1989 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Airports

69 total, 64 usable; 37 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 1 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 8 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force Military manpower males 15-49, 2,583,782; 2,102,835 fit for military service; 88,384 reach military age (20) annually

Capital

San Juan

Climate

tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Coastline

501 km

563 km

Comparative area

slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Constitution

ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952

Contiguous zone

1 2 nm

Continental shelf

200 m

not specific

Defense expenditures

$1.3 billion (1989 est.) North Atlantic Ocean Caribbean Sea See regional mtp III Isla Oesecheo and Isla Mona are not shown.

Diplomatic representation

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Disputes

boundary with UAE is in dispute; territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands

Elections

Governor — last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results— Rafael Hernandez Col6n (PPD) 48.7%, Baltasar Corrada Del Rio (PNP) 45.8%, Ruben Barrios Martinez (PIP) 5.5%; Senate— last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results — percent of vote by party NA; seats — (27 total) PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives — last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1 992); results — percent of vote by party NA; seats— (53 total) PPD 36, PNP 15, PIP 2

Environment

many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

haze, duststorms, sandstorms common; limited freshwater resources mean increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities .

Exclusive fishing zone

as delimited with neighboring states, or to limit of shelf, or to median line

Executive branch

US president, US vice president, governor

Extended economic zone

200 nm

to median line

Flag

five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag

Highways

73,661 km total; 61,599 km paved (bituminous, gravel, and crushed stone), including 140 km of limited-access divided highway; 7,962 km improved earth; 4,100 km unimproved earth (motorable tracks)

Independence

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Inland waterways

820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300metric-ton cargo capacity

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Land boundaries

none

60 km total; Saudi Arabia 40 km, UAE 20 km

Land use

8% arable land; 9% permanent crops; 51% meadows and pastures; 25% forest and woodland; 7% other

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

Leaders

Chief of State— President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989); Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989); Head of Government Governor Rafael HERNANDEZ Col6n (since 2 January 1989) Political parties and leaders: Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Rafael Hernandez Colon; New Progressive Party (PNP), Baltasar Corrado del Rio; Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), Juan Mari Bras and Carlos Gallisa; Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben Berrios Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leaders) unknown

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Merchant marine

50 ships (1,000 CRT or over) totaling 576,654 GRT/ 1,005,740 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 21 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 10 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 10 bulk, 1 combination bulk; note — Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira (MAR) for Portuguese-owned ships that will have the taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience; although only one ship is currently known to fly the Portuguese flag on the MAR register, it is likely that a majority of Portuguese flag ships will transfer to this subregister in a few years

National holiday

Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

Natural resources

some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore crude oil

crude oil, natural gas, fish

Note

important location between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands group along the Mona Passage — a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major crude oil sources

Other political or pressure groups

all have engaged in terrorist activities — Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN), Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution, Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros), Armed Forces of Popular Resistance

Pipelines

crude oil, 1 1 km; refined products, 58 km

Ports

LeixSes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Velas (Azores), Setubal, Sines

Suffrage

universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections Puerto RiCO (continued) Qatar

Telecommunications

facilities are generally adequate; 2,250,000 telephones; stations—44 AM, 66 (22 relays) FM, 25 (23 relays) TV; 7 submarine cables; communication satellite ground stations operating in the INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), EUTELSAT, and domestic systems (mainland and Azores) Defense Forces

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Territorial sea

1 2 nm

3 nm

Total area

9,104 km2; land area: 8,959 km2

1 1,000 km2; land area: 1 1,000 km2

Total area

(1.435-meter gauge) electrified, double track, privately owned

Type

commonwealth associated with the US

Birth rate

19 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

22 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

8 deaths/ 1,000 population (1990)

3 deaths/ 1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

almost entirely Hispanic

40% Arab, 18% Pakistani, 18% Indian, 10% Iranian, 14% other

Infant mortality rate

17 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

25 deaths/ 1 ,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

1,062,000; 23% government, 20% trade, 18% manufacturing, 4% agriculture, 35% other (1988)

104,000; 85% non-Qatari in private sector (1983)

Language

Spanish (official); English is widely understood

Arabic (official); English is commonly used as second language

Life expectancy at birth

68 years male, 76 years female (1990)

69 years male, 73 years female (1990)

