Editing Demographics of Qatar

{{Short description|Statistical data relating to the population of Qatar}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox place demographics
| place              = [[Qatar]]
| image              = File:QatarPP.png
| image_size         = 350
| caption            = Population pyramid of Qatar in 2024
| size_of_population = 2,937,800 (2022 est.)
| nation             = Qatari
| official           = Arabic
| age_0–14_years     = 14.23%
| age_15–64_years    = 84.61%
| age_65_years       = 1.16%
| growth             = 1.04% (2022 est.)
| birth              = 9.33 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
| death              = 1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
| net_migration      = 2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
| sr_at_birth        = 1.02 male(s)/female
| sr_under_15        = 1.02 male(s)/female
| sr_65_years_over   = 1.13 male(s)/female
| total_mf_ratio     = 3.36 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
| infant_mortality   = 6.62 deaths/1,000 live births
| life               = 79.81 years
| life_male          = 77.7 years
| life_female        = 81.96 years (2022 est.)
| fertility          = 1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
}}

Natives of the [[Arabian Peninsula]], many [[Qataris]] ({{langx|ar|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-Ahsa Oasis|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.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mdps.gov.qa/en/statistics1/StatisticsSite/Pages/Population.aspx
|access-date=2017-02-07
|title=Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics
|archive-date=26 June 2018
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135815/https://www.mdps.gov.qa/en/statistics1/StatisticsSite/Pages/Population.aspx
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> [[Foreign worker]]s amount to around 88% of the population, the largest of which comprise [[South Asia]]ns, with those from [[India]] alone estimated to be around 700,000.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/
|access-date=2017-02-07
|title=Population of Qatar by nationality – 2017 report
|archive-date=22 November 2018
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122162153/http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> [[Egyptians]] and [[Filipinos]] are the largest non-South Asian migrant group in Qatar. The treatment of these foreign workers has been heavily criticized with [[Human rights in Qatar#Slavery|conditions]] suggested to be [[Slavery in the 21st century #Forced migrant labor|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-01 |title=Four years of labour reforms in Qatar |url=http://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/qatar/qatar-office/WCMS_859880/lang--en/index.htm |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=www.ilo.org |language=en}}</ref>

[[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 language|Arabic]] is the official language and [[English language|English]] is the [[lingua franca]] of business. [[Hindi]]-[[Urdu language|Urdu]] and [[Bengali Language|Malayalam]] are among the most widely spoken languages by the foreign workers.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.onlineqatar.com/info/tourist-info.aspx
|access-date=2012-02-15
|title=Qatar Tourist Guide}}</ref> Education in Qatar is compulsory and free for all citizens 6–16 years old. The country has an increasingly high literacy rate.

==Population==
{{Historical populations
|title       = 1986–2023
|align       = left|clear=none
|shading     = off
|percentages = pagr
|1986 |369079
|1997 |522023
|2004 |744029
|2010 |1699435
|2015 |2404776
|2020 |2846118
|2023 |3063005
|footnote = Source: [[Qatar Statistics Authority]]<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.psa.gov.qa/en/statistics1/StatisticsSite/pages/population.aspx?p=1| title = Qatar Planning and Statistics Authority – Monthly Figures on Total Population}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.qsa.gov.qa/eng/publication/annabs/2012/1_Population2012.pdf| title = Qatar Statistics Authority – Population 2012| access-date = 8 August 2013| archive-date = 14 May 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140514065333/http://www.qsa.gov.qa/eng/publication/annabs/2012/1_Population2012.pdf| url-status = dead}}</ref>
}}
{{Historical populations
|title=1950–2010
|align=left|clear=none
|shading=off
|percentages = pagr
|1950|25000
|1960|47000
|1970|108000
|1980|222000
|1990|474000
|2000|591000
|2010|1759000
|footnote = Source: United Nations<ref>[http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/unpp/Panel_profiles.htm World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228065810/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/unpp/Panel_profiles.htm |date=February 28, 2013 }}</ref>
}}
{{clear left}}

==Foreigners==
[[File:Construction laborers having an on the job meeting in Onaiza Qatar.jpg|thumb|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.<ref>{{cite book |title=Qatar |chapter=Qatar: Events of 2019 |date=12 December 2019 |chapter-url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/qatar |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref> [[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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pattison|first1=Pete|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/dec/19/this-world-cup-should-be-remembered-for-its-racism-but-qatar-is-not-the-victim|title=This World Cup should be remembered for its racism. But Qatar is not the victim|work=The Guardian|date=19 December 2022|accessdate=4 May 2024}}</ref> Socialization between foreigners and Qataris faces limitations due to language barriers and different religious and cultural customs.<ref name="expatica">{{cite web|last1=Camacho|first1=Beatriz|url=https://www.expatica.com/qa/living/integration/culture-and-social-etiquette-in-qatar-70936/|title=Culture and social etiquette in Qatar|publisher=Expatica|accessdate=4 May 2024}}</ref>

