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.

Map reference: Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 11,000 km²
Land: 11,000 km²

Land boundaries: total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: not specified
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

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish

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

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

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

Population: 512,779 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 2.56% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Qatari(s)

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%

Population growth rate: 2.56% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 18.83 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 3.53 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 10.31 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: limited freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
International agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

Infant mortality rate: 21.6 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.64 years
Male: 70.08 years
Female: 75.09 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.74 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)
Total population: 76%
Male: 77%
Female: 72%

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

Government type: traditional monarchy

Capital: Doha

Administrative divisions: there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah; Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Ash Shamal, Jarayan al Batnah, Umm Salal

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; Crown Prince HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir and Minister of Defense)

Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Advisory Council Majlis alShura: constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held; seats - (30 total)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH
From the us chancery: Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,037
From the us telephone: (0974) 864,701 through 864,703
From the us embassy: 149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 2,399, Doha
From the us fax: (0974) 861,669

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 roughly 85% of export earnings and 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 comparable to the leading industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important.

Real gdp growth rate: -0.5% (1993 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $17,500 (1993 est.)

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

Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel (rolls reinforcing bars for concrete construction), cement

Industrial production growth rate: NA%; accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil

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

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues:$2.5 billion

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Exports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers
Partners: Japan 61%, Brazil 6%, South Korea 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 3% (1991)

Imports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
Partners: Japan 14%, UK 12%, US 12%, Germany 9%, France 5% (1991)

Debt external: $1.5 billion (1993 est.)

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

Electricity
Capacity: 1,596,000 kW
Production: 4.818 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 9,655 kWh (1992)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $NA, NA%, of GDP

Airports: 5
Usable: 4
With permanentsurface runways: 1
With runways over 3659 m: 1
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2

Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Merchant marine: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 373,491 GRT/567,294 DWT, container 4, cargo 11, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1

Disputes international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain