Statistical information Qatar 1999

Qatar in the World
Qatar - Introduction 1999
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundariesTotal: 60 km
Border countries: (1) Saudi Arabia 60 kmCoastline: 563 km
Maritime claimsContiguous 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Extremes highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land useArable land: 1%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: 5%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: 94% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
GeographyNote: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
top of pagePopulation: 723,542 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 3.62% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Qatari(s)
Adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Religions: Muslim 95%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 27% (male 99,232; female 95,421)
15-64 years: 71% (male 367,213; female 145,925)
65 years and over: 2% (male 11,047; female 4,704) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.62% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.75 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.57 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 23.03 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.52 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.35 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 17.25 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 74.23 years
Male: 71.7 years
Female: 76.89 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 79.4%
Male: 79.2%
Female: 79.9% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: State of Qatar
Conventional short form: Qatar
Local long form: Dawlat Qatar
Local short form: Qatar
Note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
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 areasIndependence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972
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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: none
Executive branchChief of state: Amir 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); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note_Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
Head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed by the monarch)
Note: 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
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
In the us chancery: Suite 200, 4,200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,016
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600
In the us consulates general: Houston
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE
From the us embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 2,399, Doha
From the us telephone: [974] 864,701 through 864,703
From the us FAX: [974] 861,669
From the us note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday
Flag description
: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. 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. Lower world oil prices brought GDP down in 1998.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -3% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $17,100 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 1%
Industry: 49%
Services: 50% (1996 est.)
Agriculture products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1995)
Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $3.4 billion
Expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (FY98/99 budget est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April_31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel
Partners: Japan 49%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 12%, Thailand 4%, US 3% (1997)
Imports: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
Partners: UK 25%, France 13%, Japan 10%, US 9%, Italy 6% (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $11 billion (1997 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1_3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 5.2 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 100%
Production by source hydro: 0%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 5.2 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaQatar - Communication 1999
top of pageTelephones: 160,717 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha
Domestic: NA
International: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $940 million (FY98/99)
Percent of gdp: 9.6% (FY98/99)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsQatar - Transportation 1999
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 4 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Railways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 713,014 GRT/1,112,829 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 5, oil tanker 5 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalsQatar - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ; in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs