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.

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

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

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: not specific
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes:

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

Population: 484,387 (July 1992), growth rate 3.2% (1992)

Nationality: noun - Qatari(s; adjective - Qatari

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

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

Religions: Muslim 95%

Birth rate: 21 births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: 15 migrants/1000 population (1992)

Environment
Current issues: haze, duststorms, sandstorms common; limited freshwater resources mean increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Current issues note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major crude oil sources

Infant mortality rate: 24 deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 74 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1992)

Literacy: 76% (male 77%, female 72%) age 15 and over can read and write (1986)

Country name
Conventional long form: State of Qatar

Government type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions:

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
Advisory Council: constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held; seats - (30 total)

Executive branch: amir, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation:
US:

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 more than 85% of export earnings and roughly 75% 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 15,000, comparable to the leading industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas is becoming increasingly important.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $7.4 billion, per capita $15,000; real growth rate NA (1990)

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: growth rate 0.6% (1987; accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil

Labor force: 104,000; 85% non-Qatari in private sector (1983)
Organized labor: trade unions are illegal

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $2.1 billion; expenditures $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $490 million (FY91 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
Commodoties: petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers
Partners: Japan 61%, Brazil 9%, UAE 3%, Singapore 3%

Imports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, beverages, animal and vegetable oils, chemicals, machinery and equipment
Partners: UK 13%, Japan 11%, US 8%, Italy 8%

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

Electricity
Production: 1,520,000 kW capacity; 4,200 million kWh produced, 8,080 kWh per capita (1991)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA%, of GDP

Airports:

Pipelines: crude oil 235 km, natural gas 400 km

Merchant marine:
Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft