Demographics of Qatar

Statistical data relating to the population of Qatar

Demographics of Qatar

Population pyramid of Qatar in 2024

Population| 2,937,800 (2022 est.)
Growth rate| 1.04% (2022 est.)
Birth rate| 9.33 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate| 1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy| 79.81 years
• male| 77.7 years
• female| 81.96 years (2022 est.)
Fertility rate| 1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate| 6.62 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate| 2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years| 14.23%
15–64 years| 84.61%
65 and over| 1.16%
Sex ratio
Total| 3.36 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth| 1.02 male(s)/female
Under 15| 1.02 male(s)/female
65 and over| 1.13 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality| Qatari
Language
Official| Arabic

Natives of the Arabian Peninsula, many Qataris (Arabic: قطريون) are descended from a number of migratory Arab tribes that came to Qatar in the 18th century from mainly the neighboring areas of Nejd and Al-Hasa. Some are descended from Omani tribes. Qatar has about 2.6 million inhabitants as of early 2017, the vast majority of whom (about 92%) live in Doha, the capital.[1] Foreign workers amount to around 88% of the population, the largest of which comprise South Asians, with those from India alone estimated to be around 700,000.[2] Egyptians and Filipinos are the largest non-South Asian migrant group in Qatar. The treatment of these foreign workers has been heavily criticized with conditions suggested to be modern slavery. However the International Labour Organization published report in November 2022 that contained multiple reforms by Qatar for its migrant workers. The reforms included the establishment of the minimum wage, wage protection regulations, improved access for workers to justice, etc. It included data from last 4 years of progress in workers conditions of Qatar. The report also revealed that the freedom to change jobs was initiated, implementation of Occupational safety and health & labor inspection, and also the required effort from the nation's side.[3]

Islam is the official religion, and Islamic jurisprudence is the basis of Qatar's legal system. A significant minority religion is Hindu due to the large number of Qatar's migrant workers coming from India.

Arabic is the official language and English is the lingua franca of business. Hindi-Urdu and Malayalam are among the most widely spoken languages by the foreign workers.[4] Education in Qatar is compulsory and free for all citizens 6–16 years old. The country has an increasingly high literacy rate.

## Population

[edit]

1986–2023Year| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1986 | 369,079| —
1997 | 522,023| +3.20%
2004 | 744,029| +5.19%
2010 | 1,699,435| +14.76%
2015 | 2,404,776| +7.19%
2020 | 2,846,118| +3.43%
2023 | 3,063,005| +2.48%
Source: Qatar Statistics Authority[5][6]
1950–2010Year| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1950| 25,000| —
1960| 47,000| +6.52%
1970| 108,000| +8.68%
1980| 222,000| +7.47%
1990| 474,000| +7.88%
2000| 591,000| +2.23%
2010| 1,759,000| +11.52%
Source: United Nations[7]

## Foreigners

[edit]

Construction laborers in Doha

Foreigners constitute 85% to 90% of Qatar's population of 2.7 million, with migrant workers making up approximately 95% of the workforce.[8] South Asia and the Philippines are the primary regions which migrants come from. Societal divisions exist depending on the origin of the foreigner, with Europeans, North Americans, and Arabs typically securing better job opportunities and social privileges than sub-Saharan Africans and South Asians.[9] Socialization between foreigners and Qataris faces limitations due to language barriers and different religious and cultural customs.[10]

The human rights of migrant workers is limited by the country's Kafala system, which stipulates their requirement of a Qatari sponsor and regulates their entry and exit.[11] Prospective migrant workers from origin countries sometimes face exorbitant recruitment fees, surpassing government-set limits, paid to licensed and unlicensed recruitment entities. These charges, ranging from $600 to $5,000, often force workers into debt and compel them to sell family assets. Government-to-government agreements have emerged in recent years to mitigate opaque recruitment practices and worker exploitation. Many companies in Qatar skirt local laws, resulting in workers facing delayed or non-payment of wages. While some employers deposit wages into bank accounts, most workers are paid in cash without detailed pay slips, hindering evidence of payment and complicating remittances. Additionally, the confiscation of passports by employers is a common practice in Qatar which limits the workers' freedom of movement and exposes them to potential exploitation.[12]

### By nationality

[edit]

A 2011–2014 report by the International Organization for Migration recorded 176,748 Nepali Citizens living in Qatar as migrant workers.[13][14][15] In 2012 about 7,000 Turkish nationals lived in Qatar[16] and in 2016 about 1,000 Colombian nationals and descendants lived in Qatar. No official numbers are published of the foreign population broken down by nationality, however a firm provided estimates as of 2019:[17]

