2020 Edition

Background

Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar within the last 60 years transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant hydrocarbon revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995, ushered in wide-sweeping political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investment, and a growing Qatari regional leadership role, in part through the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's mediation of some regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and by 2007, Doha had attained the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar did not experience domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2011, due in part to its immense wealth and patronage network. In mid-2013, HAMAD peacefully abdicated, transferring power to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM is popular with the Qatari public for his role in shepherding the country through an economic embargo from some other regional countries, for his efforts to improve the country's healthcare and education systems, and for his expansion of the country's infrastructure in anticipation of hosting international sporting events. Qatar became the first country in the Arab world to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2022. Following the outbreak of regional unrest in 2011, Doha prided itself on its support for many popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. This stance was to the detriment of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which temporarily recalled their respective ambassadors from Doha in 2014. TAMIM later oversaw a warming of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in November 2014 following Kuwaiti mediation and signing of the Riyadh Agreement. This reconciliation, however, was short-lived. In 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (the "Quartet") cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in response to alleged violations of the agreement, among other complaints. They restored ties in 2021 after signing a declaration at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. In 2022, the United States designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally.  

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

highest point

Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

mean elevation

28 m

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Geography - note

the peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Irrigated land

130 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

Saudi Arabia 87 km

total

87 km

Land use

agricultural land

6.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)

forest

0.1% (2023 est.)

other

93.4% (2023 est.)

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

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, fish, natural gas

Population distribution

most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula

Terrain

mostly flat and barren desert

Age structure

0-14 years

13.1% (male 168,844/female 165,905)

15-64 years

85.4% (male 1,767,294/female 411,977)

65 years and over

1.5% (2024 est.) (male 24,997/female 13,071)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

9.19 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.3% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

64.6% (2020 est.)

Death rate

1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

1.8 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

54.4 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

17.3 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

15.4 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.3% national budget (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.94 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

2.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

male

7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.4 years

male

78.2 years

total population

80.3 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

798,000 Ar-Rayyan, 658,000 DOHA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

28.1 years

male

35.7 years

total

34.4 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Qatari

noun

Qatari(s)

Net migration rate

-2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

35.1% (2016)

Physician density

3.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

597,821

male

1,970,605

total

2,568,426 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.57% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 65.2%, Christian 13.7%, Hindu 15.9%, Buddhist 3.8%, folk religion <0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2022 est.)

male

12 years (2022 est.)

total

13 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

4.29 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.91 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

3.32 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

2.3% (2025 est.)

male

24.6% (2025 est.)

total

19.2% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

99.4% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

the name is derived from the Arabic ad-dawha, meaning "the big tree," and probably referred to a large tree at the site of the original fishing village

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

amendment process

proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties cannot be amended

history

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

Country name

conventional long form

State of Qatar

conventional short form

Qatar

etymology

the name may derive from the Arabic word katran, meaning "tar" or "resin" in reference to the area's oil and natural gas reserves

local long form

Dawlat Qatar

local short form

Qatar

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Stefanie ALTMAN-WINANS (since June 2025)

email address and website

PasDoha@state.gov https://qa.usembassy.gov/

embassy

22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha

FAX

[974] 4488-4298

mailing address

6130 Doha Place, Washington DC 20521-6130

telephone

[974] 4496-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador Meshal bin Hamad AL THANI (since 24 April 2017)

consulate(s) general

Houston, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

info.dc@mofa.gov.qa https://washington.embassy.qa/en/home

FAX

[1] (202) 237-0682

telephone

[1] (202) 274-1600

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the amir

chief of state

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

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the amir

head of government

Prime Minister and Foreign Minister MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman Al Thani (since 7 March 2023)

Flag

description: maroon with a broad, serrated white band on the left side meaning: maroon stands for the blood shed in Qatari wars, and white for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge is a reference to Qatar's status as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" after the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 -- the other eight members are Bahrain and the seven that make up the UAE

Government type

absolute monarchy

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, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, 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)

