1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Climate
desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Coastline
563 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m
Environment-current issues
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment-international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates
25 30 N, 51 15 E
Geography-note
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
Irrigated land
80 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: NA% other: 94% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Terrain
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 27% (male 97,317; female 93,532) 15-64 years: 71% (male 353,700; female 138,564) 65 years and over: 2% (male 9,731; female 4,282) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
16.97 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
3.53 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Infant mortality rate
18.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 73.89 years male: 71.38 years female: 76.54 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.4% male: 79.2% female: 79.9% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari
Net migration rate
24.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
697,126 (July 1998 est.) note: includes 516,508 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate
3.82% (1998 est.)
Religions
Muslim 95%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.55 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.27 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.5 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
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
Constitution
provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972
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
Data code
QA
Executive branch
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 JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the amir (selected crown prince by the amir 22 October 1996); 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 amir (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the amir (since 20 January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir elections: none; the amir is an absolute monarch
FAX
[974] 861669 note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday
Flag description
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
Government type
traditional monarchy
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, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address-AMEMB Doha, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6130 telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal 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 or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed by the amir) note: 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
National capital
Doha
National holiday
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Suffrage
none
Economy
Agriculture-products
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish (all on small scale)
Budget
revenues: $3.7 billion expenditures: $4.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (FY97/98 est.)
Currency
1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Debt-external
$11 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid
$NA
Economy-overview
Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. 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
1.303 million kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
10,863 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
5.8 billion kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1-3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Exports
total value: $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel partners: Japan 55%, Singapore 11%, South Korea 6%, Australia 3%, UAE 3% (1996)
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$11.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 1% industry: 49% services: 50% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$16,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
10% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals partners: Italy 14%, UK 12%, France 11%, Japan 10%, Germany 9% (1996)
Industrial production growth rate
-4% (1995)
Industries
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Inflation rate-consumer price index
2.5% (1996)
Labor force
total: 233,000 (1993 est.) note: 83% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 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.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Transportation
Airports
4 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Heliports
1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 618,447 GRT/1,031,135 DWT ships by type: combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 5 (1997 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$400 million (1996 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
3.5% (1996 est.)
Military manpower-availability
males age 15-49: 294,205 (1998 est.) note: includes non-nationals Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 154,436 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-military age
18 years of age
Military manpower-reaching military age annually
males: 5,777 (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing (overseas department of France)