Country | Number | percent

|
|

India | 700,000 |

21.8%

Bangladesh | 400,000 |

12.5%

Nepal | 400,000 |

12.5%

Qatar | 330,000 |

10.5%

Egypt | 300,000 |

9.35%

Philippines | 236,000 |

7.36%

Pakistan | 180,000 |

4.7%

Sri Lanka | 140,000 |

4.35%

Sudan | 60,000 |

1.9%

Syria | 54,000 |

1.8%

Jordan | 51,000 |

1.6%

Lebanon | 40,000 |

1.25%

United States | 40,000 |

1.25%

Kenya | 30,000 |

Iran | 30,000 |

Updated from countries' embassies:[18]

Nationality | Population | Percent of total | Data Recency

|
|
|

India | 700,000 | 21.8% | May 2019
Bangladesh | 400,000 | 12.5% | Apr 2019
Nepal | 400,000 | 12.5% | Jul 2018
Qatar | 333,000 | 10.5% | Q1 2019
Egypt | 300,000 | 9.35% | May 2018
Philippines | 236,000 | 7.35% | Jul 2019
Pakistan | 150,000 | 4.7% | Jul 2019
Sri Lanka | 140,000 | 4.35% | Sep 2018
Sudan | 60,000 | 1.9% | Jan 2019
Syria | 54,000 | 1.7% | Nov 2015
Jordan | 51,000 | 1.6% | May 2017
Lebanon | 40,000 | 1.25% | Jan 2019
United States | 40,000 | 1.25% | Jul 2019
Kenya | 30,000 | 1% | Mar 2019
Iran | 30,000 | 1% | Dec 2013
Indonesia | 27,350 | 0.85% | Apr 2019
Tunisia | 26,000 | 0.8% | Nov 2018
Ethiopia | 25,000 | 0.8% | Jan 2018
United Kingdom | 22,000 | 0.7% | Apr 2018
Nigeria | 11,000 | 0.35% | Sep 2018
China | >10,000 | 0.3% | Jan 2016
Turkey | 10,000 | 0.3% | Jun 2018
Eritrea | 10,000 | 0.3% | Aug 2016
Canada | 9,200 | 0.3% | Mar 2019
Saudi Arabia | 8,245 | 0.25% | Aug 2017
Ghana | 8,000 | 0.25% | May 2018
Palestine | 8,000 | 0.25% | Apr 2019
South Africa | 6,500 | 0.2% | Apr 2019
Iraq | 6,100 | 0.2% | Nov 2018
France | 5,500 | 0.17% | Sep 2018
Uganda | 5,000 – 6,000 | ~0.17% | Apr 2019
Malaysia | 5,000 | 0.15% | Jan 2019
Spain | 4,000 | 0.12% | Mar 2018
Afghanistan | 3,500 – 4,000 | ~0.12% | Nov 2012
Australia | 3,100 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Thailand | 3,065 | 0.1% | Jul 2019
Ireland | 3,000 | 0.1% | Jul 2019
Greece | 2,600 | <0.10% | Mar 2019
Romania | 2,500 | <0.10% | Jun 2019
Russia | 2,500 | <0.10% | Mar 2018
Bahrain | 2,349 | <0.10% | Aug 2017
Italy | 2,100 | <0.10% | Nov 2016
Serbia | 2,000 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
South Korea | 2,000 | <0.10% | Dec 2018
Germany | 1,800 | <0.10% | Mar 2019
Brazil | 1,500 | <0.10% | Dec 2018
Portugal | 1,500 | <0.10% | 2018
Ukraine | 1,500 | <0.10% | 2019
Vietnam | 1,400 | <0.10% | Apr 2019
Netherlands | 1,350 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Albania | 1,200 | <0.10% | Jan 2017
UAE | 1,027 | <0.10% | Aug 2017
North Macedonia | 1,000 | <0.10% | Dec 2013
Poland | 1,000 | <0.10% | Sep 2019
New Zealand | 989 | <0.10% | Feb 2017
Japan | 949 | <0.10% | Oct 2017
Denmark | 900 | <0.10% | Feb 2017
Bosnia | 750 | <0.10% | Mar 2018
Belgium | 700 | <0.10% | Oct 2018
Mexico | 550 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Sweden | 550 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Croatia | 500 | <0.10% | Nov 2018
Cuba | ~500 | <0.10% | Jun 2019
Kyrgyzstan | 500 | <0.10% | May 2019
Austria | 500 | <0.10% | Nov 2016
Bulgaria | 400 | <0.10% | Apr 2019
El Salvador | 400 | <0.10% | Sep 2018
Hungary | 400 | <0.10% | Nov 2017
Singapore | 400 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Azerbaijan | 350 | <0.10% | Feb 2019
Venezuela | 337 | <0.10% | Dec 2014
Argentina | 320 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Czech Republic | 300 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Gambia | 300 | <0.10% | May 2017
Finland | 250 | <0.10% | Oct 2018
Switzerland | 238 | <0.10% | 2018
Senegal | 200 | <0.10% | Mar 2016
Georgia | 200 | <0.10% | Feb 2018
Belarus | 200 | <0.10% | Jan 2017
Kazakhstan | 200 | <0.10% | Aug 2015
Colombia | 200 | <0.10% | Feb 2017
Moldova | 160 | <0.10% | 2018
Norway | 160 | <0.10% | 2015
Panama | 120 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Peru | 100 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Slovakia | 100 | <0.10% | Aug 2019
Ecuador | 100 | <0.10% | Dec 2014
Benin | 82 | <0.10% | Dec 2014
Dominican Republic | 75 | <0.10% | Aug 2019
Brunei | 41 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Liberia | 40 | <0.10% | Dec 2013
Zimbabwe | 32 | <0.10% | Jul 19
Uruguay | 23 | <0.10% | Jul 2019
Latvia | 22 | <0.10% | Jan 18

