Map of Qatar | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background: During the late 1980s and early 1990s the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown in a bloodless coup by his own son in 1995. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe.


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Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 11,000 km²
Land: 11,000 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: Total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: Desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Terrain: Mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m

Elevation

Natural resources:

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 5%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 95%

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Qatari(s)
Adjective: Qatari

Ethnic groups:

Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Religions: Muslim 95%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years:
15-64 years:
65 years and over:

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Current issues Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
International agreements: signed, but not ratified_Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
International agreements note: Strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 0.96 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.41 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.09 male(s)/female
All ages:

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.35 (1996 est.); 73.03 years (1995 est.)
Male: 70.75 (1996 est.); 70.45 years (1995 est.)
Female: 75.84 years (1996 est.); 75.5 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1986)
Total population: 79.4%
Male: 79.2%
Female: 79.9%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: State of Qatar
Conventional short form: Qatar
Local long form: Dawlat Qatar
Local short form: Qatar

Government type: Traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular_baladiyah; Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal

Dependent areas

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from U.K.)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution: Provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970

Legal system: Discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: None

Executive branch
Chief of state and head of government: Amir and Prime Minister HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup) is an absolute monarch; Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani (since NA July 1995); note_Amir HAMAD who also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has not yet selected a new crown prince
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the amir

Legislative branch: Unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis Al-Shura):The constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four years since; seats_(30 total)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: Maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: -1% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $20,820 (1994 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Farming and grazing on small scale, 1% of GDP; agricultural area is small and government-owned; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Accounts for 50% of GDP, including oil

Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $2.5 billion (FY95/96)
Expenditures: $3.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96); $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $440 million (1992 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April_31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports:
Commodities:
Partners:

Imports
Total value:
Commodities:
Partners:

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $1.5 billion (1993 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1_3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)


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Electricity
Capacity: 1,520,000 kW
Production: 4.5 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 8,415 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 160,717 telephones (1992 est.); modern system centered in Doha
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 3
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

Pipelines: Crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 467,447 GRT/771,483 DWT
Ships by type: combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 3 (1995 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs