Map

Location: 25 30 N, 51 15 E -- Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Flag

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

Geography

Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total area: 11,000 sq km
land area: 11,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border country: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain; 1965 boundary with Saudi Arabia, renegotiated and revised in 1992, but not official depiction
Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 95%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
international agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

People

Population: 547,761 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 82,147; female 83,552)
15-64 years: 68% (male 263,107; female 109,177)
65 years and over: 2% (male 6,609; female 3,169) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.39% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 21.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 3.6 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 0.96 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.41 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.09 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.8 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.35 years
male: 70.75 years
female: 75.84 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.28 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic divisions: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions: Muslim 95%
Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 79.4%
male: 79.2%
female: 79.9%

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form: Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: pronounced gutter
Data code: QA
Type of government: 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 Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 2 April 1970
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 and head of government: Amir and Prime Minister 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) is an absolute monarch; Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani (since NA July 1995); note - Amir HAMAD who also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has not yet selected a new crown prince
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the amir
Legislative branch: unicameral
Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura): 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; seats - (30 total)
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, 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 US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ABD AL-RAHMAN bin Saud bin Fahd Al Thani
chancery: Suite 1180, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 338-0111
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS
embassy: 149 Armed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703
FAX: [974] 861669

Economy

Economic overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 75% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.3 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 25 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -1% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $20,820 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 50%
services: 49% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1993 est.)
Labor force: 233,000 (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $3.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 1,520,000 kW
production: 4.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 8,415 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish (all on small scale)
Exports: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum products 75%, steel, fertilizers
partners: Japan 61%, Australia 5%, UAE 4%, Singapore 4% (1994)
Imports: $2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
partners: Germany 14%, Japan 12%, UK 11%, US 9%, Italy 5% (1994)
External debt: $1.5 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Transportation

Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,191 km
paved: 1,028 km
unpaved: 163 km (1988 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Merchant marine:
total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 467,447 GRT/771,483 DWT
ships by type: combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 3 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Telephones: 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
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 201,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 205,000 (1992 est.)

Defense

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 220,635
males fit for military service: 115,403
males reach military age (18) annually: 4,115 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP