Qatar

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.qa

Internet users

45,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

256,000 (1997)

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

142,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

43,476 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus three repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

230,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $3.9 billion expenditures: $4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)

Currency

Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code

QAR

Debt - external

$13.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

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 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 petroleum and the diversification of the economy. In 2000, Qatar posted its highest ever trade surplus of $6 billion, due mainly to high oil prices and increased natural gas exports.

Electricity - consumption

8.37 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

9 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.6400 (fixed rate)

Exports

$9.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners

Japan 52%, Singapore 9%, South Korea 8%, US, UAE (1998)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $15.1 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$3.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2000)

Labor force

233,000 (1993 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

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 Abu 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, Desertification, 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: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 0% 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: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line 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 Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal

Capital

Doha

Constitution

provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution

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 guitar

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Davenport MCKUNE embassy: 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 488 4101

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA chancery: 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 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

FAX

[1] (202) 237-0061 consulate(s) general: Houston

FAX

[974] 488 4298 note: workweek is Saturday-Wednesday

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, OPCW, 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) 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

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

suffrage is limited to municipal elections

Background

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 branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$723 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

10% (FY00/01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 312,116 note: includes non-nationals (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 163,642 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 6,797 (2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.77% (male 101,155; female 97,086) 15-64 years: 71.75% (male 391,178; female 160,665) 65 years and over: 2.48% (male 13,625; female 5,443) (2001 est.)

Birth rate

15.91 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.09% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

21.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.62 years male: 70.16 years female: 75.21 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Net migration rate

20.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

769,152 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

3.18% (2001 est.)

Religions

Muslim 95%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.43 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.5 male(s)/female total population: 1.92 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.17 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international

in March of 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and adjusted its maritime boundary with Qatar; a final border resolution was agreed to with Saudi Arabia in March of 2001

Airports

4 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Heliports

1 (2000 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 677,992 GRT/1,049,447 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, petroleum tanker 6 (2000 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none