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 Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA

subordinate courts

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

September 2029

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)

most recent election date

10/9/2025

number of seats

49 (all appointed)

percentage of women in chamber

6.1%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1996

lyrics/music

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

title

"Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (Peace be to the Emir)

National color(s)

maroon, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Al Zubarah Archaeological Site

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

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 white serrated band with nine white points on top of a maroon field

Political parties

political parties are banned

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

dates, chicken, tomatoes, camel milk, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, pumpkins/squash, eggs, sheep milk, eggplants (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

14.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$57.258 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$65.922 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

$63.118 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$36.453 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$38.117 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, oil-and-gas-based Middle Eastern economy; implementing “National Vision 2030” government strategy for economic development, diversification, and favorable business conditions to boost investment and employment; expansion of LNG sector expected to boost growth; Islamic finance leader

Exchange rates

Currency

Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

3.64 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

3.64 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

3.64 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

3.64 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

3.64 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$161.693 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$128.709 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$125.216 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, fertilizers (2023)

Exports - partners

China 18%, India 11%, S. Korea 10%, Japan 7%, Pakistan 6% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

68.6% (2022 est.)

government consumption

12.9% (2022 est.)

household consumption

19.5% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-31.6% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

30.6% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.3% (2024 est.)

industry

58.5% (2024 est.)

services

45.9% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$217.983 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

35.1 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.8% (2017 est.)

lowest 10%

2.6% (2017 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$74.52 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$72.174 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$69.692 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

gas turbines, cars, aircraft, iron pipes, ships (2023)

Imports - partners

USA 12%, China 12%, UAE 9%, UK 7%, India 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

1.6% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.3% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.123 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

46.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$304.903 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$308.522 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$317.064 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$114,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$116,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$110,900 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$47.389 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$51.539 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$53.987 billion (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

0.2% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

0.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

0.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

1.2% (2024 est.)

male

0.1% (2024 est.)

total

0.4% (2024 est.)

Coal

exports

300 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

51.965 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

11.4 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

3.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

814.308 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

48.034 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

124.747 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

171.805 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

23.861 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

268,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

1.818 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2023 est.)

total

347,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-controlled TV and radio licensing and access to local media markets; home of satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally state-owned but is now independent; local radio includes state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies; satellite TV available (2019)

Internet country code

.qa

Internet users

percent of population

100% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

526,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

154 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

4.68 million (2024 est.)

Airports

8 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A7

Heliports

12 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 5, container ship 4, general cargo 4, oil tanker 2, other 108

total

123 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Al Rayyan Terminal, Al Shaheen Terminal, Doha, Jazirat Halul, Ras Laffan, Umm Said

large

0

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

5

small

2

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

3

Military - note

Qatar's military is responsible for territorial defense and maritime security; the military is in the midst of a large equipment acquisition program designed to enhance its capabilities and Qatar's regional standing; Qatar has military ties with a variety of countries, including France, the UK, the US, Turkey, and member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); it hosts the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) and several thousand US military forces at various military facilities, including the Al Udeid Air Base; Qatar has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Qatar also hosts Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019; the Qatari military is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2025)

Military and security forces

Qatar Armed Forces (QAF): Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF, includes Emiri Guard), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN, includes Coast Guard), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Public Security, General Directorate of Coasts and Border Security, Internal Security Force (ISF or Lekhwiya) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 15,000 active-duty Qatar Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Qatari military's inventory is a mix of older and modern weapons systems, mostly from Türkiye, the US, and various European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

3.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

typically 18-30 for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory military service for men 18-35; compulsory service is from 4-12 months, depending on educational and professional circumstances (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

349 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

1,200 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

10,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

99.991 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

27.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

127.783 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air, land, and water pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited conservation of oil and wildlife

International environmental agreements

party to

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

9.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

1,040.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

5.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

64.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

59 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

58 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

311.156 million cubic meters (2022)

industrial

40.18 million cubic meters (2022)

municipal

582.862 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1.001 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

6% (2022 est.)