The [[Human rights in Qatar|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.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/qatar#:~:text=Qatar%20has%20a%20migrant%20labor,another%20100%2C000%20are%20domestic%20workers.|title=World Report 2020: Qatar|chapter=Qatar: Events of 2019 |date=12 December 2019 |publisher=Human Rights Watch|accessdate=4 May 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Jureidini|first1=Ray|url=https://www.qscience.com/docserver/fulltext/migrant_labour_recruitment_to_qatar_web_final.pdf?expires=1665482663&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=C9DF5F994160EFE41252627025A24608|title=Migrant Labour Recruitment to Qatar|chapter=Executive Summary and Recommendations|isbn=978-9927-101-75-5|year=2014|publisher=Qatar Foundation}}</ref>

===By nationality===
A 2011–2014 report by the [[International Organization for Migration]] recorded 176,748 [[Nepali people|Nepali Citizen]]s living in [[Qatar]] as migrant workers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nepal.iom.int/jupgrade/index.php/en/press-room/18-topic-details/115-art-latest-news-28|title=Nepalese Migrant workers in Qatar from Terai|access-date=4 May 2016|archive-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129113132/http://nepal.iom.int/jupgrade/index.php/en/press-room/18-topic-details/115-art-latest-news-28|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://nepal.iom.int/jupgrade/index.php/en/press-room/18-topic-details/115-art-latest-news-28|title= 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|access-date= 4 May 2016|archive-date= 29 November 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181129113132/http://nepal.iom.int/jupgrade/index.php/en/press-room/18-topic-details/115-art-latest-news-28|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://nepalitimes.com/regular-columns/Comment/time-for-madhesi-people-to-know-real-friends,595|title=Half of madhesi people of Terai are in Qatar}}</ref> In 2012 about 7,000 Turkish nationals lived in Qatar<ref>"[http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_turkish-school-in-qatar-to-help-spread-turkish-culture_272917.html Turkish school in Qatar to help spread Turkish culture]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150926174720/http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_turkish-school-in-qatar-to-help-spread-turkish-culture_272917.html Archive]). ''[[Today's Zaman]]''. Wednesday February 29, 2012. Retrieved on September 26, 2015.</ref> 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:<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-15|title=Population of Qatar by nationality in 2019|url=http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/|access-date=2021-11-21|website=Priya DSouza Communications|language=en-GB|archive-date=22 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122162153/http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable centre"
|-
! scope="row" | Country || Number || percent
|-
|{{IND}} || 700,000 || {{percentage bar|21.8}}
|-
|{{QAT}} || 600,000 || {{percentage bar|18.7}}
|-
|{{BAN}} || 400,000 || {{percentage bar|12.5}}
|-
|{{NEP}} || 400,000 || {{percentage bar|12.5}}
|-
|{{EGY}} || 300,000 || {{percentage bar|9.35}}
|-
|{{PHI}} || 236,000 || {{percentage bar|7.36}}
|-
|{{PAK}} || 180,000 || {{percentage bar|4.7}}
|-
|{{SRI}} || 140,000 || {{percentage bar|4.35}}
|-
|{{SUD}} || 60,000 || {{percentage bar|1.9}}
|-
|{{SYR}} || 54,000 || {{percentage bar|1.8}}
|-
|{{JOR}} || 51,000 || {{percentage bar|1.6}}
|-
|{{LBN}} || 40,000 || {{percentage bar|1.25}}
|-
|{{United States}} || 40,000 || {{percentage bar|1.25}}
|-
|{{KEN}} || 30,000 || {{percentage bar|1}}
|-
|{{IRN}} || 30,000 || {{percentage bar|1}}
|}

Another firm has given estimations from countries' embassies:<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20221130070654/http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/ archived from [http://priyadsouza.com/population-of-qatar-by-nationality-in-2017/ the original] </ref>

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

==Statistics==

===UN estimates===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
! width="70pt"|Period
! width="70pt"|Live births per year
! width="70pt"|Deaths per year
! width="70pt"|Natural change per year
! width="70pt"|CBR*
! width="70pt"|CDR*
! width="70pt"|NC*
! width="70pt"|TFR*
! width="70pt"|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
|-
|align="left" colspan="9" | * <small> 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)</small>
|-
| colspan="9" style="text-align: center;" | '''Source:'''<ref>[http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506065230/http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/index.htm |date=May 6, 2011 }}</ref>
|}