## Statistics

[edit]

### UN estimates

[edit]

Period  | Live births per year  | Deaths per year  | Natural change per year  | CBR*  | CDR*  | NC*  | TFR*  | IMR*

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1950–1955 | 1,000 | 0 | 1,000 | 47.5 | 13.8 | 33.7 | 6.97 | 126
1955–1960 | 2,000 | 0 | 1,000 | 44.3 | 11.3 | 33.0 | 6.97 | 110
1960–1965 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 41.0 | 8.8 | 32.1 | 6.97 | 90
1965–1970 | 4,000 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 38.6 | 6.8 | 31.8 | 6.97 | 71
1970–1975 | 5,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 34.8 | 5.2 | 29.6 | 6.77 | 53
1975–1980 | 7,000 | 1,000 | 6,000 | 35.7 | 4.0 | 31.7 | 6.11 | 38
1980–1985 | 10,000 | 1,000 | 9,000 | 33.2 | 3.1 | 30.1 | 5.45 | 28
1985–1990 | 11,000 | 1,000 | 10,000 | 25.4 | 2.5 | 22.9 | 4.50 | 23
1990–1995 | 11,000 | 1,000 | 10,000 | 22.8 | 2.2 | 20.6 | 4.01 | 18
1995–2000 | 10,000 | 1,000 | 9,000 | 19.2 | 2.1 | 17.1 | 3.30 | 14
2000–2005 | 13,000 | 1,000 | 12,000 | 18.8 | 1.9 | 16.9 | 3.01 | 11
2005–2010 | 18,000 | 2,000 | 16,000 | 14.1 | 1.6 | 12.5 | 2.40 | 9
*  CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)
Source:[19]

### Registered births and deaths

[edit]

| Average population  | Live births  | Deaths  | Natural change  | Crude birth rate (per 1000)  | Crude death rate (per 1000)  | Natural change (per 1000)  | TFR

