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

1 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.qa

Internet users [time series]

75,000 (2001)

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]

general assessment: 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]

142,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

43,476 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

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: $4.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $900 million (FY01/02 est. )

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Qatari rial (QAR)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

QAR

Debt - external [time series]

$13.1 billion (2000 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 58% 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 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 offshore natural gas reserves. In 2000, Qatar posted its highest ever trade surplus of $7 billion, due mainly to high oil prices and increased natural gas exports, and managed to maintain the surplus in 2001.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

8.556 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

9.2 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.6400 (fixed rate)

Exports [time series]

$11 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 43%, Singapore 8%, South Korea 6%, US 4%, UAE 2% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $16.3 billion (2001 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 - $21,200 (2001 est.)

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

5.6% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$3.5 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

UK 10%, Japan 8%, Germany 6%, Italy 6%, US 6% (1998)

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% (2001)

Labor force [time series]

280,122 (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.7% (2001)

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate [time series]

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

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, Endangered Species, 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]

130 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1.27% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.46% (1998 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; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar local long form: Dawlat Qatar

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Maureen E. QUINN embassy: Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 488 4101 FAX: [974] 488 4298

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 consulate(s) general: Houston FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061 chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

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 nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council, which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services

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, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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 dominates family and 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 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

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

none

Suffrage [time series]

suffrage is limited to municipal elections

Background [time series]

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. He was overthrown by his son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, 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 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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$723 million (FY00/01)

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

10% (FY00/01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 316,885 note: includes non-nationals (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 166,214 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 6,797 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 25.2% (male 102,110; female 98,053) 15-64 years: 72.1% (male 403,508; female 168,428) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 15,299; female 5,943) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.78 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.09% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

20.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.88 years female: 75.48 years (2002 est.) male: 70.4 years

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79% male: 79% female: 80% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Net migration rate [time series]

18.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

793,341 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.02% (2002 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: 2.4 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.57 male(s)/female total population: 1.91 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.1 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

4 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Heliports [time series]

1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 679,081 GRT/1,051,088 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 6 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 1, United Arab Emirates 3 (2002 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none