23.5 million young people in the GCC countries constitute 38.2% of their population

Data issued by the Statistical Center for the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf showed that the total number of young people in the GCC countries within the age group (15-34 years) reached about 23.5 million young men and women in 2024, representing 38.2% of the total population of the GCC countries, including 15.1 million males, or 64.5%, and 8.4 million females, or 35.5%.

On the occasion of “Gulf Youth Day,” which falls on June 6 of each year, the Center affirmed that Gulf youth continue to consolidate their role as a major partner in the process of sustainable development in the GCC countries, in light of the increasing demographic, economic and social weight this group represents.

The Center indicated that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are witnessing demographic transformations in line with global trends, as the percentage of youth out of the total population in the GCC countries decreased from 38.9% in 2010 to 38.2% in 2024… while the percentage declined globally during the same period from 32.8% to 30.3%… On the other hand, the percentage of the population aged 35 years and over increased, coinciding with a decrease in the percentage of children under the age of 15, reflecting the changes associated with the increase in life expectancy and the decline in rates Fertility.

In the labor market, the total number of young people working in the GCC countries during the year 2025 reached about 14.2 million young workers, constituting 38.1% of the total workers in the GCC countries, recording a growth of 5.1% compared to 2024.

The number of young citizens working in the GCC countries reached about 2.5 million young men and women in 2025, representing 43.5% of the total citizen workers, with an estimated growth rate of 3.1% compared to the previous year.
In an indicator that reflects the improvement of youth integration into education and the labor market, the percentage of youth between the ages of 15 and 24 years outside education, work and training decreased from 20.1% in 2010 to 15.7% in 2024, which indicates the success of policies and programs aimed at enhancing youth participation in economic and social development.

In terms of future expectations, United Nations estimates indicate that the number of young people in the GCC countries is likely to rise to 28.6 million people by 2050, an increase estimated at about 5.9 million people compared to 2024, with an overall growth rate of 26%.

These indicators confirm the pivotal position of youth in the societies of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the growing role they play in supporting economic and social development, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and contributing to building a more sustainable and prosperous future for the Gulf region.