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]

2 (in addition, there are three repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

205,000 (1992 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.4 billion expenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (FY98/99 budget est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$11 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [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 70% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 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. Lower world oil prices brought GDP down in 1998.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

5.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

5.2 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Japan 49%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 12%, Thailand 4%, US 3% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April--31 March

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

purchasing power parity--$12 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 1% industry: 49% services: 50% (1996 est.)

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

purchasing power parity?$17,100 (1998 est.)

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

-3% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

UK 25%, France 13%, Japan 10%, US 9%, Italy 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-4% (1995)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7.4% (1996)

Labor force [time series]

233,000 (1993 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (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 Abu al Bawl 103 m

Environment - current issues (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 (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 Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal

Capital [time series]

Doha

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 guitar

Data code [time series]

QA

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth MCKUNE embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 consulate(s) general: Houston

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 monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 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 monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

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, OPCW, 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 monarch) 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

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 (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$940 million (FY98/99)

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

9.6% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 301,451 (1999 est.) note: includes non-nationals

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 158,114 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 6,125 (1999 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 99,232; female 95,421) 15-64 years: 71% (male 367,213; female 145,925) 65 years and over: 2% (male 11,047; female 4,704) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.25 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.23 years male: 71.7 years female: 76.89 years (1999 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]

23.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

723,542 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.62% (1999 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: 2.52 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.35 male(s)/female total population: 1.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing

Airports [time series]

4 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 713,014 GRT/1,112,829 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 5, oil tanker 5 (1998 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