GCC youth population reaches 23.5 million

MUSCAT, JUNE 14
MUSCAT: The youth population across the GCC countries has reached approximately 23.5 million, accounting for 38.2 per cent of the total population, according to statistics released by the GCC Statistical Centre.
The data, issued on the occasion of GCC Youth Day, observed annually on June 6, show that young people aged 15–34 comprise a significant share of the population, with 15.1 million males and 8.4 million females in 2024.
A United Nations estimate suggests the GCC youth population is expected to rise to 28.6 million by 2050, an increase of around 5.9 million, representing overall growth of 26 per cent.
The Centre noted that GCC countries are undergoing demographic changes aligned with global trends. The proportion of youth in the total population has slightly declined from 38.9 per cent in 2010 to 38.2 per cent in 2024. In contrast, the global share of youth declined from 32.8 per cent to 30.3 per cent over the same period.
Meanwhile, the share of the population aged 35 and above has increased, alongside a decline in the proportion of children under 15, reflecting improved healthcare outcomes, rising life expectancy and lower fertility rates.
The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) estimates put the total population in 2026 at between 5.67 million and 5.82 million, with 56.8 per cent Omanis and 43.2 per cent expatriates.
Among citizens, around 64 per cent are under the age of 30, highlighting the growing role of youth in national development initiatives, including the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan (2026–2030).
Youth aged 15–24 make up around 13.77 per cent of the total population, or approximately 740,000 individuals, while those aged 15–34 account for nearly 19 per cent, representing over 535,000 Omani citizens.
The report also shows that employed youth across the GCC reached around 14.2 million in 2025, representing 38.1 per cent of the total workforce, marking a 5.1 per cent increase compared to 2024.
The number of employed GCC national youth stood at approximately 2.5 million, accounting for 43.5 per cent of all employed GCC nationals, with annual growth of 3.1 per cent.
The proportion of young people aged 15–24 not in education, employment or training (NEET) declined from 20.1 per cent in 2010 to 15.7 per cent in 2024, indicating improved youth integration into education and labour markets through targeted policies and programmes.