Qatar

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

201,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

160,717 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

3 (1988 est.)

Televisions

205,000 (1992 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

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

Currency

1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams

Debt - external

$5.7 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid

$NA

Economy - overview

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

1.3 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

10,095 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

5.5 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

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

1 April - 31 March

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (1996 est.)

Imports

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

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate - consumer price index

1.2% (1995)

Labor force

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

NA%

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer

Coastline

563 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Irrigated land

80 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Land use

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

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, fish

Terrain

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Administrative divisions

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

provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972

Country name

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

QA

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

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

FAX

[974] 861669

Flag description

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

Government type

traditional monarchy

Independence

3 September 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation

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

Court of Appeal

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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

National capital

Doha

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

none

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$400 million (1996 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.5% (1996 est.)

Military manpower - availability

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

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 150,398 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 5,432 (1997 est.)

Age structure

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

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

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

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Net migration rate

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

Population

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

Population growth rate

4.04% (1997 est.)

Religions

Muslim 95%

Sex ratio

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

3.57 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

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

3 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

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

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Heliports

1 (1996 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

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

crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports and harbors

Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id

Railways

0 km