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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.qa

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

221 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

126,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern system centered in Doha 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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

184,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

376,500 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $8.202 billion expenditures: $6.981 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Qatari rial (QAR)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

QAR

Current account balance [time series]

$4.149 billion (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$17.5 billion (2003 est.)

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

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 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 14.5 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore natural gas reserves to offset the ultimate decline in oil production. Since 2000, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

8.616 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

9.264 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000), 3.64 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$12.36 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 46%, South Korea 18.5%, Singapore 9.5% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $17.54 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 0.4% industry: 70.8% services: 28.8% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $21,500 (2003 est.)

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

8.5% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$5.711 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

US 12.2%, Japan 10.5%, Germany 9.6%, UK 8%, Italy 7.4%, UAE 6.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.9%, South Korea 5% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

10% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.3% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

23.2% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

140,000 (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

17.93 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

864,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

14.51 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

72.7% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$2.952 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.7% (2001)

Geography

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]

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, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2001)

Location [time series]

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, 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; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution; on 8 June 2004 the new constitution came into force

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER embassy: Al-Luqta 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 chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603 FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061 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 TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third 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-ATTIYAH (since 16 September 2003; also Energy Minister since NA 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

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, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal note: under the new judiciary law issued in 2003, the former two court systems, civil and Islamic law, have been merged under a higher court, the Court of Cassation, to be established for appeals

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: 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 8 June 2004, 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

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]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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 one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Military

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

Land Force, Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Amiri Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$723 million (FY00)

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

10% (FY00)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 324,001 note: includes non-nationals (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 170,266 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 7,496 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24.2% (male 103,660; female 99,597) 15-64 years: 72.7% (male 426,559; female 184,067) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 19,306; female 7,101) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.6 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.52 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.09% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 19.32 deaths/1,000 live births male: 22.77 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.4 years male: 70.9 years female: 76.04 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.5% male: 81.4% female: 85% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 31.4 years male: 36.7 years female: 22 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Net migration rate [time series]

16.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

840,290 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.74% (2004 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: 2.32 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.72 male(s)/female total population: 1.89 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

4 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2003 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 525,051 GRT/772,635 DWT by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 4, container 8, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: Cambodia 1, Kuwait 1 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 702 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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