The total number of students in Qatar is expected to increase by over 48,000, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.2% to 0.48mn by 2029 from 0.43mn in 2024, according to Alpen Capital.
Tertiary education is slated to expand at a faster pace, with a CAGR of 3.1% over the same period; while its GER (gross enrolment ratio) is anticipated to rise from 38.6% in 2024 to 41.1% in 2029, Alpen Capital said in its latest report.
The pre-primary segment is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.5%, with the GER reaching 51.3% by 2029; it said, adding the number of primary and secondary students is expected to increase at a CAGR of 2.0% each from 2024 to 2029.
The GER for primary and secondary is projected to remain high and reach 95.6% and 107.6%, respectively, by 2029, according to the report.
Highlighting that the total number of enrolments in K-12 schools is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.1% from 2024 to 2029; it said enrolment in K-12 public schools is projected to increase at a CAGR of 1.9%, while private school enrolment is expected to grow at a slightly higher CAGR of 2.2% over the same period.
Finding that the GDP (gross domestic product) per capita, based on PPP or purchasing power parity, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2024 to 2029; it said the increase in per capita income is expected to drive a higher demand for quality education as families seek better educational opportunities for their children.
The Qatari education sector is expected to benefit from the MoEHE (Ministry of Education and Higher Education) Strategy 2024-30, which is aligned with the goals of the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.
This strategy aims to expand vocational, technical, and tertiary education options, while significantly increasing early childhood education enrolment by 2030.
Additionally, the strategy aims to boost student enrolment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, with plans to establish four new STEM schools by 2026.
As part of the Qatar School Development Programme, the country is constructing 14 new schools through a PPP (public-private-partnership). To Page 12
These schools are scheduled to be operational from the 2025–26 academic year and aim to provide high-quality education to over 10,000 students, Alpen Capital said, adding these initiatives are likely to foster and drive enrolment rates across the segments, while boost the education infrastructure across the country.
Stressing that Qatar has consistently demonstrated its commitment to promoting education through its budget allocations; Alpen Capital said in 2025, Qatar allocated $5.3bn to the education sector, equivalent to 9.2% of the total expenditure, reflecting the country’s focus on enhancing its educational infrastructure, which includes the construction of 11 new schools and the renovation of seven existing ones.
Additionally, there are plans to construct new buildings for the College of Dentistry and the College of Nursing, along with maintaining and developing some facilities to support a modern and advanced educational environment.