GCC population to grow by 30pc by 2020, says study

The Gulf region’s population is expected to grow by 30 percent in 11 years, hitting the 53 million mark by 2020, a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said. The majority of the region’s population will be below 25 years old.

“The rapid growth and the relative youth of the population present serious challenges as well as major opportunities,” said Jane Kinninmont, author of The GCC in 2020: The Gulf and its People. The report was sponsored by Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFC).

She added that the growth in population will raise “significant questions related to labor and immigration policies, the role of women, and the adequacy of infrastructure and public services”.

“The GCC has one of the youngest populations in the world, and the future development of the region ultimately depends on the success of efforts to educate and employ these young people.” Kinninmont said. “We see dramatic changes underway in the structure of the workforce, with an increasing number of educated women now keen to have careers. However, dependence on expatriate labor is likely to continue in the long term.”