Qatar

State of QatarDawlat Qatar

traditional monarchyIndependence 3 September 1971 (from UK)

Qatar as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 97 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

Position25 30 N, 51 15 E

Area11,437 sq km

LocationMiddle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi

Populationas each edition published it

670,274 people July 1997 est. · 490,897 in 1990

Population growth% a year

4.04% 1997 est. · 2.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.56 years 1997 est. · 72.25 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.57 children per woman 1997 est. · 4.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

18.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 25 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$21,300 1996 est. · $17,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.5% 1996 est. · 3% in 1993

Geography

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi | Arabia

18 fields

Land useshare of 11,437 sq km

arable land 1%permanent pastures 5%other 94% (1993 est.)irrigated 80 sq km (1993 est.)permanent crops : NA% · forests and woodland: NA%

Area

11,437sq km

land: 11,437 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly smaller than Connecticut

Coastline

563km

contiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone : 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

103m

Qurayn Aba al Bawllowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

Land boundaries

60km

border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Climate

desert;
hot, dry;
humid and sultry in summer

Terrain

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to :: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

People

15 fields

Population

670,274

(July 1997 est.)note : includes 516,508 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)growth rate: 4.04% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

17.26Death

3.5Net migration

26.64

Ethnic groups

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

Literacy

79.4%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale : 79.2%female: 79.9% (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 28% (male 95,145; female 91,338) 15-64 years : 70% (male 339,892; female 131,429)
65 years and over:: 2% (male 8,567; female 3,903) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth :: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 2.59 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 2.2 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 73.56 years
male:: 71.06 years
female:: 76.18 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Qatari(s)
adjective:: Qatari

Languages

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

Government

Traditional monarchy; 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); Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the amir (since 30 October 1996)

19 fields

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 ka-tar (rhymes with guitar)

Data code

Government type

traditional monarchy

National capital

Doha

Administrative divisions

9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah);
Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal

Independence

3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution

provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972

Legal system

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

Suffrage

none

Executive branch

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 amir (selected crown prince by the amir 22 October 1996);
note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
head of government:: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the amir (since 30 October 1996)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
elections:: none; the amir is an absolute monarch

Legislative branch

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

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 had their terms extended every four years since

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

none

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, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador-designate Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
chancery:: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone:: [1] (202) 274-1600

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS
embassy:: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha
mailing address:: P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address - AMEMB Doha, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6130
telephone:: [974] 864701 through 864703

FAX

[974] 861669

Flag description

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 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of | government revenues.

22 fields

Real growth rate

2.5%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

1.2%

(1995)

Labor force

233,000

(1993 est.)note: 83.49% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)

Debt - external

$5.7billion

(1995 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1993 est.)

agriculture 1%industry 45%services 54% (1993 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$3 billionExpenditures

$3.8 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)

Economy - overview

Oil is the backbone of the economy and 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 about 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to 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.

fruits, vegetables;
poultry, dairy products, beef;
fish (all on small scale)

Exports

total value:: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: petroleum products 80%, steel, fertilizers
partners:: Japan 54%, Singapore 7%, South Korea 6%, Australia 3%, UAE 3% (1995 est.)

Imports

total value:: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities :: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
partners:: Italy 16%, Germany 11%, Japan 10%, UK 9%, France 9% (1995 est.)

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

160,717

(1992 est.)

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

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

1under 914 m

Networkskm

Highways

1,210Railways

Highways: paved : 1,089 km · unpaved: 121 km (1995 est.)

Highways

total:: 1,210 km
paved :: 1,089 km
unpaved:: 121 km (1995 est.)

total:: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 512,456 GRT/850,858 DWT
ships by type :: combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 3 (1996 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.5%

(1996 est.)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands;
maritime boundary with Bahrain;
in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord;
that process is ongoing REUNION (overseas department of France)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Qatar.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/qatar/1997.

How to cite ← 1996 edition 1998 edition →