===Registered births and deaths===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
|-
!
! width="70pt"|Average population 
! width="70pt"|Live births
! width="70pt"|Deaths
! width="70pt"|Natural change
! width="70pt"|Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude death rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Natural change (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|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
|25,443||2,366||23,007
|11.5||1.1||10.4||2.00
|-
| 2015
|2,438,000
|26,622||2,317||24,305
|10.9||1.0||9.9||2.00
|-
| 2016
|2,618,000
|26,816||2,347||24,469
|10.2||0.9||9.3||1.85
|-
| 2017
|2,725,000
|27,906||2,294||25,612
|10.2||0.8||9.4||1.83
|-
| 2018
|2,760,000
|28,069||2,385||25,684
|10.2||0.9||9.3||1.75
|- 
| 2019
|2,799,000
|28,412||2,200||26,212
|10.2||0.8||9.4||1.73
|- 
| 2020
|2,834,000
|29,014||2,811||26,203
|10.2||1.0||9.2||1.67
|- 
| 2021
|2,748,000
|26,319||2,841||23,478
|9.6||1.0||8.5||1.60
|- 
| 2022
|2,932,000
|26,316||2,792||23,524
|9.0||1.0||8.0||1.51
|- 
| 2023
|3,063,000
|27,414||2,651||24,763
| 9.0|| 0.9|| 8.1||
|- 
|colspan="9" style="text-align: center;" |'''Sources:'''<ref>[http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm#2001] United nations. Demographic Yearbooks</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.qix.gov.qa/portal/page/portal/qix/subject_area?subject_area=176 |title=Domains |access-date=2015-06-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701123930/http://www.qix.gov.qa/portal/page/portal/qix/subject_area?subject_area=176 |archive-date=2015-07-01 }} Qatar Information Exchange]</ref>
|}

===Population by sex and age group===
(01.VII.2019):<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/dyb_2020/ | title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 2,064,276
| align="right" | 734,926
| align="right" | 2,799,202
| {{percentage bar|100}}
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 74,902
| align="right" | 71,724
| align="right" | 146,626
| {{percentage bar|5.24}}
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 71,614 
| align="right" | 69,267
| align="right" | 140,881
| {{percentage bar|5.03}}
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 56,637
| align="right" | 54,291
| align="right" | 110,928
| {{percentage bar|3.96}}
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 47,897
| align="right" | 38,313
| align="right" | 86,210
| {{percentage bar|3.08}}
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 205,862
| align="right" | 44,382
| align="right" | 250,244
| {{percentage bar|8.94}}
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 352,616
| align="right" | 92,515
| align="right" | 445,131
| {{percentage bar|15.90}}
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 393,644
| align="right" | 109,435
| align="right" | 503,079
| {{percentage bar|17.97}}
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 319,713
| align="right" | 89,034
| align="right" | 408,747
| {{percentage bar|14.60}}
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 211,372
| align="right" | 62,490
| align="right" | 273,862
| {{percentage bar|9.78}}
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 145,216
| align="right" | 39,577
| align="right" | 184,793
| {{percentage bar|6.60}}
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 86,415
| align="right" | 25,298
| align="right" | 111,713
| {{percentage bar|3.99}}
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 51,306
| align="right" | 16,530
| align="right" | 67,836
| {{percentage bar|2.42}}
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 26,902
| align="right" | 9,875
| align="right" | 36,777
| {{percentage bar|1.31}}
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 10,744
| align="right" | 5,365
| align="right" | 16,109
| {{percentage bar|0.58}}
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 4,905
| align="right" | 3,154
| align="right" | 8,059
| {{percentage bar|0.29}}
|-
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 2,703
| align="right" | 2,031
| align="right" | 4,734
| {{percentage bar|0.17}}
|-
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 1,828
| align="right" | 1,645
| align="right" | 3,473
| {{percentage bar|0.12}}
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 203,153
| align="right" | 195,282
| align="right" | 398,435
| {{percentage bar|14.23}}
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 1,840,943
| align="right" | 527,449
| align="right" | 2,368,392
| {{percentage bar|84.61}}
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 20,180
| align="right" | 12,195
| align="right" | 32,375
| {{percentage bar|1.16}}
|}

=== Life expectancy ===
[[File:Life expectancy by WBG -Qatar -diff.png|thumb|300px|[[Life expectancy at birth]] in Qatar]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Period
!Life expectancy in<br />Years
!Period
!Life expectancy in<br />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
|
|
|-
| colspan="4" style="text-align: center;" |Source: ''UN World Population Prospects''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|title=World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations|access-date=2017-07-15}}</ref>
|}

