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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. He was overthrown by his son, the current Amir
HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995. In
2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with
both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues
enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the
leading industrial countries of Western Europe. |
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Location:
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Middle East,
peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia |
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Map references:
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Middle
East |
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Area:
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total:
11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller
than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 60
km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km |
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Coastline:
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563 km |
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Climate:
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arid; mild,
pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat and
barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum,
natural gas, fish |
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Land use:
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arable land:
1.27%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.46% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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130 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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haze, dust
storms, sandstorms common |
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Environment - current issues:
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limited natural
fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale
desalination facilities |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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strategic
location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits |
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Population:
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840,290 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
24.2% (male 103,660; female 99,597)
15-64 years: 72.7% (male 426,559; female 184,067)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 19,306; female 7,101)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
31.4 years
male: 36.7 years
female: 22 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.74% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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15.6 births/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.52 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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16.29 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.32 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.72 male(s)/female
total population: 1.89 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
19.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 22.77 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 73.4 years
male: 70.9 years
female: 76.04 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.09% (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab 40%,
Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 95% |
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Languages:
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Arabic
(official), English commonly used as a second language |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.5%
male: 81.4%
female: 85% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation
falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar |
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Government type:
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traditional
monarchy |
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Capital:
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Doha |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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3 September 1971
(from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
3 September (1971) |
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Constitution:
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provisional
constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD
issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent
constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari
voters approved the new constitution |
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Legal system:
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discretionary
system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are
being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal
matters |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: Amir 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); Crown Prince TAMIM bin
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected
crown prince by the monarch 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 ABDALLAH bin Khalifa
Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996)
Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother
of the monarch (since 20 January 1998); First Deputy Prime
Minister HAMAD bin JASIM bin JABIR Al Thani (since 16
September 2003; also Foreign Minister since 1992); Second
Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATTIYAH (since 16
September 2003; also Energy Minister since NA 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections
for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has
consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of
municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in
March 1999 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 four years since;
the new constitution provides for a 45-member Consultative
Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds
of the Majlis al-Shura; the Amir would appoint the remaining
members |
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Judicial branch:
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Court of Appeal |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600
consulate(s) general: Houston
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20016 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN
embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4101
FAX: [974] 488 4298 |
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Economy - overview:
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Oil and gas
account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export
earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have
given Qatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading
West European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of
14.5 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current
levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas
exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world
total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature
the development of offshore natural gas reserves to offset the
ultimate decline in oil production. Since 2000, Qatar has
consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high
oil prices and increased natural gas exports. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $17.54 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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8.5% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $21,500 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
0.4%
industry: 64.7%
services: 34.9% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% (1999 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2% (2003) |
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Labor force:
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280,122 (1997
est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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2.7% (2001) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$5 billion
expenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital
expenditures of $2.2 billion (FY02/03 est.) |
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Industries:
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crude oil
production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel
reinforcing bars, cement |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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10% (2003 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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9.264 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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8.616 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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864,200 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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29,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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32.4 billion cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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15.86 billion cu
m (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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fruits,
vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish |
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Exports:
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$12.36 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum
products, fertilizers, steel |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan 41.2%,
South Korea 17.1%, Singapore 8.4%, US 4.2% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$5.711 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and
transport equipment, food, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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France 17.8%,
Japan 10.1%, US 8.5%, UK 8.3%, Germany 8.2%, Italy 6.7%, UAE
5.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.2%, South Korea 4% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$16.2 billion
(2003 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA (2000) |
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Currency:
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Qatari rial (QAR) |
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Currency code:
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QAR |
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Exchange rates:
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Qatari rials per
US dollar - 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64
(2000), 3.64 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31
March |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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176,500 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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267,200 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: country code - 974; tropospheric scatter
to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE;
submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations -
2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 6, FM 5,
shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (plus three
repeaters) (2001) |
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Internet country code:
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.qa |
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Internet hosts:
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171 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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70,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total:
1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Pipelines:
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condensate 90 km;
condensate/gas 209 km; gas 902 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km;
oil 722 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Doha, Halul
Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 22
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 525,051 GRT/772,635 DWT
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 4, container 8,
petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: Cambodia 1, Kuwait 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports:
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4 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 |
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Heliports:
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1 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Land Force,
Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Amiri Air Force |
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Military manpower - military age:
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18 years of age
(2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 324,001
note: includes non-nationals (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 170,266 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
7,496 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$723 million
(FY00) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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10% (FY00) |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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