Qatar

Internet country code

.qa

Internet hosts

301 (2006)

Internet users

219,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

205,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

716,800 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $17.31 billion expenditures: $11.31 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2005 est.)

Currency (code)

Qatari rial (QAR)

Current account balance

$9.27 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$21.13 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Oil and gas account for more than 60% 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 16 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Qatar has permitted substantial foreign investment in the development of its gas fields during the last decade and is expected to become the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter by 2007. In recent years, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports, becoming one of the world's fastest growing and highest per-capita income countries.

Electricity - consumption

9.053 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

9.735 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001)

Exports

$24.9 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners

Japan 37.1%, South Korea 19.5%, Singapore 8.3% (2005)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$28.07 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$24.46 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0.2% industry: 80.1% services: 19.7% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$28,300 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8.8% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$6.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

France 11.5%, Japan 10.5%, US 10.4%, Germany 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 7.3%, UK 7%, Italy 6.5%, South Korea 5.5%, UAE 4.8% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

10% (2003 est.)

Industries

crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.8% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force

440,000 (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

11.61 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

18.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

30.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

25.77 trillion cu m (2005)

Oil - consumption

33,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

16 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

35.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.552 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.7% (2001)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

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

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Geography - note

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

Irrigated land

130 sq km (2002)

Land boundaries

total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Land use

arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2005)

Location

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

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

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

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

name: Doha geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the amir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

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 Chase UNTERMEYER embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone: [974] 488 4101 FAX: [974] 488 4176

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Hamad bin Mubarak al-KHALIFA chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603 FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061 consulate(s) general: Houston

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 TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, fourth 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-ATIYAH (since 16 September 2003, also Electricity and Water Minister since 1999 and Energy and Industry Minister since 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 description

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

Government type

traditional emirate

Independence

3 September 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Shari'a law dominates family and personal matters

Legislative branch

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 9 June 2005, 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; preparations are underway to conduct elections to the Majlis al-Shura in early 2007

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him 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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 302,873 females age 18-49: 137,856 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 238,566 females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 7,851 females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

10% (FY00)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.4% (male 105,546/female 101,371) 15-64 years: 73% (male 446,779/female 199,133) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 24,059/female 8,471) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

15.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.09% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.9 years male: 71.37 years female: 76.57 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 89.1% female: 88.6% (2004 est.)

Median age

total: 31.7 years male: 37.1 years female: 22.7 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari

Net migration rate

14.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

885,359 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

2.5% (2006 est.)

Religions

Muslim 95%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 2.24 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.87 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.81 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers; the problem of trafficking of foreign children as camel jockeys was thoroughly addressed by government action in 2005, but independent confirmation of the problem's complete elimination is not yet available tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Qatar has made noticeable progress in rescuing and repatriating child camel jockeys, establishing a shelter for abused domestic workers, and creating hotlines to register complaints; however, Qatar is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide sufficient evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2005, particularly with regard to labor exploitation

Airports

5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports

1 (2006)

Merchant marine

total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 750,669 GRT/1,177,673 DWT by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, container 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 8 (Kuwait 7, US 1) registered in other countries: 4 (Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Panama 1) (2006)

Pipelines

condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 844 km (2006)

Ports and terminals

Doha

Roadways

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