Qatar

State of QatarDawlat Qatar

traditional monarchyIndependence 3 September 1971 (from UK)

Qatar as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 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 Arabia

Populationas each edition published it

793,341 people July 2002 est. · 490,897 in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.02% 2002 est. · 2.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 31.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

72.88 years 2002 est. · 72.25 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.1 children per woman 2002 est. · 4.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

20.73 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 25 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$21,200 2001 est. · $17,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.6% 2001 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. 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 by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodless coup in 1995.

In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. 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

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Land useshare of 11,437 sq km

arable land 1.27%permanent crops 0.27%other 98.46% (1998 est.)irrigated 130 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

11,437sq km

water: 0 sq kmland: 11,437 sq kmslightly smaller than Connecticut

Coastline

563km

contiguous zone: 24 NMexclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median lineterritorial 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

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references

Middle East

Climate

arid;
mild, pleasant winters;
very hot, humid summers

Terrain

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, fish

Natural hazards

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

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, Endangered Species, 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

18 fields

Population

793,341

(July 2002 est.)growth rate: 3.02% (2002 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth

15.78Death

4.34Net migration

18.75

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2002 est.)72.88

70.4 · 75.48

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)79%

79% · 80%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.09%

(1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 25.2% (male 102,110; female 98,053)
15-64 years:: 72.1% (male 403,508; female 168,428)
65 years and over:: 2.7% (male 15,299; female 5,943) (2002 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 2.4 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 2.57 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.91 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

20.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.1 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Qatari(s)
adjective:: Qatari

Religions

Muslim 95%

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)

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Country name

conventional long form:: State of Qatar
conventional short form:: Qatar
local short form:: Qatar

note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

local long form:: Dawlat Qatar

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; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution

Legal system

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters

Suffrage

suffrage is limited to municipal elections

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 nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council, which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services

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 had their terms extended every four years since

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA
telephone:: [1] (202) 274-1600
consulate(s) general:: Houston
FAX:: [1] (202) 237-0061
chancery:: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN
embassy:: Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address:: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone:: [974] 488 4101
FAX:: [974] 488 4298

Flag description

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

Economy

Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 58% of government revenues.

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Real growth rate

5.6%

(2001 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

(2001)

Unemployment rate

2.7%

(2001)

Labor force

280,122

(1997 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1996 est.)

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

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

43%

Japan

10%

Singapore

South Korea

Germany

Italy

UAE

Exports $11 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)Imports $3.5 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)(1999) · (1998)

Budget

Revenues

$5 billionExpenditures

$4.8 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $900 million (FY01/02 est. )

Electricity

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

Electricity production

9.2 billion (2000)Electricity consumption

8.556 billion (2000)

Economy - overview

Oil accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 58% 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 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 offshore natural gas reserves. In 2000, Qatar posted its highest ever trade surplus of $7 billion, due mainly to high oil prices and increased natural gas exports, and managed to maintain the surplus in 2001.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $16.3 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $21,200 (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$11 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Imports

$3.5 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Debt - external

$13.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Currency

Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code

QAR

Exchange rates

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.6400 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

10 fields

Mobile cellular

43,476

(1997)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

142,000

(1997) · country code .qa

Telephone system

general assessment:: 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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

256,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Televisions

230,000 (1997)

Internet users

75,000 (2001)

Transportation

10 fields

Merchant marine, 25 ships by typeone square, one ship · ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 679,081 GRT/1,051,088 DWT

cargo 10combination ore/oil 2container 7petroleum tanker 6note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 1, United Arab Emirates 3 (2002 est.)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

1914 to 1,523 m

Networkskm

Highways

1,230Railways

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