2015 Edition

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. His son, HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew the father in a bloodless coup in 1995. In short order, HAMAD oversaw the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's pursuit of a leadership role in mediating regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar has not experienced domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2010-11, due in part to its immense wealth. Since the outbreak of regional unrest, however, Doha has prided itself on its support for many of these popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. In mid-2013, HAMAD transferred power to his 33 year-old son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad - a peaceful abdication rare in the history of Arab Gulf states. TAMIM has prioritized improving the domestic welfare of Qataris, including establishing advanced healthcare and education systems and expanding the country's infrastructure in anticipation of Doha's hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

Area

land

11,586 sq km

total

11,586 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

almost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

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

Coastline

563 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

376.9 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.44 cu km/yr (39%/2%/59%)

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Irrigated land

129.4 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (1)

Saudi Arabia 87 km

total

87 km

Land use

arable land 1.1%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 4.3%

agricultural land

5.6%

forest

0%

other

94.4% (2011 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

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

Total renewable water resources

0.06 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

12.52% (male 139,353/female 135,514)

15-24 years

12.96% (male 207,493/female 76,879)

25-54 years

70.23% (male 1,278,442/female 263,051)

55-64 years

3.39% (male 57,581/female 16,886)

65 years and over

0.89% (male 12,365/female 7,253) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

9.84 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

38% (2012)

Death rate

1.53 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

1.4%

potential support ratio

70.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

20.1%

youth dependency ratio

18.6%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

6.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

6.61 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.32 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.65 years (2015 est.)

male

76.58 years

total population

78.59 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.8% (2015 est.)

male

97.4%

total population

97.3%

Major urban areas - population

DOHA (capital) 718,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

13 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

28.1 years (2015 est.)

male

33.9 years

total

32.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Qatari

noun

Qatari(s)

Net migration rate

22.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

41% (2014)

Physicians density

7.74 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

2,194,817 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

3.07% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other (includes mainly Hindu and other Indian religions) 14% (2004 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98% of population

rural: 98% of population

total: 98% of population

urban: 2% of population

rural: 2% of population

total: 2% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2005)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

2.7 male(s)/female

25-54 years

4.86 male(s)/female

55-64 years

3.41 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.71 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

3.39 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

6.2% (2013 est.)

male

0.4%

total

1.1%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

6.02% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

99.2% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

7 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal

Capital

geographic coordinates

25 17 N, 51 32 E

name

Doha

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Qatar

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

20 years; 15 years if an Arab national

Constitution

previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005 (2015)

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 is cutter

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Dana Shell SMITH (8 September 2014)

embassy

Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha

FAX

[974] 4488 4298

mailing address

P. O. Box 2399, Doha

telephone

[974] 4496-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador Muhammad bin Jaham Abd al-Aziz al-KUWARI (since 10 March 2014)

consulates

Houston, Los Angeles

FAX

[1] (202) 237-0061

telephone

[1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the amir

chief of state

Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the amir

head of government

Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Nasir bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 26 June 2013); Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad bin Abdallah al-MAHMUD (since 20 September 2011)

Flag description

maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916

note

the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted

Government type

emirate

Independence

3 September 1971 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members); note - the Supreme Constitutional Court was established in 1999, but has not been fully implemented

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the Amir; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Supreme Judicial Supreme Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; Sharia Courts; Courts of Justice; Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center, established in 2009, provides dispute services for institutions and bodies in Qatar, as well as internationally

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic law (in family and personal matters)

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (15 seats; members appointed by the monarch); note - the 2003 constitutional referendum called for the election of 30 members, however, the first election scheduled for 2013 was postponed and current term extended until 2016

note

although the Advisory Council has limited legislative authority to draft and approve laws, the Amir has final vote on all legislation; Qatar's first legislative elections were expected to be held in 2013, but HAMAD postponed them in a final legislative act prior to handing over power to TAMIM; in principle, the public would elect 30 members and the Amir would appoint 15; the Advisory Council would have authority to approve the national budget, hold ministers accountable through no-confidence votes, and propose legislation; the 29-member Central Municipal Council - first elected in 1999 - has limited consultative authority aimed at improving municipal services; members elected for a 4-year term; next election scheduled for May 2019

National anthem

lyrics/music

Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN

name

"Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (The Peace for the Anthem)

note

adopted 1996; anthem first performed that year at a meeting of the Gulf Cooperative Council hosted by Qatar

National holiday

National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

National symbol(s)

a maroon field surmounted by a white serrated band with nine white points; national colors: maroon, white

Political parties and leaders

political parties are banned

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$58.54 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$92.46 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

16.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.5% (31 December 2012)

4.93% (31 December 2011)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

4.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$54.84 billion (2014 est.)