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1970  | 108,000  | 3,616 | 464 | 3,152  | 33.4 | 4.3 | 29.1 |
1971  | 118,000  | 3,921 | 491 | 3,430  | 33.2 | 4.2 | 29.0 |
1972  | 129,000  | 4,038 | 563 | 3,475  | 31.2 | 4.4 | 26.8 |
1973  | 141,000  | 4,367 | 660 | 3,707  | 31.0 | 4.7 | 26.3 |
1974  | 152,000  | 4,562 | 688 | 3,874  | 30.0 | 4.5 | 25.5 |
1975  | 163,000  | 4,559 | 600 | 3,959  | 28.0 | 3.7 | 24.3 |
1976  | 172,000  | 4,893 | 609 | 4,284  | 28.4 | 3.5 | 24.9 |
1977  | 181,000  | 5,313 | 686 | 4,627  | 29.4 | 3.8 | 25.6 |
1978  | 190,000  | 5,977 | 645 | 5,332  | 31.4 | 3.4 | 28.0 |
1979  | 203,000  | 6,057 | 709 | 5,348  | 29.8 | 3.5 | 26.3 |
1980  | 222,000  | 6,750 | 662 | 6,088  | 30.5 | 3.0 | 27.5 |
1981  | 246,000  | 7,192 | 725 | 6,467  | 29.3 | 3.0 | 26.3 |
1982  | 275,000  | 8,032 | 789 | 7,243  | 29.2 | 2.9 | 26.3 |
1983  | 307,000  | 8,261 | 803 | 7,458  | 26.9 | 2.6 | 24.3 |
1984  | 338,000  | 8,613 | 642 | 7,971  | 25.5 | 1.9 | 23.6 |
1985  | 368,000  | 9,225 | 794 | 8,431  | 25.1 | 2.2 | 22.9 |
1986  | 395,000  | 9,942 | 784 | 9,158  | 25.2 | 2.0 | 23.2 |
1987  | 420,000  | 9,919 | 788 | 9,131  | 23.6 | 1.9 | 21.7 |
1988  | 442,000  | 10,842 | 861 | 9,981  | 24.5 | 1.9 | 22.6 |
1989  | 460,000  | 10,908 | 847 | 10,061  | 23.7 | 1.8 | 21.9 |
1990  | 474,000  | 11,022 | 871 | 10,151  | 23.3 | 1.8 | 21.5 |
1991  | 483,000  | 9,756 | 883 | 8,873  | 20.2 | 1.8 | 18.4 |
1992  | 488,000  | 10,459 | 944 | 9,515  | 21.4 | 1.9 | 19.5 |
1993  | 491,000  | 10,822 | 913 | 9,909  | 22.0 | 1.9 | 20.1 |
1994  | 495,000  | 10,561 | 964 | 9,597  | 21.3 | 1.9 | 19.4 |
1995  | 501,000  | 10,371 | 1,000 | 9,371  | 20.7 | 2.0 | 18.7 |
1996  | 512,000  | 10,317 | 1,015 | 9,302  | 20.1 | 2.0 | 18.1 |
1997  | 529,000  | 10,447 | 1,060 | 9,387  | 19.8 | 2.0 | 17.8 |
1998  | 549,000  | 10,781 | 1,157 | 9,624  | 19.6 | 2.1 | 17.5 |
1999  | 570,000  | 10,846 | 1,148 | 9,698  | 19.0 | 2.0 | 17.0 |
2000  | 591,000  | 11,438 | 1,173 | 10,265  | 19.4 | 2.0 | 17.4 |
2001  | 608,000  | 12,355 | 1,210 | 11,145  | 20.3 | 2.0 | 18.3 |
2002  | 624,000  | 12,388 | 1,220 | 11,168  | 19.8 | 2.0 | 17.8 |
2003  | 654,000  | 13,026 | 1,311 | 11,715  | 19.9 | 2.0 | 17.9 |
2004  | 715,000  | 13,589 | 1,341 | 12,248  | 19.0 | 1.9 | 17.1 | 2.78
2005  | 821,000  | 13,514 | 1,545 | 11,969  | 16.5 | 1.9 | 14.6 | 2.62
2006  | 978,000  | 14,204 | 1,750 | 12,454  | 14.5 | 1.8 | 12.7 | 2.48
2007  | 1,178,000  | 15,695 | 1,776 | 13,919  | 13.3 | 1.5 | 11.8 | 2.45
2008  | 1,448,000  | 17,480 | 1,942 | 15,538  | 12.1 | 1.3 | 10.8 | 2.43
2009  | 1,639,000  | 18,351 | 2,008 | 16,343  | 11.2 | 1.2 | 10.0 | 2.28
2010  | 1,715,000  | 19,504 | 1,970 | 17,534  | 11.4 | 1.1 | 10.3 | 2.08
2011  | 1,733,000  | 20,623 | 1,949 | 18,674  | 12.0 | 1.1 | 10.9 | 2.12
2012  | 1,833,000  | 21,423 | 2,031 | 19,392  | 11.7 | 1.1 | 10.6 | 2.05
2013  | 2,004,000  | 23,708 | 2,133 | 21,575  | 11.8 | 1.1 | 10.7 | 2.00
2014  | 2,216,000  | 25,607 | 2,197 | 23,410  | 11.5 | 1.1 | 10.4 | 2.00
2015  | 2,438,000  | 26,622 | 2,185 | 24,437  | 10.9 | 1.0 | 9.9 | 2.00
2016  | 2,618,000  | 26,816 | 2,207 | 24,609  | 10.2 | 0.9 | 9.3 | 1.85
2017  | 2,725,000  | 27,906 | 2,185 | 25,721  | 10.2 | 0.8 | 9.4 | 1.83
2018  | 2,760,000  | 28,069 | 2,274 | 25,795  | 10.2 | 0.9 | 9.3 | 1.75
2019  | 2,799,000  | 28,412 | 2,086 | 26,326  | 10.2 | 0.8 | 9.4 | 1.73
2020  | 2,834,000  | 29,015 | 2,734 | 26,281  | 10.2 | 1.0 | 9.2 | 1.67
2021  | 2,748,000  | 26,338 | 2,741 | 23,597  | 9.6 | 1.0 | 8.5 | 1.60
2022  | 2,932,000  | 26,316 | 2,645 | 23,671  | 9.0 | 1.0 | 8.0 | 1.51
2023  | 3,063,000  | 27,322 | 2,553 | 24,769  | 9.0 | 0.9 | 8.1 |
Sources:[20][21]