==Qatari people==
{{Main|Qataris}}
Native Qataris can be divided into three ethnic groups: [[Bedouin|Bedouin Arabs]], ''hadar'', and [[Afro-Arab]], which can be considered a sub-category of the hadar. Some of the hadar are of Iranian descent.<ref>{{cite book |author=Carol R. Ember and Melvin Ember |title=Countries and Their Cultures |url= |location= |publisher=Macmillan Reference USA |page=1825 |date=2001 |isbn=9780028649498}}</ref> Qatari citizens comprise 11.6% of the country's population.<ref>{{Citation |last=Folse |first=Mark R. |title=The United States Marine Corps |date=2020-02-26 |work=Military History |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199791279-0190 |access-date=2025-02-11 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/obo/9780199791279-0190 |isbn=978-0-19-979127-9}}</ref>

===Citizenship===
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,<ref name="marine1"/> though this was repealed in the 2005 [[Qatari nationality law|citizenship law]]. In 2021, a law was signed by Emir [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani]] restricting the rights to vote in [[Consultative Assembly of Qatar|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/qatar/freedom-world/2024|title=Qatar: Freedom in the World Country Report|publisher=Freedom House|year=2024|accessdate=28 May 2024}}</ref> 

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/02/15/qatar-submission-un-committee-rights-child|title=Qatar: Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child|publisher=Human Rights Watch|date=15 February 2023|accessdate=29 May 2024}}</ref> The 2005 citizenship law allows for [[Denaturalization|revocation of citizenship]] without appeal, which has been used on a number of families with [[dual citizenship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/05/12/qatar-families-arbitrarily-stripped-citizenship|title=Qatar: Families Arbitrarily Stripped of Citizenship|publisher=Freedom House|date=12 May 2019|accessdate=28 May 2024}}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
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 [[Pearl diving|pearling]] industry. Ethnic groups and the differences among them are considered sensitive topics in Qatari society and are rarely discussed in official contexts.<ref name="marine1">{{cite web|url=https://info.publicintelligence.net/MCIA-QatarCultureGuide.pdf|title=Qatar Cultural Field Guide|publisher=[[United States Marine Corps]]|location=[[Quantico, Virginia]]|pages=21–24|date=August 2010|accessdate=28 May 2024}}</ref>

[[Bedouin]]s, 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-Ahsa Oasis|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 [[Energy in Qatar|oil industry]], [[Law enforcement in Qatar|police]], [[Army of Qatar|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 people|Persian]] elements. [[Interethnic marriage|Intermarriage]] between these groups is rare.<ref name="marine1"/>

The ''hadar'', a diverse group of settled Qatari citizens, includes [[Baharna]], [[Huwala people|Huwala]], [[Ajam]] (Iranians), and [[Afro-Arabs]]. Baharna Arabs, a group native to Qatar and often practicing [[Shia Islam|Shia Muslims]], sometimes face discrimination from the [[Sunni Islam|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 language|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.<ref name="marine1"/>

=== Genetic studies ===
A 2023 study focusing on the [[Y chromosome|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 [[List of Y-STR markers|23 Y-STR markers]], highly variable segments of DNA, to create genetic profiles and assess diversity within the Qatari male population.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Almohammed |first1=Eida Khalaf |last2=Hadi |first2=Abdullah |last3=Al-Asmakh |first3=Maha |last4=Lazim |first4=Hayder |date=2023-09-01 |title=The Qatari population's genetic structure and gene flow as revealed by the Y chromosome |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=18 |issue=9 |pages=e0290844 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0290844 |doi-access=free |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=10473524 |pmid=37656680|bibcode=2023PLoSO..1890844A }}</ref>

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 [[Haplogroup|haplogroups]], which are branches on the human Y-chromosome [[phylogenetic tree]]. The most prevalent haplogroup found in the Qatari sample was [[Haplogroup J-M267|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 [[Haplogroup J-M172|J2]], [[Haplogroup R1a|R1a]], [[Haplogroup E-M215|E1b1b]], [[Haplogroup E-V38|E1b1a]], [[Haplogroup T-M184|T]], and [[Macro-haplogroup L|L]].<ref name=":0" />

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 [[Iraqis|Iraqi Arabs]], followed by [[Saudis|Saudi Arabian]] populations.  Conversely, they showed the greatest genetic distance from groups like [[Kurdish population|Kurdish Iraqis]], [[Turkish population|Turkish populations]] from Dogukoy, and [[Palestinian Christians|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.<ref name=":0" />

