent to 30.3 percent.
Conversely, the share of the adult population aged 35 years and above increased, concurrent with a decrease in the proportion of children under 15. This reflects changes associated with rising life expectancy and falling fertility rates.
With regard to the labour market, the total number of employed young people in GCC countries reached approximately 2.14 million in 2025, accounting for 38.1 percent of the region’s total workforce. This represents a growth rate of 5.1 percent compared to 2024.
Additionally, the number of employed national youth in GCC countries stood at about 2.5 million in 2025, comprising 43.5 percent of the total national workforce, with an estimated growth rate of 3.1 percent compared to the previous year.
In an indicator reflecting improved integration of youth into education and the labour market, the proportion of young people aged 15 to 24 not in education, employment, or training (NEET) fell from 20.1 percent in 2010 to 15.7 percent in 2024. This suggests the effectiveness of policies and programmes aimed at enhancing youth participation in economic and social development.
Looking ahead, United Nations estimates indicate that the youth population in GCC countries is projected to rise to 28.6 million by 2050 - an increase of approximately 5.9 million compared to 2024, with a total growth rate of 26 percent.
These indicators underscore the central position of young people within GCC societies and their growing role in supporting economic and social development, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and contributing to building a more sustainable and prosperous future for the Gulf region.