Net migration (UNICEF) in Qatar
Qatar: Net migration was 36,288 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
36,288
Change on year
down 21.3%
World rank
16th
of 74 countries
All-time high
245,703
in 2007
All-time low
-50,433
in 2020
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Qatar, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Qatar stood at 36,288.
That represents a change of down 21.3% on the previous year and down 79.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Qatar peaked at 245,703 in 2007 and was at its lowest, -50,433, in 2020.
That places Qatar 16th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Qatar, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,586 | — |
| 1961 | 3,186 | +100.9% |
| 1962 | 3,773 | +18.4% |
| 1963 | 4,283 | +13.5% |
| 1964 | 4,686 | +9.4% |
| 1965 | 5,083 | +8.5% |
| 1966 | 5,880 | +15.7% |
| 1967 | 6,637 | +12.9% |
| 1968 | 7,266 | +9.5% |
| 1969 | 7,790 | +7.2% |
| 1970 | 10,579 | +35.8% |
| 1971 | 10,644 | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 10,663 | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 10,641 | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 10,603 | -0.4% |
| 1975 | 10,549 | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 10,494 | -0.5% |
| 1977 | 10,445 | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 10,434 | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 10,466 | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 10,540 | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 10,644 | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 10,634 | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 10,462 | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 10,113 | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 9,797 | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 6,512 | -33.5% |
| 1987 | 5,405 | -17.0% |
| 1988 | 5,118 | -5.3% |
| 1989 | 5,045 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 5,216 | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 5,562 | +6.6% |
| 1992 | 5,670 | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 5,670 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 5,660 | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 5,634 | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 5,517 | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 19,547 | +254.3% |
| 1998 | 22,618 | +15.7% |
| 1999 | 22,815 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 22,769 | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 22,456 | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 22,356 | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 22,234 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 12,531 | -43.6% |
| 2005 | 68,993 | +450.6% |
| 2006 | 204,236 | +196.0% |
| 2007 | 245,703 | +20.3% |
| 2008 | 165,572 | -32.6% |
| 2009 | 123,217 | -25.6% |
| 2010 | 90,620 | -26.5% |
| 2011 | 77,228 | -14.8% |
| 2012 | 77,091 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 133,520 | +73.2% |
| 2014 | 194,712 | +45.8% |
| 2015 | 177,467 | -8.9% |
| 2016 | 119,725 | -32.5% |
| 2017 | 46,719 | -61.0% |
| 2018 | 12,465 | -73.3% |
| 2019 | 10,557 | -15.3% |
| 2020 | -50,433 | -577.7% |
| 2021 | 24,501 | -148.6% |
| 2022 | 80,004 | +226.5% |
| 2023 | 39,995 | -50.0% |
| 2024 | 46,105 | +15.3% |
| 2025 | 36,288 | -21.3% |
Qatar compared with similar countries
- Qatar's 36,288 is above the median for high income countries, which is 9,502, 3.8× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 36,288 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -376.5. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Qatar changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -577.7% | 10,557 | -50,433 |
| 2005 | +450.6% | 12,531 | 68,993 |
| 1997 | +254.3% | 5,517 | 19,547 |
| 2022 | +226.5% | 24,501 | 80,004 |
| 2006 | +196.0% | 68,993 | 204,236 |
| 2021 | +148.6% | -50,433 | 24,501 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5,017 | 1,586 | 7,790 | 10 |
| 1970s | 10,552 | 10,434 | 10,663 | 10 |
| 1980s | 8,427 | 5,045 | 10,644 | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,391 | 5,216 | 22,815 | 10 |
| 2000s | 91,007 | 12,531 | 245,703 | 10 |
| 2010s | 94,010 | 10,557 | 194,712 | 10 |
| 2020s | 29,410 | -50,433 | 80,004 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Qatar
More population data for Qatar
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 3,358 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.6093 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1246 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 1.01 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 1.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 461,134 people (2100)
- Population density 632.92 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 1.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.9698 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Qatar?
- Net migration in Qatar was 36,288 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Qatar?
- The highest recorded value was 245,703 in 2007.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Qatar?
- The lowest recorded value was -50,433 in 2020.
- How does Qatar rank for net migration?
- Qatar ranks 16th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Qatar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 79.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Qatar data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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