Population of GCC Countries Reaches 57.6 Million in 2023

According to the 2024 Statistical Atlas, the population of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reached 57.6 million in 2023, marking an increase of 1 million compared to 2022. Men constitute 62.4%, while women account for 37.6% of the population.

Table 1: Population Statistics of GCC countries

Indicator	2023 Value	2022 Value	Change
Total Population	57.6 million people	56.6 million people	↑ 1 million
Male Percentage	62.4%	–	–
Female Percentage	37.6%	–	–
Population Density	23.9 people/km²	–	–

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Economic and Trade Growth

The total trade volume in 2023 reached $1,482.4 billion, while GDP declined by 3.5%, totaling $2,113.3 billion.

Table 2: Economic and Trade Data of GCC countries

Indicator	2023 Value	2022 Value	Change
GDP (billion USD)	2,113.3	–	↓ 3.5%
Total Trade Volume (billion USD)	1,482.4	–	–
Total Exports (billion USD)	823.1	–	–
Oil Exports	63.8% of total exports	–	–

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Labor Force and Education

The labor force in 2023 increased to 33.1 million workers, a 10% growth compared to 2022.

Table 3: Labor and Education Statistics of GCC countries

Indicator	2023 Value	2022 Value	Change
Total Labor Force	33.1 million workers	30.3 million workers	↑ 10%
Working-Age Population (15+)	45 million people	–	–
Preschool Students (thousand)	712.4	–	–
School Students (million)	8.9	–	–

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Healthcare in the GCC Region

The GCC governments have invested significantly in the healthcare sector, with 843 government hospitals constituting 58.4% of the total hospitals in the region, while private hospitals account for 41.6%.

Table 4: Healthcare Statistics of GCC countries

Indicator	2023 Value	Percentage
Government Hospitals	843	58.4%
Private Hospitals	–	41.6%
Hospital Beds	122.1 thousand beds	–
Physicians per 10,000	29.6	–
Nurses per 10,000	61.2	–

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Environmental and Water Resources

The GCC region has seen a significant increase in water resource management. Desalinated water production grew at an annual rate of 9%, while recycled water usage for green areas reached 1.4 billion cubic meters in 2022.

Table 5: Environmental and Water Resources Statistics of GCC countries

Indicator	2023 Value	Growth Rate (2000-2022)
Average Annual Rainfall (billion m³)	214.1	↑ 18.8%
Desalinated Water Production	–	↑ 9%
Recycled Water for Green Areas	1.4 billion m³	–

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Tourism and Communications

The tourism sector continues to grow in the GCC, with 68.1 million inbound tourists recorded in 2023. The region has also seen a rise in communication subscriptions, with 94.9 million mobile subscriptions.

Table 6: Tourism and Communication Statistics of GCC countries

Indicator	2023 Value
Number of Tourists	68.1 million
Number of Hotels	10.9 thousand
Hotel Rooms	696.6 thousand
Landline Connections	5.5 million lines
Mobile Subscriptions	94.9 million

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Summary of the 2024 Statistical Atlas

The 2024 Statistical Atlas presents a comprehensive overview of demographic, economic, environmental and social data across the GCC countries. The integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with statistical data provides a deeper and more interactive analysis of key indicators.

Key Insights:

1. Population Growth: The population increased to 57.6 million, with a notable gender imbalance (62.4% male).
2. Economic Strength: Total trade volume reached $1,482.4 billion, despite a 3.5% decline in GDP growth.
3. Sustainability Focus: Significant progress in desalinated water production and recycled water usage.
4. Tourism Expansion: A growing number of tourists and hotel facilities highlight the sector’s rapid growth.

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Concluding Remarks:

The 2024 Statistical Atlas showcases the GCC countries’ commitment to sustainable development and regional cooperation. By providing actionable insights and fostering data-driven decision-making, the report strengthens the GCC’s position as a leader in economic, social, and environmental advancement.