Countries With the Highest Percentage of Male Population

Countries With the Highest Percentage of Male Population

Globally, the gender ratio is generally close to parity, with slight male dominance at birth balancing out over time. However, in certain countries, the male population significantly outweighs the female population, often due to unique social, economic, or migration related factors.

This chart shows the 15 countries with the highest percentage of male residents, based on the latest population data from World Bank.

A Regional Trend Driven by Labor Migration

Gulf countries dominate the rankings. Qatar tops the list with a striking 72% male population, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 64%. In both countries, a large share of the male population consists of temporary migrant workers, primarily in construction, services, and energy-related industries.

Other Gulf nations, including Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, also appear prominently in the top 10, with male populations ranging from 61–62%. These imbalances are largely attributed to economic migration patterns, where foreign male laborers are recruited in high numbers for jobs not typically filled by local citizens.

Beyond the Gulf: Small States and Islands

Outside of the Middle East, nations like the Maldives, Seychelles, and Palau also report high male population shares, often reflecting temporary labor needs in tourism and infrastructure sectors. Countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Bhutan and Equatorial Guinea show similar trends.

In Europe, Malta stands out as one of the few countries with a noticeably male-skewed population, likely influenced by temporary foreign workers and students. Greenland also makes the list with 53% male population.

Global Context

While most of the world maintains a near-even gender balance, these outliers highlight how migration, economic situations, and demographic policies can significantly shift national population profiles.