### Population by sex and age group

[edit]

(01.VII.2019):[22]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 2,064,276  | 734,926  | 2,799,202  |

100%

0–4  | 74,902  | 71,724  | 146,626  |

5.24%

5–9  | 71,614  | 69,267  | 140,881  |

5.03%

10–14  | 56,637  | 54,291  | 110,928  |

3.96%

15–19  | 47,897  | 38,313  | 86,210  |

3.08%

20–24  | 205,862  | 44,382  | 250,244  |

8.94%

25–29  | 352,616  | 92,515  | 445,131  |

15.90%

30–34  | 393,644  | 109,435  | 503,079  |

17.97%

35–39  | 319,713  | 89,034  | 408,747  |

14.60%

40–44  | 211,372  | 62,490  | 273,862  |

9.78%

45–49  | 145,216  | 39,577  | 184,793  |

6.60%

50–54  | 86,415  | 25,298  | 111,713  |

3.99%

55–59  | 51,306  | 16,530  | 67,836  |

2.42%

60–64  | 26,902  | 9,875  | 36,777  |

1.31%

65–69  | 10,744  | 5,365  | 16,109  |

0.58%

70–74  | 4,905  | 3,154  | 8,059  |

0.29%

75–79  | 2,703  | 2,031  | 4,734  |

0.17%

80+  | 1,828  | 1,645  | 3,473  |

0.12%

Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0–14  | 203,153  | 195,282  | 398,435  |

14.23%

15–64  | 1,840,943  | 527,449  | 2,368,392  |

84.61%

65+  | 20,180  | 12,195  | 32,375  |

1.16%

### Life expectancy

[edit]

Life expectancy at birth in Qatar Period  | Life expectancy in
Years  | Period  | Life expectancy in
Years

|
|
|

1950–1955  | 55.2  | 1985–1990  | 74.5
1955–1960  | 59.2  | 1990–1995  | 75.3
1960–1965  | 62.9  | 1995–2000  | 76.0
1965–1970  | 66.6  | 2000–2005  | 76.6
1970–1975  | 69.7  | 2005–2010  | 76.9
1975–1980  | 71.8  | 2010–2015  | 77.6
1980–1985  | 73.4  |  |
Source: UN World Population Prospects[23]

## Qatari people

[edit]

Main article: Qataris

Native Qataris can be divided into three ethnic groups: Bedouin Arabs, hadar, and Afro-Arab, which can be considered a sub-category of the hadar. Some of the hadar are of Iranian descent.[24] Qatari citizens comprise 11.6% of the country's population.[25]

### Citizenship

[edit]

Two distinctions exist between Qatari citizens: those whose families migrated to Qatar before 1930, commonly referred to as "native" Qataris, and "naturalized", those whose families arrived after. Previously, the 1961 citizenship law defined Qatari citizens as only those families who have been in the country since the 1930s,[26] though this was repealed in the 2005 citizenship law. In 2021, a law was signed by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani restricting the rights to vote in local elections to native citizens, leading to minor demonstrations and public disapproval. This led Al Thani to later announce that he would amend the law to allow all citizens to vote in future elections.[27]

Children of Qatari mothers and foreign fathers are not granted Qatari citizenship; however, as of 2018, they are granted permanent residency status, which entitles them to similar state benefits as Qatari citizens. Nonetheless, the government limits the number of permanency residency visas it issues each year.[28] The 2005 citizenship law allows for revocation of citizenship without appeal, which has been used on a number of families with dual citizenship.[29]

### Ethnic groups

[edit]

Qatar's population has been historically diverse due to its role as a trading center, a refuge for nomadic tribes, and a hub for the pearling industry. Ethnic groups and the differences among them are considered sensitive topics in Qatari society and are rarely discussed in official contexts.[26]

