1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

25 30 N, 51 15 E -- Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Connecticut

land area

11,000 sq km

total area

11,000 sq km

Climate

desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Coastline

563 km

Environment

current issues

limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

international agreements

signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea

natural hazards

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Geographic note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

International disputes

territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain; 1965 boundary with Saudi Arabia, renegotiated and revised in 1992, but not official depiction

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border country

Saudi Arabia 60 km

total

60 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forest and woodland

0%

meadows and pastures

5%

other

95%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, fish

Terrain

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

highest point

Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 30% (male 82,147; female 83,552) 15-64 years: 68% (male 263,107; female 109,177) 65 years and over: 2% (male 6,609; female 3,169) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

21.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

3.6 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.84 years (1996 est.)

male

70.75 years

total population

73.35 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

79.9%

male

79.2%

total population

79.4%

Nationality

adjective

Qatari

noun

Qatari(s)

Net migration rate

6.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

547,761 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.39% (1996 est.)

Religions

Muslim 95%

Sex ratio

all ages

1.8 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

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

Total fertility rate

4.28 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal

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)

Capital

Doha

Constitution

provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970

Data code

QA

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Fahd Al Thani

telephone

[1] (202) 338-0111

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the amir

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

FAX

[974] 861669

Flag

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

Independence

3 September 1971 (from UK)

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

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

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

Name of country

conventional long form

State of Qatar

conventional short form

Qatar

local long form

Dawlat Qatar

local short form

Qatar

note

pronounced gutter

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

none

Type of government

traditional monarchy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS

embassy

149 Armed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha

mailing address

P. O. Box 2399, Doha

telephone

[974] 864701 through 864703

Agriculture

fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish (all on small scale)

Budget

expenditures

$3.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)

revenues

$2.5 billion

Currency

1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Economic aid

$NA

Economic 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.

Electricity

capacity

1,520,000 kW

consumption per capita

8,415 kWh (1993)

production

4.5 billion kWh

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

petroleum products 75%, steel, fertilizers

partners

Japan 61%, Australia 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 4% (1994)

External debt

$1.5 billion (1993 est.)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

50%

services

49% (1993 est.)

GDP per capita

$20,820 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

-1% (1994 est.)

Imports

$2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities

machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals

partners

Germany 14%, Japan 12%, UK 11%, US 9%, Italy 5% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (1993 est.)

Labor force

233,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

220,635

males fit for military service

115,403

males reach military age (18) annually

4,115 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

201,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

modern system centered in Doha

domestic

NA

international

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

Telephones

160,717 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

3 (1988 est.)

Televisions

205,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

3

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1 (1995 est.)

Heliports

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

1,028 km

total

1,191 km

unpaved

163 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 3 (1995 est.)

total

19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 467,447 GRT/771,483 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports

Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id

Railways

0 km