$62.42 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$156.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$149.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Qatar has prospered in the last several years with continued high real GDP growth. GDP was driven largely by the oil and gas sector however growth in the manufacturing, construction, and financial services sectors have pushed the non-oil component to just over half of Qatar’s nominal GDP for the first time since 2000. Economic policy is focused on sustaining Qatar's nonassociated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non-energy sectors, but oil and gas still account for roughly 92% of export earnings, and 62% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar the world's highest per-capita income country and the country with the lowest unemployment. Proved oil reserves in excess of 25 billion barrels should enable continued output at current levels for about 56 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, about 13% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar's successful 2022 World Cup bid is accelerating large-scale infrastructure projects such as Qatar's metro system, light rail system, the construction of a new port, roads, stadiums and related sporting infrastructure. The new Hamad International Airport opened in mid-2014 with an initial annual passenger capacity of 24 million and with a projected 50 million when complete.

Exchange rates

Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -

3.64 (2014 est.)

3.64 (2013 est.)

3.64 (2012 est.)

3.64 (2011 est.)

3.64 (2010 est.)

Exports

$131.6 billion (2014 est.)

$136.8 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners

Japan 25.3%, South Korea 18.8%, India 12.7%, China 7.7%, Singapore 6.2%, UAE 5.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

69.1%

government consumption

14.1%

household consumption

14.8%

imports of goods and services

-30.5%

investment in fixed capital

33.9%

investment in inventories

-1.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.1%

industry

68%

services

32.1% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$137,200 (2014 est.)

$131,900 (2013 est.)

$126,100 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2014 est.)

4.6% (2013 est.)

4.9% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$210.1 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$306.6 billion (2014 est.)

$294.9 billion (2013 est.)

$282 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

58.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

59.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

60.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.9% (2007)

lowest 10%

1.3%

Imports

$38.23 billion (2014 est.)

$31.47 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

US 11.5%, China 10.6%, UAE 8.2%, Germany 7.1%, Japan 6.4%, UK 5.5%, Italy 4.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.9% (2014 est.)

Industries

liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2014 est.)

3.1% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.593 million (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$126.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$125.4 billion (31 December 2011)

$123.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

31.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

32.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$42.77 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$43.32 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$142.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$125.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$45.71 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$38.96 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$33.46 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$32.42 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$168.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$149.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$34.14 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$29.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

44% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

0.4% (2014 est.)

0.3% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

99.17 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.232 million bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

1.54 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

25.24 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

30.53 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

98.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

7.947 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

32.7 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

32.93 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

125.5 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

158.5 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

25.07 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

230,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

554,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

310,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

TV and radio broadcast licensing and access to local media markets are state controlled; home of the satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally owned and financed by the Qatari government, but has evolved to independent corporate status; Al-Jazeera claims editorial independence in broadcasting; local radio transmissions include state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies in Doha; in August 2013, Qatar's satellite company Es'hailSat launched its first communications satellite Es'hail 1 (manufactured in the US), which entered commercial service in December 2013 to provide improved television broadcasting capability and expand availability of voice and internet; Es'hailSat released a request for proposals in March 2014 for its second satellite to launch in 2016 (2014)

Internet country code

.qa

Internet users

percent of population

96.7% (2014 est.)

total

2.1 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 130 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

modern system centered in Doha

international

country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

20 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

420,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

156 (2014 est.)

total

3.3 million

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2001)

Airports

6 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

3

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

2

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 3, chemical tanker 2, container 13, liquefied gas 6, petroleum tanker 4

foreign-owned

6 (Kuwait 6)

registered in other countries

35 (Liberia 5, Marshall Islands 29, Panama 1) (2010)

total

28

Pipelines

condensate 288 km; condensate/gas 221 km; gas 2,383 km; liquid petroleum gas 90 km; oil 745 km; refined products 103 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Ras Laffan

major seaport(s)

Doha, Mesaieed (Umaieed), Ra's Laffan

Roadways

total

9,830 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

165,572 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

389,487

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

140,176 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

321,974

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

5,162 (2010 est.)

male

6,429

Military branches

Qatari Emiri Land Force (QELF), Qatari Emiri Navy (QEN), Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF) (2013)

Military service age and obligation

conscription for males aged 18-35; 4 month general obligation, 3 months for graduates (2014)

Disputes - international

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

1,200 (2014)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Qatar is a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor, and, to a much lesser extent, forced prostitution; the predominantly foreign workforce migrates to Qatar legally but often experiences situations of forced labor, including debt bondage, delayed or nonpayment of salaries, confiscation of passports, abuse, hazardous working conditions, and squalid living arrangements; foreign female domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to trafficking because of their isolation in private homes and lack of protection under Qatari labor laws; some women who migrate for work are also forced into prostitution

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Qatar does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2013, the government took action to prevent human trafficking by convicting individuals for visa selling, doubling the number of labor inspectors, closing some recruitment firms, and implementing anti-trafficking awareness campaigns; authorities identified some trafficking victims and provided them with shelter and other protection services; the government did not reform the exploitive sponsorship system, prosecute or convict any trafficking offenders, or rigorously enforce laws prohibiting employers from withholding wages and passports (2014)