Qatar
State of QatarDawlat Qatar
traditional monarchyIndependence 3 September 1971 (from UK)
Qatar as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 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.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. He was overthrown in a bloodless coup by his own son in 1995. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe.
Geography
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
18 fieldsLand useshare of 11,437 sq km
Environment - current issues
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
- signed, but not ratified:
- Law of the Sea
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2000 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 26% (male 99,702; female 95,960)
- 15-64 years:
- 71% (male 378,741; female 152,978)
- 65 years and over:
- 3% (male 12,120; female 4,982) (2000 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 2.48 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 2.43 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
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 fieldsCountry 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
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
Legal system
discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
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;
- note - in March 1999 Qatar held elections for representatives to its Central Municipal Council
Legislative branch
unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
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 their terms extended every four years since
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:
- 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 274-1600
- consulate(s) general:
- Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE
- embassy:
- 22 February Road, Doha
- mailing address:
- P. O. Box 2399, Doha
- telephone:
- [974] 884 101
- FAX:
- [974] 884 150
note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday
Economy
Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues.
30 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(1996 est.)
Electricity
Economy - overview
Oil 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 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP three-fourths that of 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. If high oil prices continue in 2000, Qatar will post its highest ever trade surplus - of more than $4 billion.
Industries
crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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 fieldsMerchant marine, 24 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1999 est.)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
- the territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ);
- June 1999 agreement has furthered the goal of definitively establishing the border with Saudi Arabia [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Qatar.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/qatar/2000.