Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios [time series]

256,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use) [time series]

146,980 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

18,469 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (plus three repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

230,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5 billion expenditures: $4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Debt - external [time series]

$10 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Oil 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 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP three-fourths that of 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. If high oil prices continue in 2000, Qatar will post its highest ever trade surplus - of more than $4 billion.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.245 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.715 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$6.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 50%, Singapore 12%, South Korea 9%, US, UAE (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1999 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 - $17,000 (1999 est.)

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

1.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

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

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) [time series]

2% (1999)

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 [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 [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, Desertification, 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: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 0% 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: as determined by bilateral agreements, or the median line 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: 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 884 101 FAX: [974] 884 150 note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 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; note - in March 1999 Qatar held elections for representatives to its Central Municipal Council

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) 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 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]

suffrage is limited to municipal elections

Background [time series]

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. He was overthrown in a bloodless coup by his own son in 1995. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below the leading industrial countries of Western Europe.

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

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$816 million (FY99/00)

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

8.1% (FY99/00)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 306,850 note: includes non-nationals (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 160,899 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 6,471 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26% (male 99,702; female 95,960) 15-64 years: 71% (male 378,741; female 152,978) 65 years and over: 3% (male 12,120; female 4,982) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.07 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.19 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

22.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.37 years male: 69.92 years female: 74.94 years (2000 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]

21.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

744,483 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.35% (2000 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: 2.48 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.43 male(s)/female total population: 1.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.25 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

the territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); June 1999 agreement has furthered the goal of definitively establishing the border with Saudi Arabia [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

4 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 721,756 GRT/1,132,510 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 5 (1999 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