Qatar

State of QatarDawlat Qatar

traditional monarchyIndependence 3 September 1971 (from UK)

Qatar as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 124 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

840,290 people July 2004 est. · 490,897 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.74% 2004 est. · 2.84% in 1993

Median ageyears

31.4 years 2004 est. · 31.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.4 years 2004 est. · 72.25 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.95 children per woman 2004 est. · 4.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

19.32 deaths per 1,000 live births 2004 est. · 25 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$21,500 2003 est. · $17,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

8.5% 2003 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 one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Geography

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

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Land useshare of 11,437 sq km

arable land 1.64%permanent crops 0.27%other 98.09% (2001)irrigated 130 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

11,437sq km

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

Coastline

563km

territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

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, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

People

19 fields

Population

840,290

(July 2004 est.)growth rate: 2.74% (2004 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2004 est.)

Birth

15.6Death

4.52Net migration

16.29

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2004 est.)73.4

70.9 · 76.04Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)19.32

22.77 · 15.7

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)82.5%

81.4% · 85%Median age years (2004 est.)31.4

36.7 · 22

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%

(2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 24.2% (male 103,660; female 99,597)
15-64 years:: 72.7% (male 426,559; female 184,067)
65 years and over:: 3.1% (male 19,306; female 7,101) (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 2.32 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 2.72 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.89 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.95 children born/woman (2004 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) Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998)

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

Government type

traditional monarchy

Capital

Doha

Administrative divisions

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah);
Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, 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;
in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution;
on 8 June 2004 the new constitution came into force

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent by the monarch on 5 August 2003);
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);
First Deputy Prime Minister HAMAD bin JASIM bin JABIR Al Thani (since 16 September 2003; also Foreign Minister since 1992);
Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATTIYAH (since 16 September 2003; also Energy Minister since NA 1992)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections:: none; the monarch is hereditary

note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999

Legislative branch

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

note: no legislative 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;

the new constitution, which came into force on 8 June 2004, provides for a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the Amir would appoint the remaining members

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal note: under the new judiciary law issued in 2003, the former two court systems, civil and Islamic law, have been merged under a higher court, the Court of Cassation, to be established for appeals

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA
chancery:: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016
telephone:: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX:: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general:: Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER
embassy:: Al-Luqta 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 and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues.

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Real growth rate

8.5%

(2003 est.)industrial production growth: 10% (2003 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.3%

(2003)

Unemployment rate

2.7%

(2001)

Public debt

72.7%of GDP

(2003)

GDP - composition by sector(2003 est.)

agriculture 0.4%industry 70.8%services 28.8% (2003 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

46%

Japan

10.5%

18.5%

South Korea

12.2%

Germany

9.6%

9.5%

Singapore

Italy

7.4%

UAE

6.7%

Saudi Arabia

5.9%

Exports $12.36 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)Imports $5.711 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)(2003)

Budget

Revenues

$8.202 billionExpenditures

$6.981 billion (2003 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion

Electricity

Electricity production

9.264 billion (2001)Electricity consumption

8.616 billion (2001)

Economy - overview

Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given Qatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading West European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 14.5 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years.

Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore natural gas reserves to offset the ultimate decline in oil production. Since 2000, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $17.54 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $21,500 (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.2% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line

Labor force

140,000 (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

864,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves

14.51 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production

32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

17.93 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance

$4.149 billion (2003)

Exports

$12.36 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Imports

$5.711 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$2.952 billion (2003)

Debt - external

$17.5 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

Currency

Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code

QAR

Exchange rates

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000), 3.64 (1999)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

376,500

(2003)

Internet users

221

(2004)

Fixed lines

184,500

(2003) · country code .qa

Telephone system

general assessment:: modern system centered in Doha
domestic:: NA
international:: country code - 974;
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