The study also investigated gene flow, or migration patterns, using [[Bayesian statistical analysis|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 [[United Arab Emirates|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.<ref name=":0" />

==Religions==
{{Main|Religion in Qatar}}
Qatar is an Islamic state with multi-religious minorities like most of the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|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 Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shi’a]] [[Islam in Qatar|Muslims]], [[Christianity in Qatar|Christians]], [[Hindus]], and small groups of [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] and [[Baháʼí Faith|Baha’is]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qatar |url=https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/religion-context/country-profiles/qatar |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=rpl.hds.harvard.edu |language=en}}</ref> [[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]].<ref name=pewrel>{{cite web|title=Religious Composition by Country|url=http://www.pewforum.org/uploadedFiles/Topics/Religious_Affiliation/globalReligion-tables.pdf|work=Global Religious Landscape|publisher=Pew Forum|access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref>

==Languages==
===Arabic===
{{Main|Qatari Arabic}}
[[Arabic language|Arabic]] is the official language of Qatar according to Article 1 of the [[Constitution of Qatar|Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Qatar_2003.pdf?lang=en|title=Qatar's Constitution of 2003|publisher=Constitute Project|access-date=14 February 2019}}</ref> 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%.<ref name="ahmad1">{{cite journal|first1=Ahmad|last1=Rizwan|last2=Hillman|first2=Sara|url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/multi-2020-0119/html|title=Laboring to communicate: Use of migrant languages in COVID-19 awareness campaign in Qatar|journal=Multilingua|volume=40|issue=5|publisher=De Gruyter Mouton|pages=303–337|doi=10.1515/multi-2020-0119|date=30 November 2020|accessdate=11 May 2024|hdl=10576/25979|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

[[Qatari Arabic]], a dialect of [[Gulf Arabic]], is the primary dialect spoken. As the [[Prestige (sociolinguistics)|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 language|Persian]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and more recently, [[English language|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.<ref name="shockley">{{cite thesis|last1=Shockley|first1=Mark Daniel|url=https://commons.und.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4391&context=theses|title=The vowels of Urban Qatari Arabic |publisher=University of North Dakota|type=thesis|date=1 December 2020|accessdate=11 May 2024}}</ref>

In Qatari Arabic, like many Arabic dialects, there is a significant phonological distinction between long and short [[vowel]]s. 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: {{IPA|/aː/}}, {{IPA|/eː/}}, {{IPA|/iː/}}, {{IPA|/oː/}}, and {{IPA|/uː/}}. These long vowels are integral to maintaining the clarity and meaning of words. Short vowels in Qatari Arabic are {{IPA|/a/}}, {{IPA|/u/}}, and {{IPA|/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 (grammar)|article]] /al-/.<ref name="shockley"/>

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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arabic-perfect.com/arabic-translations/qatari-arabic/|title=Qatari Arabic|publisher=Arabic Perfect|accessdate=11 May 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref name="shockley"/>

As a result of mass migration, a South Asian [[pidgin]] form of Qatari Arabic has emerged in modern times.<ref name="shockley"/>

===English===
[[English language|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.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKnhDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|title=The Report: Qatar 2015|publisher=Oxford Business Group|year=2015|page=12|isbn=9781910068274}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite thesis|url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1505/1/1505.pdf|author=Qotbah, Mohammed Abdullah|title=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|year=1990|publisher=Durham theses, Durham University|website=etheses.dur.ac.uk|page=8|access-date=14 February 2019}}</ref>

===French===
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=7oJILSPwFfJSG&b=8479733&ct=12488349|title=AJC Stunned by Qatar's Admission to Francophonie Organization|publisher=Global Jewish Advocacy|date=14 October 2012|access-date=13 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193813/http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=7oJILSPwFfJSG&b=8479733&ct=12488349|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Other languages===
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 language|Hindi]], [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Malayalam language|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.<ref name="ahmad1"/>

In 2015, there were more newspapers printed by the government in Malayalam than in Arabic or English.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKnhDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA12|title=The Report: Qatar 2015|publisher=Oxford Business Group|year=2015|page=15|isbn=9781910068274}}</ref>

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.<ref name="ahmad1"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Ferdinand |first=Klaus |year=1993 |title=Bedouins of Qatar |editor=Ida Nicolaisen |location=London |publisher=Thames and Hudson |isbn=9780500015735 |oclc=990430539}}

{{Demographics of Qatar}}
{{Qatar topics}}
{{Asia in topic|Demographics of}}

[[Category:Demographics of Qatar| ]]