from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Qatar
Introduction
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. 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.
Geography
Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and
Saudi Arabia
Geographic 25 30 N, 51 15 E
coordinates:
Map Middle East
references:
Area: total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Connecticut
comparative:
Land total: 60 km
boundaries: border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: 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 lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
extremes: highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural petroleum, natural gas, fish
resources:
Land use: arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)
Irrigated 130 sq km (2002)
land:
Natural haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
hazards:
Environment - limited natural fresh water resources are increasing
current dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major
note: petroleum deposits
People
Population: 885,359 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.4% (male 105,546/female 101,371)
15-64 years: 73% (male 446,779/female 199,133)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 24,059/female 8,471)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 31.7 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 22.7 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.5% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 15.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 14.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.24 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.87 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 18.04 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 21.27 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 73.9 years
expectancy at male: 71.37 years
birth: female: 76.57 years (2006 est.)
Total 2.81 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.09% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - NA
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other
14%
Religions: Muslim 95%
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 est.)
Government
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 traditional emirate
type:
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 10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad
divisions: 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 Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
holiday:
Constitution: ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003,
endorsed by the amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9
June 2005
Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Shari'a law
dominates family and personal matters
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since
branch: 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 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-ATIYAH (since 16 September 2003,
also Electricity and Water Minister since 1999 and
Energy and Industry Minister since 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 unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35
branch: 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
early 2007
Judicial Court of Appeal
branch: note: under a judiciary law issued in 2003, the former
two court systems, civil and Islamic law, were merged
under a higher court, the Court of Cassation,
established for appeals
Political none
parties and
leaders:
Political none
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,
organization ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
participation: Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC,
OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Hamad bin
representation Mubarak al-KHALIFA
in the US: chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER
representation embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
from the US: mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4101
FAX: [974] 488 4176
Flag maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white
description: points) on the hoist side
Economy
Economy - Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly
overview: 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 16 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 by 2007. In recent years, Qatar has
consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of
high oil prices and increased natural gas exports,
becoming one of the world's fastest growing and highest
per-capita income countries.
GDP $24.46 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $28.07 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 8.8% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $28,300 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 0.2%
composition by industry: 80.1%
sector: services: 19.7% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 440,000 (2005 est.)
Unemployment 2.7% (2001)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 8.8% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 21.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $17.31 billion
expenditures: $11.31 billion; including capital
expenditures of $2.2 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt: 35.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
products:
Industries: crude oil production and refining, ammonia,
fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars,
cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial 10% (2003 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 9.735 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 9.053 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 33,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 16 billion bbl (2005 est.)
reserves:
Natural gas - 30.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 11.61 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 18.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 25.77 trillion cu m (2005)
proved
reserves:
Current $9.27 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $24.9 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products,
commodities: fertilizers, steel
Exports - Japan 37.1%, South Korea 19.5%, Singapore 8.3% (2005)
partners:
Imports: $6.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
commodities:
Imports - France 11.5%, Japan 10.5%, US 10.4%, Germany 8.4%,
partners: Saudi Arabia 7.3%, UK 7%, Italy 6.5%, South Korea 5.5%,
UAE 4.8% (2005)
Reserves of $4.552 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $21.13 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $NA
recipient:
Currency Qatari rial (QAR)
(code):
Currency code: QAR
Exchange Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004),
rates: 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications
Telephones - 205,400 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 716,800 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
system: 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 AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 256,000 (1997)
Television 1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 230,000 (1997)
Internet .qa
country code:
Internet 301 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 1 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 219,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - total: 3
with paved over 3,047 m: 2
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 2
with unpaved 914 to 1,523 m: 1
runways: 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 total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 750,669 GRT/
marine: 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 Doha
terminals:
Military
Military Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy
branches: (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF)
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service; land
service age forces enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional
and foreign nationals (2005)
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 302,873
available for females age 18-49: 137,856 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 238,566
for military females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 7,851
reaching females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $723 million (FY00)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 10% (FY00)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - none
international:
Trafficking in current situation: Qatar is a destination country for
persons: 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