The population of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries increased to 57.6 million in 2023, up from 56.6 million in 2022. Males constituted 62.4% of the population, while females accounted for 37.6%. Population density averaged 23.9 people per square kilometer, with the GCC countries covering a total area of 2.4 million square kilometers.
Workforce and Demographics
- Workforce: Approximately 33.1 million people were employed across the GCC in 2023, compared to 30.3 million in 2022.
- Working-age population: 45 million people aged 15 and above were recorded in 2023.
Marriage and Divorce
- Marriage rate: 4.7 contracts per 1,000 people aged 15+ in 2022.
- Divorce rate: 1.8 cases per 1,000 people in the same age group.
Education
- Early childhood education: 712,400 students in nurseries and kindergartens (2021–2022).
- School enrollment: 8.9 million students across the GCC in the same academic year.
Healthcare
- Hospitals: The GCC had 843 government hospitals in 2022, accounting for 58.4% of the total, while private hospitals made up 41.6%.
- Hospital beds: 122,100 beds, with 74.6% in government facilities and 25.4% in private ones.
- Healthcare professionals: 29.6 physicians and 61.2 nurses per 10,000 residents in 2022.
Water and Environmental Statistics
- Rainfall: Rainfall across the GCC rose by 18.8% from 2000 to 2022, totaling 214.1 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Desalinated water: Production grew by 9.0% annually during the same period.
- Water usage: 1.4 billion cubic meters of treated water were used for irrigation, and 3.7 billion cubic meters of surface water were recorded in 2022.
- Wastewater treatment: The number of treatment plants increased by 10.1% compared to 2021.
Trade and Economy
- Trade volume: GCC trade totaled $1.482 trillion in 2023.
- Commodity exports: $823.1 billion, with national oil exports accounting for 63.8%, non-oil exports 19.3%, and re-exports 16.9%.
- Intra-GCC exports: Valued at $131.6 billion.
- Nominal GDP: Stood at $2.113 trillion in 2023, reflecting a 3.5% decline from 2022.
- Inflation rate: Averaged 2.2% in 2023.
Tourism
- Tourist numbers: 68.1 million visitors traveled to the GCC in 2023.
- Hospitality: The region had 10,900 hotel establishments offering 696,600 rooms.
Telecommunications
- Fixed phone lines: 5.5 million subscriptions in 2023.
- Mobile subscriptions: Reached 94.9 million.
Statistical Publications
The GCC Statistical Centre unveiled the ninth edition of the Atlas of GCC Statistics for 2024, emphasizing the importance of accurate data for planning and development. Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi, GCC Secretary-General, highlighted the role of statistics in driving joint Gulf cooperation, while Intisar bint Abdullah Al Wahibiah, Director-General of the Centre, noted the Atlas’s significance in geographic information systems.
These statistics underscore the GCC’s ongoing efforts in economic growth, food security, sustainability, and infrastructure development.
