Qatar

State of QatarDawlat Qatar

traditional monarchyIndependence 3 September 1971 (from UK)

Qatar as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 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

Populationas each edition published it

723,542 people July 1999 est. · 490,897 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.62% 1999 est. · 2.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

74.23 years 1999 est. · 72.25 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.42 children per woman 1999 est. · 4.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17.25 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 25 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$17,100 1998 est. · $17,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-3% 1998 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 Abu 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

723,542

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 3.62% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

16.75Death

3.57Net migration

23.03

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)74.23

71.7 · 76.89

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)79.4%

79.2% · 79.9%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 27% (male 99,232; female 95,421)
15-64 years:: 71% (male 367,213; female 145,925)
65 years and over:: 2% (male 11,047; female 4,704) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 2.52 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 2.35 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

17.25 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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 monarch (since 30 October 1996)

18 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 guitar

Data code

Government type

traditional monarchy

Capital

Doha

Administrative divisions

9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular--baladiyah);
Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat 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 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
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)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections:: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
chancery:: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
consulate(s) general:: Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE
embassy:: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha
mailing address:: P. O. Box 2399, Doha

note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday

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 70% of export earnings, and 66% of | government revenues.

30 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$17,100

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

-3%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: -4% (1995)

Inflation, consumer prices

7.4%

(1996)

Labor force

233,000

(1993 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 1%industry 49%services 50% (1996 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

49%

Japan

10%

25%

France

13%

12%

Singapore

12%

South Korea

Italy

Thailand

Exports $5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)Imports $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)(1997)

Budget

Revenues

$3.4 billionExpenditures

$4.3 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $700 million (FY98/99 budget est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

5.2 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

5.2 billion (1996)

Economy--overview

Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 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. Lower world oil prices brought GDP down in 1998.

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

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

Merchant marine, 22 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

cargo 10combination ore/oil 2container 5oil tanker 5

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Networkskm

Highways

1,230Railways

Highways: paved: 1,107 km · unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)

Highways

total:: 1,230 km
paved:: 1,107 km
unpaved:: 123 km (1996 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

7 fields

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

9.6%

(FY98/99)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes--international

territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ);
in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord;
that process is ongoing

Central Intelligence Agency. “Qatar.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/qatar/1999.

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