Bedouins, though constituting approximately 10 percent of the population, hold an outsized role in local culture. Many Qataris descend from tribes that migrated from Najd and Al-Hasa in the 18th century. Commonly called the bedu, they maintain ties, homes, and even passports in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. In the early 20th century, bedu migrated from the Arabian interior, with some traveling intermittently between Qatar and Bahrain. During the mid-20th century economic boom, many found work in the oil industry, police, army, and security services. The government settled Bedu families in the 1960s, discouraging the nomadic lifestyle. Today, many live in urban areas but return to the desert to stay connected to their roots. Many Bedu see themselves as noble and "pure" Arabs, often looking down on the settled population (hadar) as influenced by urban and Persian elements. Intermarriage between these groups is rare.[26]

The hadar, a diverse group of settled Qatari citizens, includes Baharna, Huwala, Ajam (Iranians), and Afro-Arabs. Baharna Arabs, a group native to Qatar and often practicing Shia Muslims, sometimes face discrimination from the Sunni majority. Huwala Arabs, who are Sunni Muslims, migrated through the Persian Gulf to Persia and back to Qatar. Historically wealthier and better educated due to trade and pearling, their advantage has diminished as education became more accessible. The Ajam, ethnic Shia Persians, were active in boat building and still speak Persian. Qatar’s Afro-Arab population descends from slaves brought from East Africa for the pearling industry. While some Arabs may view this group as "less" Qatari, most consider them full citizens. Despite occasional tensions, these groups are well integrated into Qatari society. Intermarriage is increasing, and Persian and African influences are evident in local culture.[26]

### Genetic studies

[edit]

A 2023 study focusing on the Y-chromosome, which is passed down paternally, analyzed DNA samples from 379 unrelated Qatari men to investigate their genetic heritage and connections to other populations in the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, and Africa. This research utilized 23 Y-STR markers, highly variable segments of DNA, to create genetic profiles and assess diversity within the Qatari male population.[30]

The study revealed a high level of genetic diversity within the Qatari male population, with the marker DYS458 showing the most variation. Analysis of these genetic markers allowed for the prediction of Y-chromosome haplogroups, which are branches on the human Y-chromosome phylogenetic tree. The most prevalent haplogroup found in the Qatari sample was J1, accounting for approximately 49% of the individuals tested. This haplogroup is known to be common in the Arabian Peninsula and is associated with populations of Semitic origin, particularly Arabic speakers. The prominence of J1 in Qatar, forming a "star-like expansion cluster" in genetic networks, suggests a significant ancestral component linked to the broader Arabian region and potentially a more recent population expansion. Other haplogroups found in notable frequencies included J2, R1a, E1b1b, E1b1a, T, and L.[30]

To understand Qatar's genetic placement within the region, the study compared Qatari Y-STR data with that of 38 other Middle Eastern populations. This analysis revealed that Qataris are genetically closest to Iraqi Arabs, followed by Saudi Arabian populations. Conversely, they showed the greatest genetic distance from groups like Kurdish Iraqis, Turkish populations from Dogukoy, and Palestinian Christian Arabs. These relationships were visualized using multidimensional scaling (MDS) plots, which graphically represent genetic distances between populations. The MDS analysis placed Qatar within a cluster of populations from the upper Arabian Peninsula, including Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine, suggesting shared genetic affinities within this broad geographical area. Further analysis using phylogenetic trees and population structure analysis (STRUCTURE) corroborated these findings, consistently grouping Qatar with Iraqi Arabs and highlighting its distinctiveness from other Arabian Peninsula populations in some analyses, while also showing broader connections within the Middle East.[30]

The study also investigated gene flow, or migration patterns, using Bayesian statistical methods. The analysis suggested that the primary migration route influencing the Qatari population was from Yemen to Kuwait, passing through Qatar. This finding aligns with a model of coastal migration within the Arabian Peninsula. While there was evidence of bidirectional migration between Qatar and neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and the UAE, the strongest signal pointed towards this Yemen-Kuwait axis. This genetic evidence supports historical understandings of tribal movements and trade routes along the Arabian Gulf coast.[30]

## Religions

[edit]

Main article: Religion in Qatar

Qatar is an Islamic state with multi-religious minorities like most of the Persian Gulf countries with waves of migration over the last 30 years. The official state religion is Sunni Islam. The community is made up of Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and small groups of Buddhists and Baha’is.[31] Muslims form 65.5% of the Qatari population, followed by Christians at 15.4%, Hindus at 14.2%, Buddhists at 3.3% and the rest 1.9% of the population follow other religions or are unaffiliated. Qatar is also home to numerous other religions mostly from the Middle East and Asia.[32]

