Net migration in Qatar
Qatar: Net migration was 36,288 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Qatar, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Qatar is 36,288, measured in 2025.
The figure is 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.
Qatar ranks 25th of 218 countries on this measure, 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 843, 43.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Qatar's 36,288 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -581. (23 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 financial sector data for Qatar
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 8.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 88.27 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0009 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 64.45 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 8.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0012 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 88.27 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 3.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Qatar?
- Net migration in Qatar was 36,288 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- 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 25th out of 218 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 World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.