Literacy

89%

40%

Nationality

noun — Puerto Rican(s); adjective— Puerto Rican

noun — Qatari(s); adjective — Qatari

Net migration rate

-11 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

38 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

1 1 5,000 members in 4 unions; the largest is the General Confederation of Puerto Rican Workers with 35,000 members (1983)

trade unions are illegal

Population

3,291,207 (July 1990), growth rate 0.1% (1990)

490,897 (July 1990), growth rate 5.7% (1990)

Religion

mostly Christian, 85% Roman Catholic, 1 5% Protestant denominations and other

95% Muslim

Total fertility rate

2.2 children born/ woman (1990)

4.2 children born/ woman (1990)

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

Doha

Constitution

provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Hamad 'Abd al-'Aziz AL-KAWARI, Chancery at Suite 1 180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone (202) 338-01 11; US— Ambassador Mark G. HAMBLEY; Embassy at Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha (mailing address is P. O. Box 2399, Doha); telephone [974] 864701 through 864703

Elections

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)

Flag

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

Independence

3 September 1971 (from UK)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government— Amir and Prime Minister Khalifa bin Hamad Al THANI (since 22 February 1972); Heir Apparent Hamad bin Khalifa AL THANI (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir) Political parties and leaders: none

Legal system

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

Legislative branch

unicameral Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)

Long-form name

Commonwealth of

State of Qatar

Member of

Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB— Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, QIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Suffrage

none

Type

traditional monarchy

Agriculture

accounts for 4% of labor force; crops — sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, tobacco, bananas; livestock — cattle, chickens; imports a large share of food needs

farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP; commercial fishing increasing in importance; most food imported

Aid

none

donor — pledged $2.7 billion in ODA to less developed countries (197988)

Budget

revenues $4.9 million; expenditures $4.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)

revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88 est.)

Currency

US currency is used

Qatari riyal (plural — riyals); 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Electricity

4,149,000 kW capacity; 14,050 million kWh produced, 4,260 kWh per capita (1989)

1,514,000 kW capacity; 4,000 million kWh produced, 8,540 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

US currency is used Fiscal year 1 July-30 June

Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1— 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)

Exports

$13.2 billion (f.o.b., FY88); commodities— sugar, coffee, petroleum products, chemical, metal products, textiles, electronic equipment; partners — US 87%

$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities — petroleum products 90%, steel, fertilizers; partners — France, FRG, Italy, Japan, Spain

External debt

SNA

$1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April-3 1 March

GDP

$5.4 billion, per capita $17,070; real growth rate 9.0% (1987)

GNP

$18.4 billion, per capita $5,574; real growth rate 4.9% (FY88)

Imports

$1 1.8 billion (c.i.f., FY88); commodities— chemicals, clothing, food, fish products, crude oil; partners — US 60%

$1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.), excluding military equipment; commodities— foodstuffs, beverages, animal and vegetable oils, chemicals, machinery and equipment; partners — EC, Japan, Arab countries, US, Australia

Industrial production

growth rate 5.8% (FY87)

growth rate 0.6% (1987)

Industries

tourism, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel, cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

33% (December 1987-88)

1 .6% (1987)

Overview

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1970s. Important new industries include Pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income for the island.

Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for 90% of export earnings and more than 80% 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 $17,000, among the highest in the world.

Unemployment rate

1 2.8% (December 1988)

NA%

Airports

33 total; 23 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; none with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Department

Civil air

3 major transport aircraft

Defense expenditures

NA

Highways

1 3,762 km paved

1,500 km total; 1,000 km bituminous, 500 km gravel or natural surface (est.)

Merchant marine

12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 273,318 GRT/420,227 DWT; includes 7 cargo, 3 container, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker

Military manpower

males 15-49, 255,474; 120,614 fit for military service; 3,982 reach military age (18) annually

Note

defense is the responsibility of the US; paramilitary National Guard; police force of 10,050 men and women (1984) Hawar Islands are m dispute between' Bahrain and Qata Persian Gulf See regional mip VI itation is ot necessarily authoritative

Pipelines

crude oil, 235 km; natural gas, 400km

Ports

San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo

Doha, Musayid, Halul Island

Railroads

100 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger railroads

Telecommunications

2,000,000 radio receivers; 810,000 TV receivers; 769,140 telephones; stations — 69 AM, 42 FM, 24 TV (1984) Defense Forces

modern system centered in Doha; 110,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; stations— 2 AM, 1 FM, 3 TV; satellite earth stations — 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT Defense Forces