2000 Edition

Background

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 in a bloodless coup by his own son in 1995. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe.

Area

land

11,437 sq km

total

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

highest point

Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 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, Desertification, 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

border countries

Saudi Arabia 60 km

total

60 km

Land use

arable land

1%

forests and woodland

0%

other

94% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

5%

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

as determined by bilateral agreements, or the median line

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 26% (male 99,702; female 95,960) 15-64 years: 71% (male 378,741; female 152,978) 65 years and over: 3% (male 12,120; female 4,982) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

16.07 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

4.19 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

22.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.94 years (2000 est.)

male

69.92 years

total population

72.37 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

79.9% (1995 est.)

male

79.2%

total population

79.4%

Nationality

adjective

Qatari

noun

Qatari(s)

Net migration rate

21.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

744,483 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

3.35% (2000 est.)

Religions

Muslim 95%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.48 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.43 male(s)/female

total population

1.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.25 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE

embassy

22 February Road, Doha

mailing address

P. O. Box 2399, Doha

telephone

884 101

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI

consulate(s) general

Houston

telephone

(202) 274-1600

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

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

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; note - in March 1999 Qatar held elections for representatives to its Central Municipal Council

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)

FAX

884 150

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, OPCW, 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 Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)

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 their terms extended every four years since

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

suffrage is limited to municipal elections

Agriculture - products

fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Budget

expenditures

$4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)

revenues

$5 billion

Currency

1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Debt - external

$10 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% 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 three-fourths that of 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. If high oil prices continue in 2000, Qatar will post its highest ever trade surplus - of more than $4 billion.

Electricity - consumption

6.245 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

6.715 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$6.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners

Japan 50%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 9%, US, UAE (1997)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

49%

services

50% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $17,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

UK 25%, France 13%, Japan 10%, US 9%, Italy 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (1999)

Labor force

233,000 (1993 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

256,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use

146,980 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

18,469 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus three repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

230,000 (1997)

Airports

4 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

1,107 km

total

1,230 km

unpaved

123 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 5 (1999 est.)

total

24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 721,756 GRT/1,132,510 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports and harbors

Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id

Railways

0 km

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$816 million (FY99/00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

8.1% (FY99/00)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 306,850

note

includes non-nationals (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 160,899 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

6,471 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

the territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); June 1999 agreement has furthered the goal of definitively establishing the border with Saudi Arabia

REUNION