Qatar

traditional monarchyIndependence 3 September 1971 (from UK)

Qatar as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalDoha

Area11,000 km2

Populationas each edition published it

484,387 people July 1992 · 490,897 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 72.25 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4 children per woman 1992 · 4.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

24 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 25 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $17,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 3% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Total area

11,000km2

Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Coastline

563km

Maritime claims: *** No entry for this item ***Continental shelf: not specificExclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

60km total

Saudi Arabia 40 km, UAE 20 km

Disputes

location and status of Qatar's southern boundaries with Saudi Arabia and UAE are unresolved;
territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands;
maritime boundary with Bahrain

Climate

desert;
hot, dry;
humid and sultry in summer

Terrain

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Land use

arable land NEGL%;
permanent crops 0%;
meadows and pastures 5%;
forest and woodland 0%;
other 95%

Environment

haze, duststorms, sandstorms common; limited freshwater resources mean increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major crude oil sources

People

14 fields

Population

484,387

(July 1992), growth rate 3.2% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

21Death

4Net migration

Ethnic divisions

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

Literacy

76%

(male 77%, female 72%) age 15 and over can read and write (1986)

Languages

Arabic (official); English is commonly used as second language

Labor force

104,000; 85% non-Qatari in private sector (1983)

Government

Traditional monarchy

18 fields

Administrative divisions

there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah);
Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Ash Shamal, Jarayan al Batnah, Umm Salal

Constitution

provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970

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 (Majlis al-Shura)

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: Amir and Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani (since 22 February 1972); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (appointed 31 May 1977; son of Amir)

Elections

Advisory Council: constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held; seats - (30 total)

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Hamad `Abd al-`Aziz AL-KAWARI, Chancery at Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 338-0111

US:: Ambassador Kenton W. KEITH;
Embassy at 149 Ali Bin Ahmed St., Farig Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha (mailing address is P. O. Box 2399, Doha);
telephone (0974) 864701 through 864703;
FAX (0974) 861669

Flag

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

Economy

Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 85% of export | earnings and roughly 75% of government revenues.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

4.9%

(1988 est.)

External debt

$1.1billion

(December 1989 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$2.1 billionExpenditures

$3.2 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $490 million (FY91 est.)

Overview

Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 85% of export earnings and roughly 75% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP of about $15,000, comparable to the leading industrial countries. Production and export of natural gas is becoming increasingly important.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $7.4 billion, per capita $15,000; real growth rate NA (1990)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: petroleum products 85%, steel, fertilizers
partners:: Japan 61%, Brazil 9%, UAE 3%, Singapore 3%

Imports

$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: foodstuffs, beverages, animal and vegetable oils, chemicals, machinery and equipment
partners:: UK 13%, Japan 11%, US 8%, Italy 8%

Industrial production

growth rate 0.6% (1987); accounts for 64% of GDP, including oil

Electricity

1,520,000 kW capacity; 4,200 million kWh produced, 8,080 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

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

Agriculture

farming and grazing on small scale, less than 2% of GDP;
commercial fishing increasing in importance;
most food imported

Economic aid

donor - pledged $2.7 billion in ODA to less developed countries (1979-88)

Currency

Qatari riyal (plural - riyals); 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Exchange rates

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

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

7 fields

Merchant marine, 23 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 14container 5petroleum tanker 3refrigerated cargo 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 473,042 GRT/716,039 DWT

Airports, 4 total, 4 usable

permanent-surface runways

1runways over | 3,659 m

1runways 2,440-3,659 m

nonerunways 1,220-2,439 m

modern system centered in Doha;
110,000 telephones;
tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;
radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE;
submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV;
satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT