Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

201,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

160,717 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (1988 est.)

Televisions [time series]

205,000 (1992 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish (all on small scale)

Budget [time series]

revenues : $3 billion expenditures: $3.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Debt - external [time series]

$5.7 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for about 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to 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 off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

1.3 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

10,095 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

5.5 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)

Exports [time series]

total value: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum products 80%, steel, fertilizers partners: Japan 54%, Singapore 7%, South Korea 6%, Australia 3%, UAE 3% (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $21,300 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.5% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities : machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals partners: Italy 16%, Germany 11%, Japan 10%, UK 9%, France 9% (1995 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

1.2% (1995)

Labor force [time series]

total: 233,000 (1993 est.) note: 83.49% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate [time series]

desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Coastline [time series]

563 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Irrigated land [time series]

80 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops : NA% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: NA% other: 94% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, fish

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal

Constitution [time series]

provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972

Country name [time series]

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 ka-tar (rhymes with guitar)

Data code [time series]

QA

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address - AMEMB Doha, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6130 telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600

Executive branch [time series]

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 amir (selected crown prince by the amir 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 amir (since 30 October 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir elections: none; the amir is an absolute monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[974] 861669

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

traditional monarchy

Independence [time series]

3 September 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

Legislative branch [time series]

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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Doha

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

none

Suffrage [time series]

none

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$400 million (1996 est.)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

3.5% (1996 est.)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 286,178 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 150,398 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 5,432 (1997 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28% (male 95,145; female 91,338) 15-64 years : 70% (male 339,892; female 131,429) 65 years and over: 2% (male 8,567; female 3,903) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.26 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.5 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.56 years male: 71.06 years female: 76.18 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.4% male : 79.2% female: 79.9% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Net migration rate [time series]

26.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

670,274 (July 1997 est.) note : includes 516,508 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

4.04% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 95%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 2.59 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.2 male(s)/female total population: 1.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.57 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain; in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing REUNION (overseas department of France)

Airports [time series]

3 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m : 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,210 km paved : 1,089 km unpaved: 121 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 512,456 GRT/850,858 DWT ships by type : combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 3 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id

Railways [time series]

0 km