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.

Land boundaries: 60 km total; Saudi Arabia 40 km, UAE 20 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims: Continental shelf:not specific;

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

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

Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, fish

Land use: NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 95% other

Geography
Note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major crude oil sources

Population: 490,897 (July 1990), growth rate 5.7% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Qatari(s; adjective--Qatari

Ethnic groups: 40% Arab, 18% Pakistani, 18% Indian, 10% Iranian, 14% other

Languages: Arabic (official; English is commonly used as second language

Religions: 95% Muslim

Birth rate: 22 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 3 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: 38 migrants/1000 population (1990)

Environment
Current issues: haze, duststorms, sandstorms common; limited freshwater resources mean increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Infant mortality rate: 25 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 73 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 4.2 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 40%

Country name: conventional long form: State of Qatar

Government type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)

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

Suffrage: none

Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government--Amir and Prime Minister Khalifa bin Hamad Al THANI (since 22 February 1972; Heir Apparent Hamad bin Khalifa AL THANI (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir)

Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Department

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

International organization participation: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Hamad Abd al-Aziz AL-KAWARI, Chancery at Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,037; telephone (202) 338-0111; US--Ambassador Mark G. HAMBLEY; Embassy at Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha (mailing address is P. O. Box 2,399, Doha; telephone p974o 864,701 through 864,703

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

Economy overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for 90% of export earnings and more than 80% 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 of about $17,000, among the highest in the world.

Agriculture products: farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel, cement

Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (1987)

Labor force: 104,000; 85% non-Qatari in private sector (1983)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

Exports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: petroleum products 90%, steel, fertilizers
Partners: France, FRG, Italy, Japan, Spain

Imports: $1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.), excluding military equipment
Commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, animal and vegetable oils, chemicals, machinery and equipment
Partners: EC, Japan, Arab countries, US, Australia

Debt external: $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1--3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)

Electricity
Capacity: 1,514,000 kW capacity; 4,000 million kWh produced, 8,540 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: NA

Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; none with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Pipelines: crude oil, 235 km; natural gas, 400 km

Merchant marine: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 273,318 GRT/420,227 DWT; includes 7 cargo, 3 container, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker

Disputes international: boundary with UAE is in dispute; territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands