Background: Ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. 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. His son the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001 Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007 oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita income in the world.

Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N 51 15 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 11,586 km²
Rank: 165
Land: 11,586 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries
Total: 60 km
Border countries: (1) Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline: 563 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

Climate: arid; mild pleasant winters; very hot humid summers

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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Extremes highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources: petroleum natural gas fish

Land use
Arable land: 1.64%
Permanent crops: 0.27%
Other: 98.09% (2005)

Irrigated land: 130 km² (2002)

Total renewable water resources: 0.1 km³ (1997)

Natural hazards: haze dust storms sandstorms common

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

Population: 833,285 (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 158
Growth rate: 0.957% (2009 est.)
Growth rate rank: 130
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Qatari
Adjective: Qatari

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

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

Religions: Muslim 77.5% Christian 8.5% other 14% (2004 census)

Age structure
0-14 years: 21.8%
15-64 years: 76.8% (male 454,714/female 185,004)
65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,792/female 4,930) (2009 est.)

Median age
Total: 30.8 years
Male: 32.8 years
Female: 25.4 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.957% (2009 est.)
Rank: 130

Birth rate: 15.61 births/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 136

Death rate: 2.46 deaths/1000 population (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 219

Net migration rate: -3.58 migrant(s)/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 155

Urbanization
Urban population: 96% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Environment
Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.46 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.38 male(s)/female
Total population: 2 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.66 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 140
Male: 13.51 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 11.77 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.35 years
Rank: 80
Male: 73.66 years
Female: 77.14 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Rank: 100

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.09% (2001 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 166
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Education expenditures: 3.3% of GDP (2005)
Rank: 136

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 89%
Male: 89.1%
Female: 88.6% (2004 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 14 years (2006)

Country name
Conventional long form: State of Qatar
Conventional short form: Qatar
Local long form: Dawlat Qatar
Local short form: Qatar
Note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter but not like guitar

Government type: emirate

Capital
Name: Doha
Geographic coordinates: 25 17 N 51 32 E
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 10 municipalities (baladiyat singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah Al Ghuwayriyah Al Jumayliyah Al Khawr Al Wakrah Ar Rayyan Jarayan al Batinah Madinat ash Shamal Umm Sa'id Umm Salal

Independence: 3 September 1971 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day 3 September (1971); also observed is National Day 18 December

Constitution: ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003 endorsed by the Amir on 8 June 2004 effective on 9 June 2005

Legal system: based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the Amir although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani ; Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani fourth son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent by the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Head of government: Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Elections: the monarch is hereditary
Note: in April 2007 Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC) which has limited consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999

Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
Note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every year since the new constitution came into force on 9 June 2005; the constitution provides for a new 45-member Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the Amir would appoint the remaining members; preparations are underway to conduct elections to the Majlis al-Shura

Judicial branch: Courts of First Instance Appeal and Cassation; an Administrative Court and a Constitutional Court were established in 2007; note - all judges are appointed by Amiri Decree based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council for renewable three-year terms

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: ABEDA ACC AFESD AMF FAO G-77 GCC IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IPU ISO ITSO ITU LAS MIGA NAM OAPEC OAS (observer) OIC OPCW OPEC PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNIFIL UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Fahad al-Shahwany al-HAJRI
In the us chancery: 2,555 M Street NW Washington DC 20,037
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
In the us fax: [1] (202) 237-0061
In the us consulate general: Houston
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
From the us embassy: Al-Luqta District 22 February Road Doha
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 2,399 Doha
From the us telephone: [974] 488 4,161
From the us fax: [974] 488 4,150

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

Economy overview: Qatar has experienced rapid economic growth over the last several years on the back of high oil prices and in 2008 posted its eighth consecutive budget surplus. Economic policy is focused on developing Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors but oil and gas still account for more than 50% of GDP roughly 85% of export earnings and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the second highest per-capita income country - following Liechtenstein - and one of the world's fastest growing. Proved oil reserves of 15 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for 37 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas are nearly 26 trillion cubic meters about 14% of the world total and third largest in the world. The drop in oil prices in late 2008 and the global financial crisis will reduce Qatar's budget surplus and may slow the pace of investment and development projects in 2009.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 69
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 3

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 2
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.1%
Industry: 74.9%
Services: 25.1% (2008 est.)

Agriculture products: fruits vegetables; poultry dairy products beef; fish

Industries: crude oil production and refining ammonia fertilizers petrochemicals steel reinforcing bars cement commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate: 13% (2008 est.)
Rank: 3

Labor force: 1.119 million (2008 est.)
Rank: 136

Unemployment rate: 0.7% (2007 est.)
Rank: 3

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $36.59 billion
Expenditures: $27.14 billion (2008 est.)

Public debt: 11% of GDP (2007 est.)
Rank: 121

Inflation rate consumer prices: 13.7% (2007 est.)
Rank: 191

Central bank discount rate: 5.5% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 79

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 7.43% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 115

Stock of domestic credit: $30.52 billion (31 December 2007)
Rank: 45

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 49

Current account balance: $10.45 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 23

Exports: $42.02 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 55
Commodities: liquefied natural gas (LNG) petroleum products fertilizers steel
Partners: Japan 38.5% South Korea 20.9% Singapore 11.1% India 4.5% Thailand 4.4% (2008)

Imports: $19.82 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 68
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment food chemicals
Partners: US 12.1% Germany 9% Italy 8.9% Japan 8% South Korea 7.5% France 6.2% UAE 5.5% UK 4.9% Saudi Arabia 4.6% Turkey 4.2% China 4.2% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $9.752 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 66

Debt external: $33.09 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 49

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $2.601 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 91

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $6.993 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 55

Exchange rates: Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2008 est.) 3.64 (2007) 3.64 (2006) 3.64 (2005) 3.64 (2004)

Electricity
Production: 15.11 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 78
Consumption: 13.73 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 74
Exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 76.98 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 10
Consumption: 20.2 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 36
Exports: 56.78 billion m³ (2008)
Exports rank: 6
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 142
Proven reserves: 25.26 trillion m³ (1 January 2009 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 3

Telephones
Main lines in use: 263,400 (2008)
Main lines in use rank: 117
Mobile cellular: 1.683 million (2008)
Mobile cellular rank: 128

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system centered in Doha
Domestic: combined fixed and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 200 telephones per 100 persons
International: country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia Middle East Europe and the US; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2008)

Internet
Country code: .qa
Hosts: 722 (2009)
Hosts rank: 166
Users: 436,000 (2008)
Users rank: 111

Military expenditures: 10% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 2

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Airports: 5 (2009)
Rank: 178
With paved runways total: 3
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2009)
With unpaved runways total: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Heliports: 1 (2009)

Pipelines: condensate 145 km; condensate/gas 132 km; gas 978 km; liquid petroleum gas 90 km; oil 382 km (2008)

Roadways
Total: 7,790 km
Rank: 143

Merchant marine
Total: 22
Rank: 96
By type: bulk carrier 2 cargo 2 chemical tanker 2 container 8 liquefied gas 4 petroleum tanker 4
Foreign owned: 7 (Kuwait 7)
Registered in other countries: 5 (Liberia 4 Panama 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals: Doha Ra's Laffan

Disputes international: none