## Languages

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### Arabic

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Main article: Qatari Arabic

Arabic is the official language of Qatar according to Article 1 of the Constitution.[33] Arabic in Qatar not only serves as a symbol of national identity but is also the medium of official communication, legislation, and education. The government has instituted policies to reinforce the use of Arabic, including the Arabic Language Protection Law enacted in 2019, which mandates the use of Arabic in governmental and public functions and penalizes non-compliance. Arabic speakers constitute a minority of the 2.8 million population, at around 11%.[34]

Qatari Arabic, a dialect of Gulf Arabic, is the primary dialect spoken. As the prestige dialect within the nation, Qatari Arabic not only functions in everyday communication but also plays a significant role in maintaining cultural identity and social cohesion among the Qatari people. The vocabulary of Qatari Arabic incorporates a plethora of loanwords from Aramaic, Persian, Turkish, and more recently, English. Phonetically, it conserves many classical Arabic features such as emphatic consonants and interdental sounds, which distinguish it from other Arabic dialects that have simplified these elements. Syntactically, Qatari Arabic exhibits structures that align with other Gulf dialects but with unique adaptations, such as specific verb forms and negation patterns.[35]

In Qatari Arabic, like many Arabic dialects, there is a significant phonological distinction between long and short vowels. This distinction is crucial for both pronunciation and meaning. Long vowels in Qatari Arabic are generally held for approximately twice the duration of their short counterparts. This length distinction can affect the meaning of words, making vowel length phonemically significant. Qatari Arabic typically includes five long vowels: /aː/, /eː/, /iː/, /oː/, and /uː/. These long vowels are integral to maintaining the clarity and meaning of words. Short vowels in Qatari Arabic are /a/, /u/, and /i/. These vowels are shorter in duration and can be less emphasized in casual speech. In some dialectical variations, short vowels may even be dropped entirely in certain environments, a process known as vowel reduction. This feature is common in rapid, informal speech and can lead to significant variations in pronunciation from the standard forms of the language. The distinction between long and short vowels in Qatari Arabic not only affects pronunciation but also plays a role in the grammatical structure of words, influencing verb conjugations, noun cases, and the definiteness of nouns through the use of the definite article /al-/.[35]

As English is considered the prestige lingua franca in Qatar, bilingual locals have incorporated elements of English into Qatari Arabic when communicating on an informal level. This mixture of English terms and phrases in Qatari Arabic speech is colloquially known as Qatarese.[36] The practice of interchanging English and Arabic words is known as code-switching and is mostly seen in urban areas and among the younger generation.[35]

As a result of mass migration, a South Asian pidgin form of Qatari Arabic has emerged in modern times.[35]

### English

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English is the de facto second language of Qatar, and is very commonly used in business. Because of Qatar's varied ethnic landscape, English has been recognized as the most convenient medium for people of different backgrounds to communicate with each other.[37] The history of English use in the country dates back to the mid-19th and early 20th centuries when the British Empire would frequently draft treaties and agreements with the emirates of the Persian Gulf. One such treaty was the 1916 protectorate treaty signed between Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani and the British representative Percy Cox, under which Qatar would be placed under British administration in exchange for protection. Another agreement drafted in English came in 1932 and was signed between the Qatarian government and the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. These agreements were mainly facilitated by foreign interpreters due to neither party possessing the required language skills for such complex arrangements. For instance, a translator and native Arabic speaker named A. A. Hilmy interpreted the 1932 agreement for Qatar.[38]

### French

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Despite Qatar's population comprising only 1% French speakers, the country was admitted to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie as an associate member in 2012. It was not required to join as an observer state prior to its full admittance.[39]

### Other languages

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Qatar's linguistic diversity is significantly shaped by its large expatriate population from South Asia  and the Philippines. The most common Asian languages among migrants are Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Hindi and Malayalam are particularly prevalent, with large communities of speakers from India. For example, Malayalam is spoken by a significant portion of the Indian community originating from the southern state of Kerala, who make up the majority of the country's Indian diaspora. Similarly, the widespread presence of languages such as Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu is attributed to a large portion of expatriates from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other parts of India.[34]

In 2015, there were more newspapers printed by the government in Malayalam than in Arabic or English.[40]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Qatar, the importance of these languages was particularly recognized in public health communications. The Qatari government utilized Asian languages extensively in its awareness campaigns to ensure that critical health information reached all population segments, including those who might not speak Arabic or English proficiently. This multilingual approach involved disseminating information through various channels such as radio, printed pamphlets, and digital media.[34]

