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. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him 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.
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
11,437 sq km
land
11,437 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries
total
60 km
border countries
Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline
563 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
contiguous zone
24 nm
exclusive economic zone
as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point
Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use
arable land
1.64%
permanent crops
0.27%
other
98.09% (2005)
Irrigated land
130 sq km (2002)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
Population
907,229 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
23.1% (male 106,853/female 102,713)
15-64 years
72.9% (male 455,631/female 206,099)
65 years and over
4% (male 26,689/female 9,244) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
31.9 years
male
37.3 years
female
23.1 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.386% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
15.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
4.82 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
13.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years
2.211 male(s)/female
65 years and over
2.887 male(s)/female
total population
1.852 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
17.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male
20.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female
14.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
74.14 years
male
71.6 years
female
76.82 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Qatari(s)
adjective
Qatari
Ethnic groups
Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
Languages
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
89%
male
89.1%
female
88.6% (2004 census)
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
emirate
Capital
name
Doha
geographic coordinates
25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005
Legal system
based on Islamic and civil law codes; discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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, fourth 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 HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir al-Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
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 9 June 2005, 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; preparations are underway to conduct elections to the Majlis al-Shura in late 2007
Judicial branch
Courts of First Instance, Appeal, and Cassation; note - the Amir appoints all judges - based on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council - for renewable three-year terms
maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
Economy - overview
Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have made Qatar one of the world's faster growing and higher per-capita income countries - in 2006 per-capita income equaled that of the EU. Sustained high oil prices and increased natural gas exports in recent years have helped build Qatar's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Proved oil reserves of more than 15 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar has permitted substantial foreign investment in the development of its gas fields during the last decade and is expected to become the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2007. Qatar is also trying to attract foreign investment in the development of its non-energy projects by further liberalizing the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$26.37 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$30.76 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
7.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$29,800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
0.1%
industry
77.2%
services
22.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force
508,000 (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate
3.2% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.2% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
33.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$22.51 billion
expenditures
$16.89 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2006 est.)
Public debt
23.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products
Industries
crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate
10% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production
12.4 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel
100%
hydro
0%
nuclear
0%
other
0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption
11.53 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production
790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption
80,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves
15.2 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production
39.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
15.11 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports
24.06 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
25.77 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance
$12.51 billion (2006 est.)
Exports
$33.25 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners
Japan 39.8%, South Korea 18.6%, Singapore 6.4%, Thailand 4.1% (2006)
Imports
$12.36 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners
France 13.3%, Japan 10.1%, US 9.3%, Italy 8.9%, Germany 7.8%, UK 6.2%, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, South Korea 4.5% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$5.755 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$25.7 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Currency (code)
Qatari rial (QAR)
Currency code
QAR
Exchange rates
Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Telephones - main lines in use
205,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
854,900 (2006)
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
Radio broadcast stations
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios
256,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions
230,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.qa
Internet hosts
301 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
219,000 (2005)
Airports
5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
3
over 3,047 m
2
1,524 to 2,437 m
1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
2
914 to 1,523 m
1
under 914 m
1 (2006)
Heliports
1 (2006)
Pipelines
condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 844 km (2006)
Roadways
total
1,230 km
paved
1,107 km
unpaved
123 km (1999)
Merchant marine
total
23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 750,669 GRT/1,177,673 DWT
by type
cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, container 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned
8 (Kuwait 7, US 1)
registered in other countries
4 (Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Doha
Military branches
Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) (2007)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals (2005)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
302,873
females age 18-49
137,856 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
238,566
females age 18-49
116,595 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
7,851
females age 18-49
7,040 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
10% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
none
Trafficking in persons
current situation
Qatar is a destination country for men and women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers; the problem of trafficking of foreign children as camel jockeys was thoroughly addressed by government action in 2005, but independent confirmation of the problem's complete elimination is not yet available
tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List - Qatar has made noticeable progress in rescuing and repatriating child camel jockeys, establishing a shelter for abused domestic workers, and creating hotlines to register complaints; however, Qatar is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide sufficient evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2005, particularly with regard to labor exploitation
