Languages spoken in Qatar
Asia · Capital: Doha · Population 3.2 million
The official language of Qatar is Arabic. An estimated 89% of the population speaks it as a first or additional language, or roughly 2.8 million people. The only other recorded language is Persian, at 11% of the population. Arabic belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family. Arabic is also spoken in one of its one neighbour: Saudi Arabia. In total, two languages are recorded in Qatar, and their shares add up to 100% of the population, which implies the average resident speaks about 1.0 of them.
What languages are spoken in Qatar?
| Language | Share of population | Status | Estimated speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArabicAfro-Asiatic | 89% | Official | 2.8 million |
| PersianIndo-European | 11% | Spoken | 349,033 |
Percentages are the share of the population that speaks each language, including as a second language, so they add up to well over 100% in multilingual countries. Speaker counts are estimates derived from the percentage and the country's population, not counted figures.
What is the official language of Qatar?
The official language of Qatar is Arabic. Arabic is spoken by an estimated 89% of the population, or roughly 2.8 million people, counting both first-language and additional speakers.
Official status comes from Unicode CLDR. It distinguishes languages that are official nationwide, those used as de facto official without being named in law, and those official only in particular regions or territories.
How many people speak Arabic in Qatar?
An estimated 89% of Qatar's 3.2 million people speak Arabic, which works out at roughly 2.8 million speakers. That figure is derived from the population and the reported share, and it counts second-language speakers, so it is an estimate rather than a census count.
Key facts about Qatar
- Capital
- Doha
- Population
- 3.2 million
- Continent
- Asia
- Area
- 11,586 km²
- Currency
- QAR
- Languages recorded
- 2
- Land borders
- 1
- ISO codes
- QA / QAT / 634
Which countries border Qatar?
Qatar shares a land border with one country: Saudi Arabia. Arabic, the most widely spoken language in Qatar, is also spoken in Saudi Arabia.
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Language shares, population, and official status: Unicode CLDR. Capital, area, borders, and currency: mledoze/countries (ODbL 1.0). Flag image: flagcdn.com. Speaker counts are estimates derived from population and reported share.