## References

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1. ^ "Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics". Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
2. ^ "Population of Qatar by nationality – 2017 report". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
3. ^ "Four years of labour reforms in Qatar". www.ilo.org. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
4. ^ "Qatar Tourist Guide". Retrieved 15 February 2012.
5. ^ "Qatar Planning and Statistics Authority – Monthly Figures on Total Population".
6. ^ "Qatar Statistics Authority – Population 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
7. ^ World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Archived February 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ "Qatar: Events of 2019". Qatar. Human Rights Watch. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
9. ^ Pattison, Pete (19 December 2022). "This World Cup should be remembered for its racism. But Qatar is not the victim". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
10. ^ Camacho, Beatriz. "Culture and social etiquette in Qatar". Expatica. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
11. ^ "Qatar: Events of 2019". World Report 2020: Qatar. Human Rights Watch. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
12. ^ Jureidini, Ray (2014). "Executive Summary and Recommendations". Migrant Labour Recruitment to Qatar (PDF). Qatar Foundation. ISBN 978-9927-101-75-5.
13. ^ "Nepalese Migrant workers in Qatar from Terai". Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
14. ^ "Iom International Report claims half of Nepalese migrant workers in foreign are Madhesi people from Terai, mainly to Qatar, Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and UAE". Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
15. ^ "Half of madhesi people of Terai are in Qatar".
16. ^ "Turkish school in Qatar to help spread Turkish culture" (Archive). Today's Zaman. Wednesday February 29, 2012. Retrieved on September 26, 2015.
17. ^ "Population of Qatar by nationality in 2019". Priya DSouza Communications. 15 August 2019. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
18. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20221130070654/http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/ archived from the original
19. ^ World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Archived May 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
20. ^ [1] United nations. Demographic Yearbooks
21. ^ "Domains". Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015. Qatar Information Exchange]
22. ^ "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
23. ^ "World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations". Retrieved 15 July 2017.
24. ^ Carol R. Ember and Melvin Ember (2001). Countries and Their Cultures. Macmillan Reference USA. p. 1825\. ISBN 9780028649498.
25. ^ Folse, Mark R. (26 February 2020), "The United States Marine Corps", Military History, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/obo/9780199791279-0190, ISBN 978-0-19-979127-9, retrieved 11 February 2025
26. ^ a b c d "Qatar Cultural Field Guide" (PDF). Quantico, Virginia: United States Marine Corps. August 2010. pp. 21–24. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
27. ^ "Qatar: Freedom in the World Country Report". Freedom House. 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
28. ^ "Qatar: Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child". Human Rights Watch. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
29. ^ "Qatar: Families Arbitrarily Stripped of Citizenship". Freedom House. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
30. ^ a b c d Almohammed, Eida Khalaf; Hadi, Abdullah; Al-Asmakh, Maha; Lazim, Hayder (1 September 2023). "The Qatari population's genetic structure and gene flow as revealed by the Y chromosome". PLOS ONE. 18 (9): e0290844. Bibcode:2023PLoSO..1890844A. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0290844. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 10473524. PMID 37656680.
31. ^ "Qatar". rpl.hds.harvard.edu. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
32. ^ "Religious Composition by Country" (PDF). Global Religious Landscape. Pew Forum. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
33. ^ "Qatar's Constitution of 2003" (PDF). Constitute Project. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
34. ^ a b c Rizwan, Ahmad; Hillman, Sara (30 November 2020). "Laboring to communicate: Use of migrant languages in COVID-19 awareness campaign in Qatar". Multilingua. 40 (5). De Gruyter Mouton: 303–337\. doi:10.1515/multi-2020-0119. hdl:10576/25979. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
35. ^ a b c d Shockley, Mark Daniel (1 December 2020). The vowels of Urban Qatari Arabic (thesis). University of North Dakota. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
36. ^ "Qatari Arabic". Arabic Perfect. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
37. ^ The Report: Qatar 2015. Oxford Business Group. 2015. p. 12\. ISBN 9781910068274.
38. ^ Qotbah, Mohammed Abdullah (1990). Needs analysis and the design of courses in English for academic purposes : a study of the use of English language at the University of Qatar (PDF). etheses.dur.ac.uk (Thesis). Durham theses, Durham University. p. 8. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
39. ^ "AJC Stunned by Qatar's Admission to Francophonie Organization". Global Jewish Advocacy. 14 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
40. ^ The Report: Qatar 2015. Oxford Business Group. 2015. p. 15\. ISBN 9781910068274.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Ferdinand, Klaus (1993). Ida Nicolaisen (ed.). Bedouins of Qatar. London: Thames and Hudson. ISBN 9780500015735. OCLC 990430539.

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