1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (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 Abu 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 99,232; female 95,421) 15-64 years: 71% (male 367,213; female 145,925) 65 years and over: 2% (male 11,047; female 4,704) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
16.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
3.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Infant mortality rate
17.25 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 74.23 years male: 71.7 years female: 76.89 years (1999 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
23.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
723,542 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
3.62% (1999 est.)
Religions
Muslim 95%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.52 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.35 male(s)/female total population: 1.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular--baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Capital
Doha
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 monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 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 monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
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, OPCW, 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 consulate(s) general: Houston Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday
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 monarch) 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 holiday
Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Suffrage
none
Economy
Agriculture--products
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Budget
revenues: $3.4 billion expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (FY98/99 budget est.)
Currency
1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Debt--external
$11 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$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. Lower world oil prices brought GDP down in 1998.
Electricity--consumption
5.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
5.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1--3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Exports
$5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities
petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel
Exports--partners
Japan 49%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 12%, Thailand 4%, US 3% (1997)
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$12 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 1% industry: 49% services: 50% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$17,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-3% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
Imports--partners
UK 25%, France 13%, Japan 10%, US 9%, Italy 6% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
-4% (1995)
Industries
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.4% (1996)
Labor force
233,000 (1993 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
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
2 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
205,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
4 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports
1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 713,014 GRT/1,112,829 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 5, oil tanker 5 (1998 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
$940 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
9.6% (FY98/99)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 301,451 (1999 est.) note: includes non-nationals Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 158,114 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 6,125 (1999 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