April population falls for first time in five years

By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter

For the first time in five years, the country's population fell in the month of April, according to figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning & Statistics.

While Qatar population was at the all-time high of 2,346,723 at the end of March this year, as per the latest ministerial data, the figure fell by a little more than 4,000 on April 30. The latest figure is 2,342,725.

However, the latest figure shows the women's population is at an all-time high of 583,334, which was 960 more than the previous highest of 582,374, recorded on March 31 this year.

A close look at the figures released by the ministry has found that it is for the first time in five years that the country's total population fell in the month of April.

Usually, every year the country's population starts falling from the end of May to September. Usually it increases in the months between October and April (including both months).

The figures between 2011 and 2014 showed there was a rise in population every April compared to March. While there were 1, 678,833 people in March 2011, the number rose to 1,692,262 next month.

In March 2012, the population stood at 1,773,554. However, the next month saw an addition of nearly 19,000 people as the figure reached 1,792,134.

In April 2013, the figures reached 1,944,953 against the previous month's 1,920,798.

Similarly, there was an increase of nearly 11,000 in April last year compared to the previous month. While there were 2,144,101 people in March, the figure reached 2,155,446 in April.

However, in 2010, there was a population fall of nearly 7,000 in April compared to the previous month. In March, the figure was 1,677, 045, which rose to 1,677,045 next month.