Doha: The Permanent Population Committee (PPC) organized the Qatar Population Day 2025 event on Monday under the theme “Role of Youth in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.” HE Secretary-General of the National Planning Council (NPC) and Chairman of the PPC Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa inaugurated the event with a keynote address, warmly welcoming the attendees.
According to Qatar News Agency, in his remarks, he emphasized that investing in youth is not just a developmental choice but a core pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the State’s journey toward a diversified, knowledge- and innovation-driven economy. He underscored that youth are catalysts of change and architects of the future, Qatar’s true wealth, vital to building a prosperous and sustainable society that balances heritage with modernity and national competence with global openness.
His Excellency noted that the latest statistics indicate that youth under 25 make up about 11 percent of Qatar’s population, close to the global average of 15.6 percent. He emphasized, however, that Qatar stands out for its proactive efforts to develop young people’s potential and involve them in national development. He also highlighted that Qatar has recorded one of the lowest youth unemployment rates globally, remaining below 0.5 percent in 2024. This notable achievement contributed to its top-tier ranking among 181 countries in the Commonwealth Global Youth Development Index, highlighting Qatar’s leadership in empowering youth and investing in human capital.
His Excellency concluded: “In Qatar, we operate according to a clear vision that drives the transformation toward a high-performing government built on national competencies, innovation in public service delivery, and a culture of institutional excellence and results-based accountability. We firmly believe that Qatari youth are the cornerstone and primary drivers of this institutional transformation. They are the ones who will lead government development, turning challenges into opportunities and ambitions into achievements that advance the Sustainable Development Goals and the nation’s progress.”
On behalf of HE Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jammal said: “Under the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar attaches great importance to youth, seeing them not just as beneficiaries but as partners and primary drivers of development. This approach is reflected in the Qatar National Youth Policy, approved by the Council of Ministers in May 2023. From the very beginning through to its final approval, youth were involved in shaping the policy, ensuring it truly reflects their aspirations and priorities.”
His Excellency added: “Within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy, the Ministry of Sports and Youth has adopted an advanced institutional approach focused on transitioning youth from participation to influence, and from presence to leadership.”
The event continued with a recorded address by HE Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sub-regional Office for the GCC Countries, based in Muscat, Oman, Jocelyn Fenard. In his address, he highlighted that UNFPA’s work in the Arab region focuses on empowering youth, recognizing them as catalysts for change, key contributors to sustainable development, and stewards of our shared future. He emphasized that this demographic reality serves as a driving force in achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, reaffirming UNFPA’s commitment to working with Qatar, with youth, and for youth, to ensure they are equipped with the skills, opportunities, and platforms necessary to lead their communities toward a more prosperous, peaceful, and just future for all.
The Qatar Population Day 2025 event also featured a dedicated symposium entitled “Role of Youth in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.” The symposium addressed key topics, including youth and future skills, youth and social responsibility, and investing in youth. In addition, an illustrative film was presented, highlighting the overarching theme of Qatar Population Day 2025.
Following the sessions that addressed youth in Qatar and the discussions on the submitted papers, the recommendations proposed by participants were presented, including: coordinate efforts across government and private sector entities by establishing an Internal Partnerships Unit to oversee initiatives, set standards and indicators to measure the impact of youth initiatives, ensure their sustainability, and turn them into tangible benefits for society, enhance environmental education at all levels by integrating sustainability and climate change concepts into practical, interactive curricula, and connecting students with hands-on field projects, develop simplified training programs for youth in artificial intelligence, programming, and data science, regularly updated to keep pace with rapid advancements in these fields, foster the development of essential soft skills required for the professions of the future, strengthen partnerships with international organizations and global educational institutions to exch
ange experiences and leverage best practices in lifelong learning, training, and youth skills development, expand the establishment of vocational, technical, and specialized educational institutions, and integrate education with social responsibility to instill in future generations a strong culture of community service and contribution.