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.

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

Land boundaries: Total 60 km, Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous 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
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources:

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

Irrigated land: NA

Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Qatari(s)
Adjective: Qatari

Ethnic groups:

Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Religions: Muslim 95%

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Current issues Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
International agreements: signed, but not ratified_Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
International agreements note: Strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Sex ratio
At birth: 0.96 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.41 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.09 male(s)/female
All ages:

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.35 (1996 est.); 73.03 years (1995 est.)
Male: 70.75 (1996 est.); 70.45 years (1995 est.)
Female: 75.84 years (1996 est.); 75.5 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1986)
Total population: 79.4%
Male: 79.2%
Female: 79.9%

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

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

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from U.K.)

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 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) is an absolute monarch; Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani (since NA July 1995); note_Amir HAMAD who also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has not yet selected a new crown prince
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the amir

Legislative branch: Unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis Al-Shura):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; seats_(30 total)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

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 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% 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 West European industrial countries. 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.

Real gdp growth rate: -1% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $20,820 (1994 est.)

Agriculture products: Farming and grazing on small scale, 1% of GDP; agricultural area is small and government-owned; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Industries:

Industrial production growth rate: Accounts for 50% of GDP, including oil

Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA

Budget
Revenues: $2.5 billion (FY95/96)
Expenditures: $3.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96); $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $440 million (1992 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April_31 March

Exports:
Commodities:
Partners:

Debt external: $1.5 billion (1993 est.)

Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1_3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)

Electricity
Capacity: 1,520,000 kW
Production: 4.5 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 8,415 kWh (1993)

Telephone system: 160,717 telephones (1992 est.); modern system centered in Doha
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station

Airports: 3
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

Pipelines: Crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Merchant marine
Total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 467,447 GRT/771,483 DWT
Ships by type: combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 3 (1995 est.)