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: 25 30 N 51 15 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims

Climate: desert; hot dry; humid and sultry in summer

Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Elevation

Natural resources: petroleum natural gas fish

Land use

Irrigated land: 80 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: haze dust storms sandstorms common

Geography
Note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits


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Population: 744,483 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 3.35% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

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 profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 3.35% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 16.07 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 4.19 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 21.58 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 22.14 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

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 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 participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: suffrage is limited to municipal elections

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: none

International 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 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 accounts for more than 30% of GDP roughly 80% 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 three-fourths that of 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. If high oil prices continue in 2000 Qatar will post its highest ever trade surplus - of more than $4 billion.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 1.5% (1999 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,000 (1999 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

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: NA%

Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2% (1999)

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: $6.7 billion (f.o.b. 1999 est.)
Commodities: petroleum products 80% fertilizers steel
Partners: Japan 50% Singapore 12% South Korea 9% US UAE (1997)

Imports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b. 1999 est.)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment food chemicals
Partners: UK 25% France 13% Japan 10% US 9% Italy 6% (1997)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $10 billion (1998 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
Production: 6.715 billion kWh (1998)
Consumption: 6.245 billion kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 146,980 (1995)
Mobile cellular: 18,469 (1995)

Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha

Broadcast media

Internet
Service providers isps: NA

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $816 million (FY99/00)
Percent of gdp: 8.1% (FY99/00)

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: 4 (1999 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: the territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); June 1999 agreement has furthered the goal of definitively establishing the border with Saudi Arabia

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs