2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.7% (male 102,938; female 98,934) 15-64 years: 72.4% (male 415,302; female 176,183) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,199; female 6,496) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

4 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 (2002)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2

under 914 m

1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Area

land

11,437 sq km

total

11,437 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Background

Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. 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 by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe. Geography Qatar

Birth rate

15.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (FY 02/03 est.)

revenues

$5 billion

Capital

Doha

Climate

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Coastline

563 km

Constitution

provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution

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

Currency

Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code

QAR

Death rate

4.43 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$15.4 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN

embassy

Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha

mailing address

P. O. Box 2399, Doha

telephone

[974] 488 4101

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA

consulate(s) general

Houston

telephone

[1] (202) 274-1600

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading West European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 14.5 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important to the economy. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore natural gas reserves. Since 2000, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports, and Qatar's economy is expected to receive an added boost as it begins to increase liquid natural gas exports.

Electricity - consumption

8.616 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

9.264 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000), 3.64 (1999), 3.64 (1998)

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 JASIM 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

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)

note

in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999

Exports

$10.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners

Japan 40.1%, South Korea 16.6%, Singapore 8.2%, US 4.1% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 237-0061

[974] 488 4298

chancery

4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Qatar

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $15.91 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0.4%

industry

67.6%

services

32% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits People Qatar

Government type

traditional monarchy

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Qatar

Highways

paved

1,107 km

total

1,230 km

unpaved

123 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.09% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

France 17.8%, Japan 10.1%, US 8.5%, UK 8.3%, Germany 8%, Italy 6.7%, UAE 5.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2002)

Independence

3 September 1971 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

23.59 deaths/1,000 live births

total

20.03 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (2002)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.qa

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

75,000 (2001) Transportation Qatar

Irrigated land

130 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Labor force

280,122 (1997 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Saudi Arabia 60 km

total

60 km

Land use

arable land

1.27%

other

98.46% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.27%

Languages

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

Legal system

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters

Legislative branch

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

note

no legislative 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; the new constitution provides for a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would appoint the remaining members

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.76 years (2003 est.)

male

70.65 years

total population

73.14 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

85% (2003 est.) Government Qatar

male

81.4%

total population

82.5%

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

Median age

female

21.6 years (2002)

male

36.4 years

total

31.2 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Kuwait 1, UAE 3 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1

total

23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 638,815 GRT/995,096 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$723 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

10% (FY00) Transnational Issues Qatar

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

320,835

note

includes non-nationals (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

168,416 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

7,192 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Nationality

adjective

Qatari

noun

Qatari(s)

Natural gas - consumption

15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

17.93 trillion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, fish

Net migration rate

17.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

864,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

14.51 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

condensate 90 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 902 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 722 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Population

817,052 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

2.87% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

256,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

Muslim 95%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.9 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.36 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.65 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

modern system centered in Doha

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

142,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

43,476 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

230,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Total fertility rate

3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.7% (2001)

Waterways

none